The first BCS poll is out this season and there is one glaring omission. The entire Big Ten.
I’m not saying there are any deserving Big Ten teams, but its a pretty damming accusation of where the conference ranks in the binary hearts of the polls and computers. So, because the Big Ten deserves some recognition on some list, some where, here we go with this week’s Sad Seven.
7. The Big Ten - Its embarrassing enough that two teams in the conference aren’t bowl eligible coming into the season, but the conference that time forgot actually boasts one unbeaten team, unqualified Ohio State. Problem is they can’t play after the regular season and thus the BCS is denying their existence. That leaves nobody left to represent on the list conspired by the for-profit gestapo dictatorship of college football. The sad state of affairs of the both the Cupcake and Creampuff divisions leaves concerns about national relevance, but does give nobody’s like me the opportunity to create new statistics. Lets focus on the Creampuffs (Leaders) Division to come up with the QCWP or Qualified Conference Winning Percentage. This stat is made up of the conference winning percentages of the four teams actually qualified to win the division. Wisconsin is 2-1, but the remainder, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois have yet to win a conference game (combined 0-8), leaving the QCWP at a dismal .222.
6. Boston College (1-5) - The Eagles showed some fight early in the season, hanging with both Miami and Northwestern in nine-point losses, but it seems the wheels have come off in the beanpot region. BC blew a fourth-quarter lead to Army on Oct. 6, the Black Knights first win, before having their doors blow off by a very ticked Florida State team off their first loss.
5. Tulane (1-5) - Stop the presses, Tulane won a game! The worst offense in college football managed to DOUBLE their previous season high for points scored beating Southern Methodist 27-26 at home last Saturday. Despite rushing for only 40 yards the entire game, the Green Wave managed to put together a drive with less than a minute-30 left in the game to pull off the win.
4. Colorado State (1-6) – After opening the season with win over hapless rival Colorado (worst rivalry in college sports?), the Rams have lost six straight, a feat only the bottom three have managed to accomplish. In those six games Colorado State is being out-scored better than 2-1 (201-88 to be exact).
3. Southern Miss (0-6) - The young team just keeps finding ways to lose. Southern Miss face ten-point deficits three times against Central Florida and finally managed to tie the game with 13 second left to force OT. Each team scored in the first overtime, but Golden Eagle Freshman quarterback Anthony Alford threw an interception in the second to end the game. Southern Miss was on the wrong side of history here as UCF claimed the program’s first overtime win.
According to an article last year on AnnArbor.com (see link in article), The Eastern Michigan football team draws an average of 6,400 fans to home football games. Eastern uses $150,00 from a contract with Pepsi to purchase tickets from itself to meet NCAA attendance standards. Photo by Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
2. Eastern Michigan (0-6) - Is a bad week to be an Eagle, as Eastern Michigan is the third Eagle team on the list. Eastern Michigan also put up a season-high for points with 47 against Toledo. Still they lost by five. Dating back to last year the Eagles have lost their last nine of 10. They have a chance to get a win this Saturday in one of the week’s worst games, against Army. The fan base is just as sad, just read this little nugget from last year’s Annarbor.com.
1. UMASS (0-6) – Nothing like kicking a team while they are idle, right. The Minutemen fall to the worst spot in the country, despite not playing last week. I’m rooting for these kids against Bowling Green this week for two reasons. One, I HATE Bowling Green. That stems from the UNO hockey rivalry. Two, it’s probably UMASS’ last chance to win one this year.
Three Awful Games
3. Army @ Eastern Michigan – If you like old school rushing and the triple option, you’ll love this game. The two teams rack up a combined 540 rushing yards per game, but both are in the bottom 10 in passing. The two teams combined record is 1-11. Log in to ESPN3.com to watch this thriller.
2. Florida Atlantic @ South Alabama – The infamous Florida vs. Alabama game that NOBODY is talking about. The two teams have lost their last nine games collectively, so something has to give, right? They will find a way to both lose, somehow. Points will be at a premium (maybe) as the two combine for just 29 points per game.
1. Tulane @ UTEP – The awfulness is just so awesome! These two COMBINE for 2-11 record, 28 points per game and 130 rushing yards. This should be an outstanding contest of teams that have no relevance.
Might actually watch the Army game! “On Brave Old Army Team …”
By the way, it’s the BLACK Knights. Golden Knights are Central Florida!