Non-BCS Schools
Flex Their Muscles
by Mike Mitchell
9/12/04 1:00 am edt
Please don't call it
an upset weekend. It is far too cliche and does a complete injustice
to the magnificent football programs being operated in Boise,
Hattiesburg and Fresno. Besides, the weekly picks based on the Congrove Computer Rankings picked
the wins by Fresno State over Kansas State and Southern Miss
over Nebraska.
Boise State is one of the best and, yet, least respected schools
in the country. The Broncos are riding a 20-game home winning
streak and 13-game over-all winning streak, both tops in the
nation. They have also won 18 straight WAC games and 26 of their
last 27 games played. On Friday, they rallied from an early 14-0
deficit to defeat Oregon State convincingly 53-34. The victory
avenged Boise State's only loss in just over two years. The Beavers
downed the Broncos in Corvallis last season, 26-24.
Fresno State's 45-21 win over Kansas State can not even come
close to the definition of "upset". For the Bulldogs,
it's their sixth win in the last eleven games played against
BCS schools over the past three seasons.
Since 2000, Southern Miss has rebuffed such notable programs
as Alabama, Illinois and Oklahoma State (twice). Southern Miss
coaches and players expected to win at Nebraska. The closeness
of the 21-17 score probably upset more than a few Golden Eagles
players.
Even Troy's 24-14 Thursday night win at home over Missouri didn't
shock me or the computer which predicted a much-tighter ballgame
than the oddsmakers. Remember, the upstart Trojans dispatched
BCS member Mississippi State back in 2001 in their very first
season as a 1-A school.
If you want to use the term upset, affix it to Notre Dame's win
over Michigan. The Fighting Irish looked awful in last week's
loss at Brigham Young. But in the friendly confines of their
own stadium, Ty Willingham's club overcame a 9-0 halftime deficit
to stun the Wolverines 28-20. Michigan was the computer's preseason
pick to face Oklahoma in the BCS title game. The chances of that
occurring are not completely out the window, but the loss was
entirely unexpected by everyone but the most ardent Irish fans.
A bigger upset would've been Marshall knocking off Ohio State.
The Thundering Herd came close, losing on a 54-yard field goal
on the last play of the game in Columbus. Just last week, Marshall
lost at home to Troy.
South Carolina over Georgia would have been a big upset. But
the Gamecocks stared prosperity in the face and promptly shot
it as they blew a 16-0 lead and lost 20-16.
Indiana's 30-24 win over Oregon can only be called a "mild"
upset even though it snapped the Ducks' 21-game home winning
streak against non-conference opponents. The 20-point line in
favor of the Ducks was considered way too high by the computer
which forecasted only a 6-point home win for Oregon.
You can call New Mexico's 27-24 win over Texas Tech an even more
"mild" upset, despite the fact that they had not beaten
the Red Raiders since 1984. The Lobos put Washington State on
the ropes last week before falling 21-17. This week, a 43-yard
field goal on the last play of the game gave New Mexico the win.
Cincinnati's 45-26 victory over Miami (Ohio) is a bigger upset.
The RedHawks had won 14 straight games before losing at Michigan
last week. The Bearcats had lost to Miami in each of the past
three seasons.
Texas escaped the upset in Fayetteville where the Longhorns downed
Arkansas 22-20. Both schools were former members of the Southwest
Conference which disbanded after the 1995 season. The Razorbacks
jumped ship to the SEC after the 1991 season. It was Texas' first
win over Arkansas since 1990.
I'd have to say that New Hampshire's 35-24 defeat of Rutgers
is an upset. Just when it looked like the Scarlet Knights could
have a good season after knocking off Michigan State in their
opener, they go out and lose at home to a 1-AA school
that went just 5-7 last year.
Rutgers wasn't the only team to be bitten by a lower-division
foe. Florida Atlantic, which upended Hawaii last week, thumped
North Texas this week. The Howard Schnellenberger-coached Owls
took down the Mean Green 20-13 at UNT. FAU is making the switch
to 1-A and will join the Sun Belt conference next year.
1-A teams are now a combined 28-3 against their 1-AA opponents
for the 2004 season.
The strangest finish I saw came at Clemson where the Tigers snatched
defeat from the jaws of victory. With only seconds remaining,
Clemson tried to punt from deep in its own territory but the
long snapper dribbled it back to the punter who could only fall
on it to save a touchdown with 11 seconds left. On the very next
play, Georgia Tech scored on a "jump ball" pass to
the end zone and stunned Clemson, 28-24. Clemson returned the
ensuing kick-off to the GT 31 but a heave to the end zone fell
incomplete and the Yellow Jackets had completed their comeback
by scoring 21 points in the final 4:36 of the game.
You Don't Play Nice: Western Michigan has played
Virginia Tech three times since 2001 and has yet to score a point
on the Hokies. Virginia Tech's wins have been by scores of 31-0
in 2001, 30-0 in 2002 and 63-0 this past Saturday.
Streaking: Boise State won its 13th-straight game with a 53-34
win over Oregon State Friday night. It was the 20th straight
home win for BSU. It was a non-conference game but the Broncos
have won 18 straight over WAC foes.
USC has the nation's second-longest winning streak with 11 after
their 49-0 dismissal of Colorado State..
North Texas has won 18 straight over Sun Belt conference foes,
but they better be glad Florida Atlantic doesn't join their league
until next season. The 1-AA Owls shocked UNT 20-13 for their
second consecutive win over a 1-A program. FAU beat Hawaii last
week and both victories have come on the road.
Army's 52-21 loss to Louisville was their 16th straight.
SMU has lost 14 straight after being pummeled 44-0 by TCU. |