Polls Dispute: Who Is Better, Fullerton or New Mexico State?

THE COLLEGES

Enough about the bottom teams. Let’s be positive. After all, this is the week of the historic matchup between New Mexico State, ranked No. 175 in USA Today’s Top 193, and Cal State Fullerton, ranked No. 176.

There’s disagreement among the pollsters over which is the superior team. The National Sports Daily gives Fullerton (1-10) a slight edge, ranking the Disneylanders at No. 105 in its Top 106 ratings. New Mexico State (0-10) is 106.

The game’s in Las Cruces, N.M., meaning New Mexico State has the home desert advantage. Plus, the Fullertonites may have trouble adapting to all that fresh air. Whatever, the winner seems assured of an invitation to the Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl.

Another Weed Bowl entry could be Oregon State (1-9), a 49-point loser to USC. The Trojans, of course, have accepted an invitation to play UCLA Saturday in the Rose Bowl.

RANKINGS

Team, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1.Arkansas (2-7) 3-34, Baylor Texas A$M 2.Pitt (3-6-1) 18-28, Temple* Healing 3. Wisconsin (1-8) 7-20, Indiana Ohio State 4. N. Mex. St. (0-10) 20-56, San Jose Fullerton 5. Auburn (0-2)** 12-13, S. Miss Georgia 6. Wash St. (3-7) 26-51, Ariz St. Wash’ton 7. N’western (2-7) 13-33, Purdue Mich St 8. Run-and-Shoot 24-45, Texas E. Wash. 9. Fullerton (1-10) 17-45, Utah St. N.Mex St. 10. H. Fry (2-9-1)*** 26-27, Ohio St. Idle

11. LSU (4-5); 12. Vanderbilt (1-7); 13. Oregon State (1-9); 14. Arizona State (4-5); 15. Tulsa (2-6); 16. Purdue (2-7); 17. Georgia (4-5); 18. B.C. (4-5); 19. Idle; 20. Tennessee (called for face-mask violation--while on offense).

* Game drew 16,375 fans, 5,000 of whom received free tickets from a booster club.

** Record in November.

***Iowa coach’s record vs. Ohio State.

ROUT OF THE WEEK: Georgia (4-5) over Auburn (0-2 in November).

QUOTEBOOK: Coach Spike Dykes of Texas Tech, whose only three wins have come at the homecomings of opponents: “I guess I need to write everybody and ask ‘em to make us their homecoming game next year.” (Tech lost its homecoming game.)

THE PROS

It was a double humiliation for Anaheim.

First, of course, was the Giants’ 31-7 leisurely romp over the outclassed Rams. Second was the stunning revelation by CBS announcer John Madden, a California resident nearly all his life, that he had never visited Disneyland. Colleague Pat Summerall didn’t dare ask him about Knott’s Berry Farm.

Meanwhile, the situation grew grimmer and grimmer for Foxboro, which fell to the former Baltimore Colts. One of the Patsies’ biggest problems is that they are slower than NBC’s “Ten-Minute Ticker,” which flashes the scores about once every 19.7 minutes.

Elsewhere, Andre Ware, the third quarterback to play for the Pontiac Lions this year, had a disastrous debut. Not only did he throw two interceptions, but on an end run he obliterated the team’s sideline Gatorade table. Typical rookie mistake.

RANKINGS

SHAME OF THE SUBURBS DIVISION

‘Burb, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1. Foxboro Pats (1-8) 10-13, Indy Buffalo 2. Irving Cowboys (3-7) 6-24, S.F. Anaheim 3. Anaheim (3-6) 7-31, Giants Irving 4. Pontiac Lions (3-6) 7-17, Vikings Giants 5. E. Ruth. Jets (4-6) 3-17, Miami Indy

SACK-TIME DIVISION*

QB, Team Sacks Score 1. Krieg (Seattle) 9 Def. K.C., 17-16 2. Majkowski (GB) 8 Def. Raiders, 29-16 3. O’Brien (Jets) 5 3-17, Miami 4. Redskins 3* 14-28, Phila.

*Three QB sacks, as well as two QB KOs.

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: Irving (3-7) at Anaheim (3-6).

QUOTEBOOK: One play before the Philadelphia quarterback killed a drive by being intercepted in the end zone, ABC’s Frank Gifford told viewers they were seeing “Randall Cunningham at his best.”