Some BCS Top 10 Series Trivia

November 14, 2011 – Here is this week’s BCS Top 10 series trivia.

The #1 LSU Tigers go to Oxford to take on the Ole Miss Rebels.  LSU leads the series 56-39-4, including that famous Halloween night punt return by Billy Cannon in 1959 to give LSU the win.  However, LSU is 3-4 at Ole Miss since 1992.  The Tigers are also 12-7 against the Rebels during that same time.  The series began in 1894, which was an Ole Miss victory.  The last time Ole Miss shut out LSU was 32-0 in 1992.  The last time LSU shut out Ole Miss was 14-0 in 1985.  Their last tie game was 27-27 in 1981.

The Iowa State Cyclones host the #2 Oklahoma State Cowboys in Jack Trice Stadium.  Oklahoma State leads the series 25-17-3, but the Cowboys have a slim 7-6-2 lead over the Cyclones since 1989.  Since 2000, each game has been decided by 13 points or more.  The last close game, other than a tie, was a 28-27 Cowboys win in 1996.  The last time Iowa State shut out Oklahoma State was 54-0 in 1971.  The last time Oklahoma State shut out Iowa State was 35-0 in 1969.  Their last tie game was 31-31 in 1994.

The #3 Alabama Crimson Tide host the George Southern Eagles in Bryant-Denny Stadium.  This is their first ever meeting and should be an easy Tide win.

The USC Trojans invade Eugene to take on the #4 Oregon Ducks.  USC leads the series 37-18-2, but the series is tied 3-3 since 2002.  The Ducks won their first ever meeting in 1915, but didn’t beat the Trojans again until 1941, getting shut out seven times during that time.  The highest scoring game in the series was last season’s 53-32 Oregon victory.  The last time USC shut out Oregon was 53-0 in 1976.  The last time Oregon shut out USC was 25-0 in 1958.  Their last tie game was 7-7 in 1980.

The #22 Baylor Bears take on the #5 Oklahoma Sooners at home in Floyd Casey Stadium.  Oklahoma owns the series 10-0, but this Baylor team may surprise the Sooners and beat them for the first time.  The last game decided by a touchdown or less was 37-30 in 2005.  The only two shutouts in the series were 35-0 in 2004 and 17-0 in their first meeting in 1901.

The #6 Arkansas Razorbacks host the Mississippi State Bulldogs.  Arkansas leads the series 14-6-1 and is 14-2 against the Bulldogs since 1995.  The lone shutout of the series was a 19-0 Mississippi State win in 1939.  Their only tie game was 13-13 in 1993.

The #7 Clemson Tigers go to Raleigh to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack.  Clemson dominates the series 51-27-1 and has won its last seven games against the Wolfpack.  North Carolina State’s best run against Clemson was a six game winning streak from 1971-76.  The last time North Carolina State shut out Clemson was 9-0 in 1964.  The last time Clemson shut out North Carolina State was 7-0 in 1962.  Their only tie game was 0-0 in 1906.

The North Carolina Tarheels visit Blacksburg to take on the #8 Virginia Tech Hokies in a Thursday night game.  Virginia Tech leads the series 18-10-6 and is 6-1 against the Tarheels since 1998.  They played with some regularity from 1895-1946 and then resumed the series in 1998.  The last time North Carolina shut out Virginia Tech was 14-0 in 1945.  The last time Virginia Tech shut out North Carolina was 26-0 in 1912, which was the last of a five game streak where the Hokies shut out the Tarheels.  Their last tie game was 14-14 in 1946.

The #9 Stanford Cardinal take on the California Bears at home in Stanford Stadium.  Stanford leads the series 52-44-10, but Cal is 7-2 against the Cardinal since 2002.  They first met in 1891 and it has become a series of win streaks by both teams.  The last time Stanford shut out Cal was 14-0 in 1971.  The last time Cal shut out Stanford was 26-0 in 1952.  Their last tie game was 19-19 in 1988.

The San Diego Aztecs host the #10 Boise State Broncos.  This is their first ever meeting.

Here are some historical scores for this week’s BCS Top 25 matchups played on November 14,

1903 – Stanford 6 – California 6

1931 – LSU 26 – Ole Miss 3

1942 – USC 40 – Oregon 0

1953 – Wisconsin 34 – Illinois 7

1959 – Illinois 9 – Wisconsin 6

1964 – Illinois 29 – Wisconsin 0

1970 – Wisconsin 29 – Illinois 17

1987 – Michigan State 27 – Indiana 3

1998 – Oklahoma 20 – Baylor 16

2009 – Clemson 43 – North Carolina State 23