10. New Mexico's return to abject failure – New Mexico had a pretty good couple of weeks. They managed to win a game and they didn't get clubbed against Air Force. Then came BYU and now that the Cougars have gotten their season turned, it looked like we all expected BYU-New Mexico would before the Cougars took the first half of the season off. 40-7 and Mike Locksley likely has one solitary game left in his tenure. With it comes a chance to bookend the season opening 72-0 loss to Oregon with something nearly as bad or worse: TCU with a need to run the score up.
9. Playground rules – At least the game was entertaining (and the spectacle was too). Even both teams going one way was entertaining, but Northwestern's thought to do this again should only remain a thought. Wrigley Field isn't big enough for football and shouldn't be used again.
8. LSU defense – The LSU defense took a rare day off (only other time against Auburn and still held the other Tigers to 24 points despite being gouged repeatedly on the ground) against Ole Miss. The coverage was just flat out awful and the run defense wasn't its normal self. Good thing the Ole Miss defense also took the day off and when that happens anyone can hang a large crooked number on the scoreboard.
7. Big East offenses (except Cincinnati and whoever is playing them) – The three non-Cincinnati games in the Big East last week: 83 points among six teams in three games. All of the defenses aren't that good (Syracuse and West Virginia are, but are flanked by terrible offenses and not just the bad that pervades this league). Where did the offense go. Where are the old Louisville crooked numbers? (Arkansas). Where is the high powered spread running game from West Virginia that was good even before Pat White got there? (Michigan) What happened to the powerful Pitt running game of recent years? (Never underestimate Wannstedt's ability to screw up, especially on offense) The only thing on offense in this league that approximates anything that was good in recent years is Cincinnati and that team's defense has gone where everyone else's offense have gone (but with no real discernible reason).
6. USC in the state of Oregon – The struggles are well-chronicled now. Of course that doesn't make Trojan fans feel any better. Maybe not having to go the the state every year anymore in the new Pac-10 divisional alignment will make USC fans feel better.
5. What happened to the Rutgers defense? - Remember what I said earlier about the Big East defenses taking over and a lack of offense. Evidently Rutgers didn't get the memo. Yes they were playing Cincinnati (the one competent offense in the league) and they did put up 38 points in a rare feat in the Big East, but the Scarlet Knights gave up 69. How the heck does anyone give up 69 points in a game that was thought to be even at kickoff. What has happened at Rutgers? Just four seasons ago, Rutgers was one of the final three undefeated teams. Now, they are back to their previous familiar perch at the bottom of the Big East.
4. Iowa in the last four minutes – ESPN's Sportscenter graphic said it well. Iowa has been tied of leading the the final four minutes of every game they have lost this season only to watch its stellar defense capitulate at the end and leave the offense in a near hopeless situation (the only exception being the early loss at Arizona where the offense had plenty of time and the line got run over). Despite statistically being a better team than any Iowa outfit since to 2002-2004 run that won 10 games each season, the Hawkeyes are 7-4 and look headed to a worse finish than the overachievers of two years ago.
3. Western Kentucky in the 4th quarter – With the exception of the two wins this season, Western Kentucky has only two scripts since moving to the FBS level last season. Either they get waxed and aren't in the game in the 4th quarter or they blow a lead at the end. It seems this happens nearly every week for the Hilltoppers and it did again against Middle Tennessee. Outscore 14-0 in the 4th to lose 27-26. Ouch (and the reaction would be more than that if it hadn't already happened a few times this season to go along with the last three games of last year).
2. Scheduling FCS teams in November – Alabama, Texas Tech, Georgia, Kentucky, Auburn, Mississippi St., and Florida please come on down for your shaming. I hate the games against FCS team anyway, but scheduling them in November to get a virtual bye in the heat of the season is just awful. All of these schools should be ashamed. If you have that week in November to schedule a game like that, at least make it one that is an FBC cupcake. Move the FCS games to the beginning where they belong if you must insist on playing them.
1. 44-0? Against Wyoming? How bad do you have to be? - Wyoming was beaten the last two weeks by New Mexico and UNLV (combined wins against teams not names Wyoming or each other: 0). SO what the heck happened for the Cowboys to beat rival Colorado St. 44-0. Results this bad are tough to make fun of. The scoreline does it for me.
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