| | Home
The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 13
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Normally, this is what Bottom Ten fans hope for, the once in a lifetime occurrence of two traditional rivals duking it out in their final game for the Wal-Mart Trophy Presented by Motel 6.
We come close this year, as Washington and Washington State head into this weekend ranked 1-2 in the Bottom Ten heading into the 89th renewal of the Sour Apple Cup, however, for reasons we’re sure Mr. Schedule Maker thought good, Washington goes to Cal the following week and Washington State goes to Hawaii, meaning Bottom Ten fans have the showdown game they've long waited for, but the Bottom Ten title still may not be decided for three more weeks!
This week’s mess:
1. Washington (0-10; lost to UCLA 27-7)
Mitigating Factors: Huskies reach new lows, even for them, by failing to break 100-yard mark in either rushing (96) or passing (39) …Huskies muster 55 penalty yards, for 1.41-to-1 Penalty Yards to Rushing Yards ratio…Consistent Huskies rank 110th or worse in Total Defense and Total Offense, Scoring Defense and Scoring Offense and Rushing Defense and Rushing Offense.
Hey, What Next? Huskies wondering to do next, because they’ve already fired their coach, though he refuses to leave and is still on the sidelines.
Next Loss: at Washington State
2. Washington State (1-10; lost at Arizona State 31-0)
Mitigating Factors: Cougars go 65 yards on initial drive only to miss field goal, get minus-46 yards next eight drives…Cougars shutout for third time this season, and have scored just three points in two other games…Cougars rush the ball 24 times for seven (7) yards.
Oh Jesus H: 67 penalty yards gives Cougars man-sized 9.57-to-1 Penalty Yards to Rushing Yards ratio, best in NCAA this year.
Next Loss: Washington
3. SMU (1-10; lost at UTEP 36-10)
Mitigating Factors: Mustangs, who have blown several leads this season, don’t even bother with this one mustering just 64 yards rushing and chipping in two fumbles and four interceptions…Following Week 2 win against dreaded Texas State, Mustangs have lost nine straight, the third time this century Mustangs have lost at least nine straight in a single season.
Numbers Racket: SMU ranks Dead Last in Rushing Offense (44.82 ypg) and Next To Dead Last in Total Defense (490.64 ypg).
Next Loss: Southern Mississippi (11/29)
4. Michigan (3-8; lost to Northwestern 21-14)
Mitigating Factors: Wolverines lose eighth game for first time ever…Third quarter key, as five Michigan drives result in five punts, including four three and out drives that gained a total of twelve (12) yards…Michigan capitalizes on two interceptions by missing a field goal and strategically throwing their own interception.
Get Out Your History Books: Wolverines lose to Northwestern at home for just sixth time since Benjamin Harrison administration.
Next Loss: at Ohio State
5. Indiana St. (0-11; lost to Northern Iowa 28-0)
Mitigating Factors: FCS Sycamores retain Continental Cup – given to the team with the longest all-division losing streak – with hemisphere best 25th straight loss…Despite shutout, 28-point loss actually Sycamores third closest game this season…Indiana State ranks Dead Last in FCS in Total Offense, Scoring Offense and Scoring Defense, getting outscored by an average of 43.73 to 7.
At The Ready: McGill Redmen, of Montreal, with 16 straight losses, standing by to claim Continental Cup should Sycamores win.
Next Loss: Missouri State
6. Iowa State (2-9; lost Missouri 52-20)
Mitigating Factors: Offense actually not too bad, but defense picking up slack, allowing six yards a carry and completions on eight out of every ten passes to Tigers…16-game road losing streak best in country.
Get Out The Vice Grips: Pressure building on Cyclones as they try to become first team in history to win season’s first two games, finish year with ten game losing streak.
Next Loss: at Kansas State
7. San Diego State (1-10; lost to Utah 63-14)
Mitigating Factors: Aztecs receiving strong strength of schedule points as Cal Poly, the FCS team that beat SDSU in opening game is 8-1 and has won seven straight…Aztecs penalized for 72 yards, rush for 73, just missing positive Penalty Yards To Rushing Yards ratio.
Game Within The Game: Aztecs win local bar’s Battle of the Third Quarter promotion, outscoring Utes 7-0, entitling fans to 75 cent shots after game.
Next Loss: UNLV
8. North Texas (1-9; DNP)
Mitigating Factors: Not So Mean Green took week off, but defense still managed to give 739 yards to scout team offense…Teams usually not ranked during bye weeks, but UNT given defending champion’s exemption into this week’s survey.
Nowhere To Go But Up: Mean Green ranks Dead Last in Total Defense (490.9 ypg) and Scoring Defense (48.6)
Next Loss: at Middle Tennessee State
9. Bottom Ten Alumni Association
Mitigating Factors: Former B-10 stalwarts Buffalo, Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice and Notre Dame are a combined 29-21 this season, with everyone but Duke (figures) bowl eligible…B-10 pollsters giving thanks for consistency of Washington schools, emergence of Michigan.
FunFact: Temple’s 3-7, but misses out on B-10 ranking this week as pollsters focus on Michigan’s crash landing and upcoming Sour Apple Cup.
10. BCS
Mitigating Factors: Not much drama this week, as top two, undefeated teams either win (Alabama) or did not play (Texas Tech), but there’s still plenty of time to make – like they do every year – a complete mess of things…Despite fact FBS insist they would never work, real college football playoffs begin later this month in FCS, Divisions II and III.
FunFact: Three undefeated teams are ranked in the 7-17 slots.
This Year’s Clash of the Titans: Washington at Washington State
Other Lousy Rivalry of the Week: Michigan at Ohio State
Comments? Recipes? Complaints? Email the Writer's Shack here!
Home |
|
