College Bottom Ten: Buffalo can claim title

One stumbling block stands between the University at Buffalo (2-9) and immortality. And “stumbling” is the correct word when you’re talking about Buffalo.

The Bulls rallied to fall, 17-21, to former Bottom Ten contender Eastern Michigan (2-9) last weekend and could capture the title with a timely loss to the funny little Zips of Akron (0-11).

While purists might opine that Buffalo’s two victories should eliminate it from contention, don’t forget that Louisiana State’s 2007 team won the BCS championship with two blemishes on its record.

Although the Akron-Buffalo game on Friday will decide the Bottom Ten title, there’ll still be plenty of bad football Saturday, topped by the Rout of the Year: Texas Christian (11-0) at New Mexico (1-10).

The mercy rule will be in effect there. Should TCU take a lead of 98 or more points, the game will be called.

Wreck, Record; Last Loss; Next Loss

1. Akron (0-11); Idle; Buffalo

2. Buffalo (2-9); 17-21, Eastern Michigan; Akron

3. New Mexico (1-10); 7-40, Brigham Young; Texas Christian

4. Weak Forest (2-9); 10-30, Clemson; Vanderbilt

5. Vanderbilt (2-9); 10-24, Tennessee; Weak Forest

6. Bowling on the Green (2-9); 14-33, Toledo; Western Michigan

7. Nevada Las Vegas (2-9); 20-35, Air Force; San Diego State

8. Louisiana Lafayette (2-9); 17-38, Florida International; Louisiana Monroe

9. Western Kentucky (2-9); 26-27, Middle Tennessee; Troy

10. New Mexico State (2-9); 6-52, Nevada; Hawaii

11. North Texas (3-8); 12. Arkansas State (4-7); 13. Central Michigan (3-8); 14. Colorado State (3-9); 15. Kansas (3-8); 16. Alabama (Birmingham) (4-7); 17. Rice (3-8); 18. Indiana (4-7); 19. Has demanded recount; 20. USC (0-5 in the state of Oregon since 2005).

Others receiving votes (some of them in alphabetical order): Ole Miss (4-7); Utah State (4-7); Duke (3-8).

Crummy game of the weak: Buffalo (2-9) at Akron (0-11).

Rout of the weak, year, decade, century: TCU (11-0) at New Mexico (1-10).

Fascinating fact: Akron plays its home games at InfoCision Stadium. Nobody knows what InfoCision means, of course. But the school finds it preferable to the name of its former home: The Rubber Bowl.

steveharvey9@gmail.com