Thursday Tailgate: Best win chances for winless teams
We begin this tailgate with a quick lesson in etymology. (Caution: trivia and gamer geekery ahead.)
In several point-trick card games of German origin such as Skat or Schafkopf, one partnership is said to be "Schneider" if they haven't collected a certain number of points. This can result in the winning side in the hand earning a double score or possibly double the stakes if there's money involved. There is evidence to suggest that "schneider" gave rise to the term "off the Schneid," used occasionally in American sports in reference to a team attempting to snap a long losing streak or simply get its first win.
Which brings us to today's topic. Wyoming was able to get off the schneid last week with a win against Nevada. That leaves four teams in the football bowl subdivision who have yet to taste victory in 2015. Here they are, in order of which ones have the best chance to avoid a winless campaign.
New Mexico State
The Aggies' best shot at getting off the schneid might be this week as they host Troy. The Trojans are only 1-5 themselves, and Las Cruces is a long trip.
North Texas
The Mean Green probably shouldn't count on cracking the win column at Marshall on Saturday. The Thundering Herd can't afford any slips as they look to keep pace with Western Kentucky atop the East Division in Conference USA. North Texas might have a better chance in another week at home against UTSA, which also has just one win to date.
Central Florida
With unbeaten Houston next on the docket and trips to Cincinnati and Tulsa still to come, the Knights' window of opportunity is closing. UCF's chance to avoid 0-12 could come down to the season finale at home against South Florida
Kansas
The Jayhawks' opening loss to their designated FCS visitor, South Dakota State, had fans in Lawrence counting the days until the start of basketball season even earlier than usual. KU's best shot at a Big 12 victory likely went by the boards at Iowa State. One sub-.500 team, Texas, remains on KU's schedule, but that Nov. 7 game is in Austin. The Jayhawks aren't likely to be shown any mercy by archrival Kansas State in the finale, either.
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