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The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 10
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Finally, some stability seems to have found its way to the Bottom Ten, as both defending champ North Texas and Washington teams extend the nation's longest losing streak (NLLS), and Indiana State, holders of the Continental Cup, obligingly lose their 22nd in a row!
And with Washington State idle, defending champion North Texas returns to the top spot, meaning B-10 pollsters will be faced with the usual problem of whether to return to the Cougars to the top spot after they lose, or keep North Texas there after they lose.
This week's mess:
1. North Texas (0-8; lost to Troy 45-17)
Mitigating Factors: Mean Green puts this one away early, with first quarter possessions resulting in two punts, a lost fumble and an interception…Defense key, too, allowing 35 completions, 334 yards in first half…NLLS, nine games, best since seven-game losing streaks in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Numbers Racket: North Texas a statistical juggernaut, ranking Dead Last in Scoring Defense (50.0 ppg) and Next To Dead Last in Pass Defense (301.0 ypg) and Total Defense (487.25 ypg), as well as ranking 110th or worse in seven (7) other official NCAA stat categories.
Next Loss:at Western Kentucky
2. Washington (0-7; lost to Notre Dame 33-7)
Mitigating Factors: Motivated, hustling Huskies become first team this year to hold Notre Dame puntless...Huskies just miss magical 2-to1 Penalty Yards to Rushing Yards ratio with 50 penalty yards, 26 rushing yards…Huskies losing in the trenches, with defense ranking Dead Last in Sacks (.71 per game) and Tackles For Loss (3.14 yards per game)…
Historical Context: This is Huskies first nine-game losing streak since dropping ten straight from 1968-69.
Next Loss: at USC
3. SMU (1-8; lost at Navy 34-7)
Mitigating Factors: Mustangs rush for season's best minus-13 yards, eclipsing minus-8 yard effort vs. TCU…Despite only having five penalty yards, SMU still manages a negative Penalty To Rushing Yards Ration, though B-10 staff not smart enough to figure it out…Seven game losing streak second best in nation.
Numbers Game: Showing the versatility on both sides of the ball that contends for B-10 titles, Mustangs rank Dead Last in Rushing Offense (43.44 ypg) and Total Defense (490.78 ypg)
Next Loss: Memphis
4. Michigan (2-6; lost to Michigan State 35-21)
Mitigating Factors: Wolverines show B-10 grit by overcoming 7-0, 14-7 and 21-14 deficits only to get outscored 14-0 in final quarter…Michigan musters just 84 yards rushing…Wolverines staring history in the face, one loss from tying team record for most losses in a season, done by 1962, 1936 and magical 1934 teams.
Look Out Below! Wolverines have lost four straight for first time since losing five straight in 1967, and four straight at the Poor House since 1966-67.
Next Loss: at Purdue
5. Indiana State (0-8; lost to South Dakota St. 49-9)
Mitigating Factors: FCS Sycamores proud holders of Continental Cup, symbolic of longest losing streak in North America…Nine points second highest output of year, behind only 21-point effort in 9/21 loss…Have scored three points in a game twice, with two shutouts.
Get Out Your History Books: With loss Saturday, Sycamores can become first team in history to have losing streak of greater than 20 games and lose to both Dakota State's on consecutive weeks.
Next Loss: at North Dakota State
6. McGill (0-8; lost at Laval 67-8)
Mitigating Factors: Redmen win B-10 Canadian championship with second straight winless season, advance to B-10 World Championships…16 straight losses best in frozen tundra, second best in hemisphere.
FunFact: Athletes in Canada have five years of eligibility.
Next Loss: 2009
7. BCS
Mitigating Factors: Dream scenario where top three teams all finish regular season undefeated unfolding, making past transgressions, like sending teams that weren't conference champions to national title game - and not sending the top team in AP and Coaches polls - seem minor by comparison.
FunFact: Should three teams finish undefeated, it would be the first time there has been any controversy associated with the BCS.
Next Loss: Entire post-season.
8. Vanderbilt (5-3; lost to Duke 10-7)
Mitigating Factors: After exploding for 14 points in each of past three games, Commodores prime for B-10 stretch run with seven points in third straight loss….Offense key, throwing interception at one-yard line on final drive…Five generally considered to be too many to earn B-10 title, but season-ending seven-game losing streak could contend for B-10 medal stand, Tostitos Plaque, given to team with longest losing streak in season that actually includes a win.
What The Hell's Going On Here? National ranking in Scoring Defense has actually improved from 24th to 17th during losing streak.
Next Loss: Florida
9. Utah State (1-7; lost to Fresno State 30-28)
Mitigating Factors: Aggies rebounding nicely from line victory in September with fourth straight loss…Saturday's loss particularly inspiring, as Aggies overcome go-ahead touchdown with 38 seconds left in game, only to lose on Bulldog 58-yeard field goal as time expired.
Yeah, We Bad: Since mid-September Aggie defense has taken 12 points per game off their season average, but have only gone from Dead Last to 114th in national rankings.
Next Loss: Hawaii
10. Iowa State (2-6; lost to Texas A&M 49-35)
Mitigating Factors: Cyclones make 2008 debut based on strong Tostitos Plaque push by following 2-0 start with six straight losses…Cyclones put 574 total yards and 34 first downs and still manage to lose as costly fumble leads to Aggie touchdown.
Goal Line Over Here! Cyclones have given up 34 or more points their last five (5) games.
Next Loss: at Oklahoma State
This Week's Clash of the Titans: Washington State at Stanford
Big Ten Game of the Week: Michigan at Purdue
This Would've Sucked A Few Years Ago: Duke at Wake Forest
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