| | Home
The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 14
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Though there are still two weeks left to go, Washington staked its claim to the Wal-Mart Trophy Presented by Motel 6 with a clutch 16-13, double overtime loss against arch-rival and now Bottom Ten pretender Washington State, in an Apple Cup they will be talking about for, well, probably the next couple of days, at least until basketball season really heats up.
The Huskies did it with the type of total team effort that wins Bottom Ten titles, as the defense gave up a game tying field goal on the last play of regulation, the offense produced zero points after twice driving inside the Cougars' 25-yard line in the fourth quarter and the kicking game put the 'special' in special teams by missing two fourth quarter field goals, and another in overtime.
With the loss the Huskies extend their Nation's Longest Losing Streak (NLLS) to 13 games. The Bottom Ten title is the Huskies to lose, literally, as a loss at Cal this Saturday will insure them the title, which will be a relief to Bottom Ten pollsters, who are glad to avoid the controversy associated with having to choose from various one-loss teams and the inevitable calls for a Bottom Ten playoff.
Also, Indiana State insured they can take the Continental Cup - issued to the team with the longest all-division losing streak in North America - home with them for the holidays with them, closing out 2008 with their 26th straight loss, a 27-24 overtime loss to Missouri State.
To show what complete idiots we are here at the Bottom Ten, we take time out this week from our usual survey to present how the teams ranked in the Week 1 poll fared this season. It ain't pretty.
This week's mess:
1. Duke
2008 Roundup: Not too bad…4-7 so far, and while they have lost four straight, Blue Devils did win consecutive games against major division teams for the first time since 1997.
2. Florida International
2008 Roundup: 2007 Tostitos Plaque winners, after blowing final game to North Texas, FIU is 4-6 with two games remaining, and they even had a three game winning streak this year.
3. Toronto
2008 Roundup: Started season holding Continental Cup - symbolic of having the longest all-division losing streak in North America, but actually won two games, their second and third wins this century.
4. Sun Belt Conference
2008 Roundup: Nation's worst conference had usual non-conference fiasco, going 5-27, but gets to smiley faces on next year's media guide for going undefeated against lower-division schools.
5. BCS
2008 Roundup: Up to usual shenanigans, as three really good Big 12 teams all have one loss, as Oklahoma has beaten Texas Tech, who has beaten Texas who beat Oklahoma…The final two weeks should clear matters up, though, and insure a controversy free BCS title game.
6. NCAA
2008 Roundup: Token entry thrown into most opening week polls, nation's largest collegiate athletic sanctioning body still doesn't offer a playoff for its largest football division and even approved two more bowl games for this year!
7. Department of Homeland Security (Army, VMI)
2008 Roundup: Army one loss away from third straight 3-win season…Loss against Navy would insure Cadets win Sgt. Bilko Trophy, symbolic of service academy lousiness…VMI finished 4-7, their first 4-win season since 2003.
8. International Border Commission (Minnesota, Idaho)
2008 Roundup: Gophers never a factor in B-10 race, winning first four games and seven of first eight, though they finished strong, losing their last four, which should guarantee them some sort of bowl game…Idaho was in and out of the B-10 all season and finished 2-12, and a spot in the final B-10 poll can't be ruled out.
9. Holy Trinity (Notre Dame, SMU, Wisconsin Lutheran)
2008 Roundup: Notre Dame 6-5, but still can't run the ball; SMU still in hunt for B-10 medal stand and Tostitos Plaque with 1-10 record and nine game losing streak…Wisconsin Lutheran finished 4-6.
10. North Texas
2008 Roundup: Defending B-10 champion still in contention for this year's title, though they will need help, but they needed help last year before snagging title in last week.
This Week's Clash of the Titans: Southern Mississippi at SMU
All The Marbles: Washington at Cal
Bottom Ten Alumni Association: Former B-10 perennial Buffalo will actually play in the MAC championship game against Ball State December 5.
Comments? Recipes? Complaints? Email the Writer's Shack here!
Home |
|
