Home
The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 2
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
September 7, 2009
While B-10 fans everywhere enjoy watching teams run the table and go winless, the secondary race for the Tostitos Plaque - given to the team with the longest losing streak in a season that actually includes a win - got off to a strong start as preseason B-10 faves North Texas, Army and SMU all posted unimpressive Week 1 victories against inferior (as if that's possible) opponents. This gave the now-combined Washington-Washington State entry the hole it needed to rush to the top of this week's Bottom Ten poll, the only hole either team has rushed through all season.
Also, B-10 pollsters, already tipsy over Washington extending the Nation's Longest Losing Streak (NLLS), stuck around the bar for a few more rounds to honor B-10 perennials Duke and Rice returning to the survey.
This week's mess:
1. Bureau of Territorial Affairs (Washington, Washington State: 0-2; UW: lost to LSU 31-23; WSU: lost to Stanford 39-13)
Mitigating Factors: Huskies extend NLLS to 15 games with 15th straight loss…Huskies have lost at least five straight games in every season since 2004…Cougars set tone early, driving to Cardinal 1-yard line on opening drive before showing the tenacity that wins B-10 titles and refusing to score…Cougars haven't beaten team that finished season with winning record since 2006, not that they've had a whole lot of wins since 2006.
History's Games: This Saturday will mark the first time in human history that schools forming a combined B-10 entry will play separate games in the same city as both Huskies and Cougars play in Seattle.
Next Losses: UW: Idaho; WSU: Hawaii (at Seattle)
2. Rice (0-1; lost to UAB 44-24)
Mitigating Factors: Owl make strong B-10 stand in opener, trailing 20-0, 27-3 and 34-10 before showing late, cursory interest in strong, too late 14-10 run over game's last 17 minutes…Defense allows 195 rushing yards and two touchdowns to opponents quarterback, who wasn't a puzzle throwing the ball either, rustling up 221 yards through the air.
Fork In The Road: 2009 gut check time for Owls, who in 2008 went 10-3 and won a bowl game, but who also finished #10 in 2007's final B-10 poll.
Next Loss: at Texas Tech
3. Duke (0-1; lost to Richmond 24-16)
Mitigating Factors: Blue Devils storm back into B-10 poll by losing to I-AA Spiders for second time in three years…Rushing game key, producing just 19 yards…Duke closes out Double Aughts by losing opener for eighth time…The Blue Devils, one of this decade's most consistent B-10 performers, have started 0-2 six times this decade, 0-3 four times, 0-4 three times, 0-5 well, you get the picture.
Uh-Oh: The last time Duke opened season with loss to Richmond, in 2006, Blue Devils started season 0-12.
Next Loss: at Army
4. Indiana State (0-2; lost to Louisville 30-10)
Mitigating Factors: I-AA Sycamores tighten tourniquet on Continental Cup - given to school with the longest all-division losing streak in North America - with hemispheric-best 28th straight loss and 52nd loss in last 53 games…Sycamores equal opportunity losers, following up opening loss to NAIA school with loss to I-A power just two seasons removed from 12-1 season.
Now The Hell Will Start: Sycamores settling in for long Continental Cup reign suiting up 36 freshman and 28 sophomores.
Next Loss: Eastern Illinois
5. Tulane (0-1; lost to Tulsa 37-13)
Mitigating Factors: Tulane never in it as Tulsa leads 17-0 before anyone needs a deodorant despite having three (3) running backs in double figures in rushing yards…Green Trickle firmly in runner-up spot with nation's second best losing streak at nine games…
Leader Of The Pack: Game played in front of 42,065 empty seats at Superdome, giving Tulane NCAA best 1:1,078.5 Rushing-Yards-To-Empty-Seat ratio.
Next Loss: BYU
6. North Texas (1-0; defeated Ball State 20-10)
Mitigating Factors: Sort Of Mean Green explodes for first season opening win since 2005 and just their fifth non-conference win against I-A team in Double Aughts…Defense, always a touchy subject with North Texas, gives up third fewest points in a game since first appearing on B-10 radar screen in 2005…Win was NT's first non-conference road win this century.
Over The Hump: UNT looking for first 2-0 start since zany, historic 1975 squad opened with wins over Texas-Arlington and Drake.
Next Loss: Ohio
7. Ball State (0-1; lost to North Texas 20-10)
Mitigating Factors: Scrappy defending Mid-American Conference champion out to prove 2008's 12-2 mark complete fluke with key loss to North Texas team that has racked up consecutive B-10 medal stand finishes, including the 2007 title…After rallying to tie game in final quarter, Cardinal's new "matador" defense says "ole!" and seals loss with by allowing late touchdown, field goal.
Back To The Future: Cardinals looking to return to form that produced 1-21 record from 1998-99.
Next Loss: New Hampshire
8. SMU (1-0; defeated Stephen F. Austin 31-23)
Mitigating Factors: Win over I-AA team only means Mustangs now odds-on favorite for Tostitos Plaque, given to B-10 team with longest winning streak in a season that actually includes a win…Despite win, Mustangs still hoping for strong B-10 run after being obliged to rally for 17 fourth quarter points against I-AA team that had six (6) turnovers.
Giddy-Up: Mustangs trying to become first team to win B-10 title with quarterback whose given names are 'Bo Levi'.
Next Loss: at UAB
9. Sun Belt Conference (1-5 non-conference)
Mitigating Factors: Sun Belt off to usual lousy non-conference start, including usual BCS force-feedings losing to SEC, ACC and two Big-12 schools, getting outscored 249-78, and that includes their one victory…Nobody in conference playing defense this year either, with five of eight teams already ranking 80th or worse in both Total Defense and Scoring Defense.
This Line Used To Be Funny: Conference hoping to rebound with usual .500 mark in conference play.
10. Army (1-0; defeated Eastern Michigan 27-14)
Mitigating Factors: Hopes for second winless campaign of century dashed as Cadets win opener for first time since first Clinton Administration…Labor Day weekend is the latest Cadets have had winning record since 1996 team started 2-0…Army gets full credit for win despite fact Eagles went 3-9 in 2008, including losing streaks of both five and four games…
Ten-Hut: Black Knights of Confusion expected to be hampered by new Department of the Army regulation taking effect this week requiring linemen to stand at parade rest before each snap.
Next Loss: Duke
This Week's Clash of the Titans: #3 Duke at #10 Army
This One Isn't Going To Be Any Good Either: #2 Rice at Texas Tech
Hail And Farewell: The following entities dropped out of the Bottom Ten this week: BCS, Michigan
Comments? Recipes? Complaints? Email the Writer's Shack here!
Home |
|
