Cutting down the contenders.

     Cassandra and I had agreed to meet at the zoo. With the Huskers having a week off to prepare for Minnesota...ahem, we were going to have ample opportunity to sting our mystery guest and get Lloyd a little something for being such a good sport for the last two weeks.
     "I'm going to cut a team out of the countdown every week as the season winds down," Cassandra said. "You're still good, this week, since I have Nebraska at number 12 They pulled their balls out of the fire last week, and have no way of losing this week, so they get to sit on the bubble."
     I winced more than a little bit at her metaphor. "So who do you have next?" I asked, watching the Humboldt penguins swim around, chasing fish-guts and other indistinguishable bits of flotsam.
     "Michigan. The biggest obstacle between the Huskers and a re-match with the Stinking Badgers. This week's game will tell me a lot. They have to go to Michigan State. The winner gets a leg up on the LegendS division, which makes both contests for Nebraska do-or-die for the division games."
     "Who do you have next?" I asked, finally seeing our fun boy, trying to blend in. Hard to do when your standing amidst toddlers and goats.
     "Arkansas is 10th, and idle. Clemson is 9th, at Maryland. As long as Boyd's hip holds out, they have an outside shot at the Big One. Georgia Tech is their only other real challenge. Okie Lite is 8th and at Texas. They need to drop a half-a-hunnert on the Longhorns to keep the media convinced they are a good as OU. The OSU offense is better, but the D..." she trailed off.
     Our companion either didn't mind being seen, or had never tried to follow anyone before. We did a quick trip through the aviary, and went back inside as he was coming out. It was not time to confront him, yet, but one piece of advice if you are following somebody, you don't have to do it step for step.
     "Keep 'em coming," I told Cassandra as we fed the camels, dromedaries, that is, they only had one hump.
     "Oregon is 7th, and has a kind of a big game with Arizona State. They are looking more like themselves ever since that LSU loss. Fast, ugly, but fast. Wisconsin is 6th in my book. You don't get bonus spots for being idle. They host Indiana this week and are essentially on cruise control until the Illinois game. Stanford is 5th, and has the bad luck of going to Pullman. They'll win, no problem, but have you ever been to Pullman?" she asked, her expression an odd mixture of disgust and pity.
     "I caught Metallica there, once," I said. "Luckily it was at night, and there were lots of college girls there..."
     A short shot to the shoulder brought me back. Cassandra's jab stings. "That's how it's going to feel when Luck gets drafted by somebody other than your Seahawks," she jibed.
     When we got to the paper eating lion, Leo, we were getting right down to it. "Oklahoma is 4th, handles Texas with ease, and only has to stay healthy while waiting for Okie Lite, they are at Kansas this week. Alabama is number 3, another easy win at Mississippi and their showdown with LSU is going to be huge."
     We waited for the train outside the zoo and discussed the final two teams. "LSU is number two and may have the best defense in the country. They are at Tennessee this week, and both Alabama and LSU get a week off to prepare for each other."
     "Let's pull a French Connection," I said to Cassandra. We got on the train at the very last car. It has open seating, so you can see everyone else who's riding. Our buddy got on the train about halfway up. The conductor cried "All aboard" and started making the safety announcements. The train started to move on it's two-lap circuit of the zoo. "Now!" I shouted to Cassandra just before we passed the platform. We hooped off the train and left the station to the admonishing stares of the conductor and the frustrated scowl of our new best friend.
     "You know," I said as we made our way back to the car. "Every time you name Boise State number one, it makes Lloyd cry."
     "He'll get over it," she said dismissively. "But I don't know if OU will get over getting locked out of the National Championship as the Buncos play the winner of the Alabama-LSU game."
Thank goodness the BCS will likely prevent that nightmare scenario...or will it?