Missouri Gets a Laugher in Nebraska, but Then Faces a Must-Lose Game : THE COLLEGES

Don’t blame No. 1 Missouri (0-5) if the Tigers are looking past Saturday’s opponent--Nebraska (4-1). They can lose to the Cornhuskers, falling away. But they then face a real challenge, the No. 2 Mildcats of Kansas State (0-5).

KO-State, whose surprised conquerors this year include Division I-AA schools Northern Iowa and North Texas State, would be ranked ahead of Missouri if comparable scores were a factor. However, the Bottom Ten’s exclusive Computer Glitch rating system does not take into account such details.

Turnovers were a problem Saturday both for Missouri (a 7-38 loser) and for Yale’s marching band (four of whose members dropped their pants during a halftime show).

Meanwhile, quietly checking in at No. 11 was Oregon State (2-4), which, like Oregon (2-3) and Rajneeshpuram, has suffered some big losses lately.

The Rankings:

Team, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1. Missouri (0-5) 7-38, Colorado Nebraska 2. Kansas St (0-5) Idle Kansas 3. UTEP (0-6) 24-51, Kent St Idle 4. Tulane (0-6) 21-38, MmphsSt. MissSt. 5. NtreDme (1-3) Idle* Pentagon 6. Stanford (1-4) 9-34, UCLA USC 7. Yale Band Pants, 4 pairs Don’t ask 8. Columbia (0-4) 0-31, Princeton Yale 9. San Jose St (1-5) 17-37, Fresno St Arizona 10. Indiana (4-1) 7-48, Ohio St Minnehaha

11. Oregon State (2-4); 12. Louisville (1-5); 13. Cornell (0-4); 14. Pentagon (at sea) (1-4); 15. Houston (1-4); 16. Wyoming (1-5); 17. North Carolina State (1-5); 18. Boston College (3-4); 19. Idle (red-shirting) ; 20. Dartmouth (0-4).

*Moved from No. 6 to No. 5 after further review of film of previous week’s 15-21 Air Force loss.

ROUT OF THE WEEK: Nebraska (4-1) over Missouri (0-5).

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: Houston (1-4) vs. SMU (2-2).

NO TIME FOR JOKES: Yale band leader Thomas Duffy, emphasizing his plans to discipline those members who shed their pants during the halftime show: “I want to get to the bottom of this.”

THE PROS The Buffalo Shills (0-6), rapidly approaching exhibition-season form, had just one serious drive against New England Sunday. Several comical drives but only a single serious one. They left with a 3-14 drubbing, an 11-point-per-game average and the Bottom Ten lead.

Biggest disappointment of the season has been quarterback Vince Ferragamo, obtained this year from the Rams, who reportedly felt he was too tall for their offense. Ferragamo, who never seems to play well in the vicinity of Canada, threw an interception for a touchdown to spark the loss.

Elsewhere, the Curse of Macumba, the Python hex against New Orleans’ opponents, failed for the first time when the Aints tumbled, 13-23, to the Raiders and their animal mascot, Lyle Alzado.

Meanwhile, William (The Refrigerator) Perry, the Bears’ 325-pound defensive lineman, closed to within 13,727 yards of Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record when he was used as a ball-carrier against the No. 8 49ers as a gag. ‘Fridge, who runs from sideline to sideline even when he’s moving straight ahead, swivel-hipped his way for four yards in two transports.

The Rankings:

Team, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1. Buffalo (0-6) 3-14, N. England Indy 2. Houston (1-5) 6-21, Cleveland Cincy 3. Tampa Bay (0-6) 27-31, Rams* Miami (Fla.) 4. Atlanta (0-6) 26-30, Seattle New Orleans 5. Macumba (3-1) 13-23, Raiders His skin?

6. Pitt (2-4); 7. NFC Central (9-15); 8. San Francisco (3-3); 9. Indianapolis (2-4); 10. Minnesota (3-3).

* Rams continue to be hampered by lack of running attack since benching of Charles White.

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: Buffalo (0-6) vs. Indianapolis (2-4).

QUOTEBOOK: 49er Coach Bill Walsh, on the pressure of being a defending Super Bowl champion: “People expect you to win. Then when you don’t, they’re disappointed.” (Not the Bottom Ten selectors, Bill!)