16 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, December 10, 1996 M !r!nr!!M!!Mw11Mhi iw w 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 ; Y4 a to make , 4' a sl Sign a lease with any of the McKinley apartment communities listed below and you'll save hundreds of dollars on your rental costs. 1-2-3 Bedrooms Rec Centerw/Fitness Room & Billiards 971-5455 Brand New Apartments w/Free Heat Spacious Floorplans &Tons of Closets 761-1897 1-2 Bedrooms wIntercommed Entry Westside Ann Arbor Location 761-1897 UV~L-WJ "M h~l CIVL IVWA L mI v m1mm - v vW "W5UU. aI- I Wvvfl p p v -m