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The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 11
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Showing the type of stability this country needs in these troubling times, all four winless teams, plus Washington State, who's 1-5 but winless in spirit, lost, resulting in no change to the Top 5 in this week's Bottom Ten.
The pressure is on, as the title is Western Kentucky's to lose. Though the Hilltoppers are only one of four 0-9 teams, they are holders of the Nation's Longest Losing Streak (NLLS) with 17 straight losses.
Also, the first two Bottom Ten awards of the season are issued, as Army retains the Sgt. Bilko Trophy - symbolic of service academy lousiness - with a loss to Air Force, and Cheney University closes its season with its 28th straight loss, giving them the Continental Cup - issued to the team with the longest all-division losing streak in North America.
In other news, B-10 pollsters once again ensure eternal damnation with the return of the College of Cardinals entry.
This week's mess:
1. Western Kentucky (0-9; lost to Troy 40-20)
Mitigating Factors: Showing mental toughness found in all B-10 champions, Hilltoppers overcome 7-0, 14-7 and 17-14 leads, before settling down to get outscored 26-3 over final 18 minutes…Defense setting pace, peaking just in time for B-10 stretch run, giving up an average of 56.6 points in last three games, and ranking Dead Last in Scoring Defense and Total Defense, and Next To Dead Last in Rushing Defense.
B-10 Honors Outlook: With NLLS, and bottom-ranked defense, Hilltoppers virtually assured of B-10 title with perfect 0-12 season.
Next Loss: at UL-Monroe
2. Rice (0-9; lost to SMU 31-28)
Mitigating Factors: Rice shows character that wins B-10 championships - not to mention loses nine (9) straight - streaking to 20-7 lead before putting on game face and getting outscored 24-7…Owls face gut check time in quest for B-10 medal stand, as next two opponents both are 3-6.
B-10 Honors Outlook: Medal stand finish assured if Owls lose out…Only hope for B-10 title is for Western Kentucky to lose or hope team stats are so bad B-10 Electoral College is deadlocked and vote is thrown into Rice University Student Senate
Next Loss: Tulane
3. Eastern Michigan (0-9; lost to Northern Illinois 50-6)
Mitigating Factors: Eagle defense shows big play capabilities that lead to winless seasons, giving up a TD on opening kickoff return and touchdown runs of 65 and 79 runs in sprinting out to 37-6 halftime deficit…Offense ensures Eagles have no chance for second half kickoff by punting five times and fumbling once…EMU on track for Rand McNally Award, given to nation's worst Directional School that doesn't win B-10 title.
B-10 Honors Outlook: Nine-game losing streak impressive, even for the Mid-American conference, and Eagles looking good for B-10 medal stand if they run the table, but if there are four 0-12 teams, someone will get left out.
Next Loss: Western Michigan
4. New Mexico (0-9; lost to Utah 45-14)
Mitigating Factors: Lobos losing everywhere, as current 13-game losing streak is second best in country, while current nine game conference and five game home losing streaks are best in country…In desperate attempt for material, B-10 pollsters were hoping to make lame joke about low attendance at Lobo games, but UNM actually is averaging over 28,000 a game, ranking 76th in NCAA.
B-10 Honors Outlook: With three other winless teams, and lacking the stature of holding the NLLS like W. Kentucky, or being B-10 perennials like Rice, Lobos need help to win B-10 title, even if they lose out.
Next Loss: BYU
5. Washington State (1-8; lost to Arizona 48-7)
Mitigating Factors: Cougars serve notice early this loss was in the bag, giving up a touchdown on opening kickoff, followed by scores on next six (6) possessions…Cougars a statistical juggernaut, ranking 115th or worse in ten (10) official NCAA stat categories.
B-10 Honors Outlook: Title and medal stand chances bleak with four winless teams ahead of them, but with six (6) straight losses Cougars could be in running for Tostitos Plaque if they can lose out.
Next Loss: UCLA
6. North Texas (2-7; lost to UL-Monroe 33-6)
Mitigating Factors: Horror over breaking six (6)-game losing streak on Halloween stemmed with confidence building loss that saw Mean Green rush for only 76 yards…33 points allowed is actually fewest UNT has allowed since right after Labor Day…Defense will be key down the stretch as UNT offense ranks no worse than 56th in any major offensive stat category.
B-10 Honors Outlook: 2007 champions will find repeat of last year's medal stand performance difficult, however B-10 perennials should find an easy road to annual B-10 finish…Nov. 21 showdown with Army will be key.
Next Loss: at Florida International
7. Cheney (0-9; lost to Clarion 32-12)
Mitigating Factors: Wolves explode for third lead of the year, but rally for third come-from-ahead loss of season…Wolves end season with 28-game losing streak, ensuring holding of Continental Cup - issued to team with the longest all-division losing streak in North American Free Trade Area - at least through start of 2010 season.
B-10 Honors Outlook: As a D-II school, Wolves ineligible for B-10 title and medal stand, though, as holders of the Continental Cup they are guaranteed placement in final rankings.
Next Loss: Entire 2010 season
8. Vanderbilt (2-8; lost to Florida 27-3)
Mitigating Factors: School rethinking 2003 combining of Athletic Department with Student Affairs Department after drum major takes over coaching duties and orders offensive line to high step when blocking on sweeps and special teams to march in step on kick coverage…After 2-2 start, Commodores have regrouped to lose six (6) straight.
B-10 Honors Outlook: B-10 medal stand probably out of reach, and late September win jeopardized chances for Tostitos Plaque, but a loss in either of final two games should be enough to insure ranking in final B-10 survey.
Next Loss: Kentucky
9. Army (3-6; lost to Air Force 35-7)
Mitigating Factors: Cadets retain possession of Sgt. Bilko Trophy - symbolic of service academy lousiness - with 19th loss to Air Force in last 21 meetings…Expected benefits from new Department of Defense regulation requiring Army opponents to say 'Mother may I' before entering end zone negated by Cadets always saying 'yes you may'.
B-10 Honors Outlook: Black Knights of Confusion need to lose out to insure final B-10 ranking…Will get strength of schedule points for three wins having come against teams that are a combined 3-25 so far in 2009.
Next Loss: VMI
10. College of Cardinals: Notre Dame, Anna Maria (6-12; ND: lost to Navy 23-21; AM: DNP)
Mitigating Factors: Irish worm their way back into survey with second straight home loss to latest crop of swabbie officer candidates…Loss is first time unranked Navy team has beaten a ranked Irish team since first FDR Administration…Pregame Papal blessing not enough to overcome NCAA regulation requiring Irish to outscore opponents in order to get credit for victory…Anna Maria finished inaugural D-III season 0-9, losing by an average score of 50 to 13.11.
B-10 Honors Outlook: Infrequent, novelty entry - ranked solely to make fun of Notre Dame, hapless D-III Catholic school and Holy Spirit - could possibly earn final ranking if Irish lose out.
Next Loss: ND: at Pitt; AM: 2010
This Week's Clash of the Titans: North Texas at Florida International
These Aren't Going To Be Any Good, Either: Entire MAC schedule.
Civil War Battle of the Week: VMI at Army
No Room at the Inn: Michigan (5-5): Wolverines have lost three (3) straight and five (5) of six (6)!; Miami, Ohio (1-9): Rebounds from first win of year with clutch conference loss at Temple!; Florida Atlantic International Airport : Florida Atlantic, Florida International (4-13): With combined four wins, tandem entry not the juggernaut B-10 pollsters were expecting!; Ball State (1-8): Season-opening seven game losing streak a distant memory in rough and tumble 2009 B-10!
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