Bugeatersteve's 2009 Bottom Five Rankings: Week Five

MAJOR UPSET this past week in Bug’s Bottom Five.

After four weeks of dominating the gutter, Virginia rises up in ACC action and spanks previous top 20 North Carolina. This upset brings an “old and dear” former member back into the fold.

Here are this week’s rankings.  The team’s previous ranking is in parenthesis.

No. 5 (NR) Florida International Golden Kitties (0-4)

Making their 2009 debut with a conference-opening loss to Louisiana-Monroe, 48-35. The Kitties rank next to last in the country in running the ball, averaging 67 yards per game. Combine that with a defense that leads the nation in yards allowed at 513 per game. There is a major showdown in Kentucky against Western Kentucky on Saturday.

No. 4 (5) Rice Sparrows (0-5)

Last December, Rice won its first bowl game since the 1954 Cotton Bowl.

Based on this year’s performance, it could be another 50 years until they get into a bowl game. They opened up Conference USA play with a 27-10 loss to Tulsa, which is actually below their average of 40 points allowed per game (ranked 118th nationally).

No. 3 (4) Western Kentucky Flat Toppers (0-5)

Let’s meet the team that is really ready to make the leap towards total ineptitude.

They are matching up with fellow conference foe and No. 5 Florida International on Saturday and the winner will likely rise in the polls due to “weakness of schedule”. So far this year, Western Kentucky ranks last in rushing, scoring, and pass defense.

No. 2 (2) Miami (Ohio) Red Chicks (0-5)

How strong are the Red Chicks?

Well, how about ranking dead last (120th) in scoring at a potent 11 points per game? And then combine that with the 119th-ranked points allowed at 41 per game.

Mmm, “can you smell what the Chicks are cookin?” Next cooked loss will be at Northwestern Saturday afternoon.

No. 1 (1) New Mexico Lubes (0-5)

They lost by 20 to Texas Tech this past Saturday, but it was by far their highest scoring game of the season.

For the season, New Mexico ranks in the bottom 10 in scoring offense and defense, total defense, kickoff returns, and sacks allowed.

They get a break this week and are off.

Dropping out of the bottom dwellers was Virginia. Teams still on the outside looking in are Ball State, Washington State, and Sun Belt brothers North Texas and Florida International.

See you again next week.