16 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, December 10, 1996
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1996-97 Bowl Picks
Btaff Picks
- all picks made against
the spread.
BOWL
LAS VEGAS: Ball State (no line) vs. Nevada
ALOHA: California (-1) vs. Navy
LIBERTY: Houston (+16) vs. Syracuse
CARQUEST: Miami (Fla.) (-3 1/2) vs. Virginia
COPPER: Utah (+7) vs. Wisconsin
PEACH: Clemson (+G 1/2) vs. Ltisina State
ALAMO: IOWA (+4 1/2) vs. Texas Tech
kO.DAY: Colorado (-5 1/2) vs. Washington
SUN: Stanford (+6 1/2) vs. Michigan State
INDEPENDENCE: Army (+10) vs. Auburn
OUTBACK: Michigan (-11/2) vs. Alabama
GATOR: North Carolina (no line) vs. West Virginia
CITRUS: Northwestern (+8) vs. Tennessee
COTTON: Brigham Young (+3) vs. Kansas State
ROSE: Ohio State (-11/2) vs. Arizona State
ORANGE: Nebraska (.16 1/2) vs. Virginia TeCh
FIESTA: Penn State (+11/2) vs. Texas
SUGAR: Florida State (+2 1/2) vs. Florida
Best Bet
Last Time
Overall
Overal :est Bet
NICHULAS .
COTSONIKA
Nevada
California
Syracuse
Miami (Fla,)
Wisconsin
Louisiana State
Texas Tech
Colorado
Michigan State
Army
Alabama
North Carolina
Northwestern
Brigham Young
Arizona State
Nebraska
Penn State
Florida
Colorado
5-5
56-63-2
BARRY
SOLLENBERGER
Nevada
Navy
Houston
Miami (Fla.)
Wisconsin
Louisiana St ate
Iowa
Washington
Stanford
A rmy
Alabama
North Carolina
Northwestern
Brigham Young
Arizona State
Virginia Tech
Penn State
Florida
Penn State
4-6'
57-62-2
6-6
RYAN
WHITE
Ball State
Navy
Syracuse
Virginia
Wisconsin
Louisiana State
Iowa
Washington
Michigan State
Army
Michigan
North Carolina
Northwestern
Kansas State
Arizona State
Virginia Tech
Texas
Florida
Florida
7-3
55-64-2
TOURNAMENT
Continued from Page 1
spoke in favor of such an event, Fisher changed his opinion.
"I don't think it would have a great disruption, if any disrup-
tion, on academics," he said at the conference's annual Media
Day in October.
Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight is vehemently
opposed to the plan.
"I have never, ever been in favor of a conference tournament,
even when it didn't come up," Knight said at Media Day.
"I don't want to take my team someplace for four or five days
(for the conference tournament) ... then turn around and play
in the NCAA tournament."
Harrison said it is the University's duty to put its students
first.
"For us, there's the principle that we are first and foremost a
university, and secondly an entertainment franchise," he said.
Neal's letter was drafted by University athletic director Joe
Roberson, faculty representative Percy Bates, Harrison and
Neal himself
Council chair Nils Hasselmo, president of the University of
Minnesota, said that the tournament's potential impact on aca-
demics was indeed a major concern for the conference body,
and was the subject of a report by faculty representatives from
all 11 schools.
Minnesota basketball coach Clem Haskins is opposed to a
tournament, but the school's administration voted for it.
"The faculty representatives came back with a very compre-
hensive and thoughtful report, which indicated that the impact
would be rather minimal;" Hasselmo said.
There is now a multitude of tournament-related specifics to
be ironed out.
No site has been named for the inaugural tournament, but the
event is expected to rotate between a number of large venues
throughout the Midwest, including the Palace of Auburn Hills
and Chicago's United Center.
All 11 Big Ten teams would participate in the tournament,
with final regular-season standings determining the seedings.
Play would begin on a Thursday and would end with a champi-
onship game on Sunday.
Delany said the tournament would be televised jointly by
CBS, ESPN and the Creative Sports network, with the final and
semifinal games televised nationally by CBS.
To make room in teams' schedules for the tournament, the
Big Ten season will be pared down to 16 conference games for
each team. That would cut two more contests from a slate that
already prevents teams from playing all the other members of
the conference twice.
Delany said the implementation of a tournament would
lessen the importance of the regular season.
"I don't think there's any question that over the last 20 years
there has been a dilution with respect to regular-season compe-
tition,' Delany said. "The NCAA tournament ... has probably
been the major cause of that diminishment:'
Michigan guard Travis Conlan said he is looking forward to
playing in a postseason tournament after spending many
Marches watching other conferences do the same.
"There was some envy watching other conference tourna-
ments' Conlan said. "Being a part of that will be excellent. I'm
all for it."
HOOPS
Continued from Page 14
less: Sunday at the Palace.
The Wolverines are fortunate enough to spend the winter
break in Hawaii, as the only ranked team in the Rainbow
Classic. They'll open up with Memphis on Dec. 28 and are
assured two more games on the following two days.
Michigan hosts Ohio State Jan. 2 and visit Northwestern on
Jan. 4.
USA TodayICNN Poh
The new USA Today/CNN coaches.
top 25 College Basketball Poll witd
results from the past week. First-
place votes in parentheses.
OUTBACK
Continued from Page16
Prior to the game, Ohio State offensive
lineman Orlando Pace was considered a
favorite for the award. But Michigan held the
Buckeyes to just five yards rushing in the
second half, and Pace's Heisman chances
likely went bye-bye like Bob Dole.
Michigan, indeed, can stop the run.
On the other hand, Alabama can run.
The Tide will boast the best running back
in the Outback Bowl in the form of Dennis
Riddle. This season, he rushed for 1,079
yards and 11 touchdowns.
But if the Wolverines' defensive front plays
like it did against the Buckeyes, the yards
won't come easily for Riddle and company.
Advantage:
EVEN
ALABAMA PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN
PASSING DEFENSE:
Against Florida, Alabama quarterback
Freddie Kitchens was forced to go to the air.
And he did throw for 269 yards and three
touchdowns against the Gators. But he only
completed 20 of 46 passes and was intercept-
ed once. On the season, he has been inter-
cepted 16 times.
Against the Wolverines, the Tide figures to
keep the ball on the ground, and that's not
only because Kitchens is a suspect passer.
Through the air, Kitchens also must be wary
of Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson.
Woodson, in only his sophomore season,
has already established himself as one of the
best if not very best cornerbacks in the
nation. He owned the Ohio State passing
game for the second straight year and fin-
ished this season with a team-high four inter-
ceptions. He probably would have had more
if quarterbacks had thrown his way more fre-
quently.
Advantage:
defense and superior coaching. Special
teams do not necessarily come to mind.
But this season, the Tide has some quali-
ty players in this area, too. Alabama place-
kickers have been consistent, hitting on 12
of 16 field-goal attempts, and Tide punters
have averaged a whopping 42.3 yards per
punt.
On the other side, Michigan placekicker
Remy Hamilton has had a solid season after
a poor start. He has hit on 16 of 21 field-
goal attempts.
Neither team has returned a punt or a
kickoff for a touchdown this season.
Advantage:
EVEN
With two teams as evenly matched as
Michigan and Alabama, this one figures to
be close throughout.
So who will prevail?
The Outback Bowl will mark Stallings'
last as Alabama coach. Give the Tide the
emotional and overall advantage.
Prediction: Alabama 16, Michigan 13
Team
1. Kansas (29)
2. Wake Forest (1)
3. Kentucky
4. Villanova
5. Michigan
6. Clemson
7. Utah
8. Arizona
9. Cincinnati
10. Indiana
11. North Carolina
12. Iowa State
13. Texas
14. Duke
15. New Mexico
16. Fresno State
17. Minnesota
1S. Stanford
19. Texas Tech
20. Arkansas
21. Xavier (Ohio)
22. Boston College
22. Louisville
24. Georgetown
25. George Washin
Record P\s.
7-0 (
6-0
5-1
5-0
c-0
6-1
4-1
3-1
2-2
641
541
4-0
4-0 1
5-2 10
6- 1'
5-1 l
5-1 20
3-1 23
5-0 2
34 2
4-0 -
54 '
5-1 4
gton
Special teams:
When you think of Alabama, you think of
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