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The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 3
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
My goodness, there is so much lousiness in this week's Bottom Ten poll that pollsters were obliged to revert to cheap though time-tested tactic of making up no less than two (2) combined entries with one of those entries - the Trilateral Commission - containing three teams!
And while 2007 B-10 champion and 2008 medal stand laureate North Texas bravely tries to keep the B-10 medal stand kickin' it old school, B-10 novitiates Ball State and Western Kentucky have taken complete control of the top two spots as the race for the Wal-Mart Trophy Presented by Motel 6 heats up!
This week's mess:
1. Ball State (0-3; lost to Army 24-17)
Mitigating Factors: Cardinals vault to top of B-10 heap for first time by constructing classic B-10 run, with losses to both I-AA New Hampshire and traditional B-10 powers Army and North Texas…Defense not a complete embarrassment, but Cardinals doing it with offense, ranking 112th in Total Offense (270.33 ypg) and 110th in Scoring Offense (14.33 ppg).
To Do List: Ball State has an excellent opportunity to step up and take charge of B-10 race this week with loss to certified National Power.
Next Loss: at Auburn
2. Western Kentucky (0-3; lost to Central Arkansas 28-7)
Mitigating Factors: Hilltoppers extend Nation's Longest Losing Streak (NLLS) to eleven (11) with key win as offense chips in, scoring fewest points of season, overcoming defense giving up lowest point total of season…Hilltoppers getting outscored by an average of 42-9 every game.
Numbers Game: Hilltoppers rank Next To Dead Last or Next To Next To Dead Last in no less than six (6) official NCAA stat categories.
Next Loss: at Navy
3. North Texas (1-2; lost at Alabama 53-7)
Mitigating Factors: Traditional B-10 power recovering nicely from opening week win by sleepwalking through expected loss to traditional national power…Mean Green not even bothering to show early, cursory interest with only points coming late in third quarter after Alabama freshman boys chorus takes over defensive chores.
Balanced Attack: North Texas defense already in midseason form, showing the type of balance that wins B-10 titles, allowing 264 passing and 260 rushing yards.
Next Loss: Middle Tennessee State
4. USC (2-1; lost at Washington 16-13)
Mitigating Factors: Trojans show annual penchant for clutch loss to lousy team with last second loss to Huskies team that just two weeks ago lost their 15th straight game…Trojans loss an all around team fiasco, with turnovers, penalties and an inspired defensive stand that led to last second, game winning goal all contributing.
Fight On: Trojans score on first two possession, then explode for four punts, three points, two fumbles and an interception the rest of the way.
Next Loss: Washington State
5. Indiana State (0-4; lost at South Dakota State 41-0)
Mitigating Factors: I-AA Sycamores tighten grip on Continental Cup - given to team with longest all-division losing streak in North America - with hemisphere-best 30th straight loss…ISU may never score again, as Sycamores rack up second straight shutout loss and haven't scored in over 11 quarters…Sycamores rank no better than 108th in any offensive stat category, including Dead Last in Total Offense (135.75 ypg).
Now The Hell Will Start: With loss, Sycamores become fourth (4th) NCAA I-A/AA team to lose at least 30 consecutive games.
Next Loss: Youngstown State
6. SMU (1-2; lost at Washington State 30-27, OT)
Mitigating Factors: Mustangs, the B-10 preseason #2 pick, gallop back into B-10 after curious 2-0 start with loss to Cougar team that still hasn't led a game in regulation this season.
Name Game: Mustangs quest to become first team to earn B-10 medal stand finish with QB named Bo Levi helped by QB Bo Levi Mitchell, who threw two touchdown passes to each team, plus chipped in clutch OT interception.
Next Loss: at TCU
7. Sun Belt Conference
Mitigating Factors: NCAA's worst conference actually goes 2-5 in non-conference games Saturday, which is actually pretty good for Sun Belt Conference.
Yeah, Whatever: Despite proven success in other programs, conference schools still refusing to play defense, with over 40 percent of SBC schools ranking 100 or worst in Total Defense, and two-thirds ranking 100th or worse in Scoring Defense.
Next Loss: Automatic New Orleans Bowl bid, as bowl officials now negotiating for ninth place team out of Dallas-area Pop Warner league.
8. Tri-Lateral Commission: Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice (2-7; Duke lost to Kansas 44-16; Vanderbilt lost to Miss. St 15-3; Rice lost to Oklahoma St. 41-24)
Mitigating Factors: Traditional B-10 powers combine for juggernaut entry designed to create dangerous monopoly of B-10 medal stand…Vandy doing it with offense, which is averaging six points per game against real teams…Duke can neither run the ball (#114, 61.3 ypg) nor stop others from running the ball (#102, 181 ypg)…Rice can't do anything, ranking 100th or worse in Rushing and Scoring Offense, 113th in Total Defense, and Dead Last in Scoring Defense…Teams have combined to lose last six straight.
Order In The Court: B-10 interns researching whether entry violates federal, B-10 anti-trust laws.
Next Losses: Rice: vs. Vanderbilt; Vanderbilt: at Rice; Duke: NC Central; NC Central: at Duke.
9. Florida Atlantic International Airport: Florida International, Florida Atlantic (0-4; FIUlost at Rutgers 23-15; FAU lost at South Carolina 38-16)
Mitigating Factors: FAU model of consistency, ranking 117th in both Scoring Defense and Offense, getting outscored an average of 43.5-9.5 every game…FIU one of two schools averaging less than a yard a carry in 2009…Along with USC and Ball State, FAU only school in this week's survey to appear in bowl games the past two seasons…Schools carrying on strong B-10 tradition of state schools combining to form singe entry, joining Washington/Washington State and UL-Monroe and UL-Lafayette who combined to form zany Louisiana - Famous Dead Person entry a few years back.
Dead In The Water: Teams so bad B-10 expert(s) unclear if Dec. 5 meeting will produce 0-0 or 121-119 game.
Next Losses: FIU: Toledo; FAU: UL-Monroe
10. Washington State (1-2; defeated SMU 30-27 OT)
Mitigating Factors: With Western Kentucky and Ball State asserting themselves, Cougars B-10 title hopes dealt severe blow with OT win over SMU team that themselves is back in thick of B-10 race…Cougar offense heroic in second half, producing three (3) drives with negative yardage, three punts, a fumble and an interception, only to be betrayed by defense that manages to find end zone twice.
Breakdown Segment: Cougars only hope for B-10 title is to lose out, a distinct possibility as Cougars remaining schedule is the second toughest in the country.
Next Loss: at USC
This Week's Clash of the Titans: Vanderbilt at Rice - Loser to be considered for own B-10 entry!
This One Isn't Going To Be Any Good Either: Washington State at USC
It's On The Schedule, That's Why: UL-Monroe at Florida Atlantic
Bubbling Under The Bottom Ten: Former B-10 stalwarts Buffalo and Temple are a combined 1-4 this season. Stay tuned.
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