12- The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 19, 1997
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Picks
7 all picks made
against the
spread.
Gme (HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
MICHIGAN (-26) vs. Baylor
Michigan St. (+2 1/2) vs. NOTRE DAME
Iowa (-26) vs. IOWA STATE
IlNDIANA (-2 1/2) vs. Kentucky
ILLINOIS (+10) vs. Washington State
Minnesota (+2) vs. MEMPHIS
NORTHWESTERN (-7) vs. Rice
OHIO STATE (-17) vs. Arizona
Penn State (-21) vs. LOUISVILLE
#UIDUE (-15 1/2) vs. Ball State
WISCONSIN (-9) vs. San Diego State
FORIDA (-4) vs. Tennessee
WASHINGTON (-3) vs. Nebraska
LOUISIANA ST. (-5 1/2) VS. Auburn
Best Bet
Last week
Overall
Overall best bet
ALAN
GOLDENBACH
Baylor
Michigan State
Iowa
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II
NICHOLAS J.
COTSONIKA
JOHN
LEROI
DANIELLE
RUMORE
Michigan
Michigan State
Iowa
Indiana
Washington State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Arizona
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin
Tennessee
Nebraska
Louisiana State
Washington State
8-4
11-13
1-1
Kentucky
Washington State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Ball State
Wisconsin
Florida
Washington
Louisiana State
Washington State
6-6
8-16
1-1
Michigan
Notre Dame
Iowa
Kentucky
Washington State
Minnesota
Northwestem
Arizona
Penn State
Ball State
Wisconsin
Florida
Nebraska
Auburn
Wisconsin
7-5
11-13
0-2
Baylor
Michigan State
Iowa
Indiana
Washington State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin
Florida
Washington
Louisiana State
Northwestern
6-6
10-14
1-1
MATCHUPS
Continued from Page i1
yards, what should the Bears expect
from the Wolverines?
Actually, Baylor's offensive backfield
is its strong point. Although not big by
any means, 5-8 tailback Jerod Douglas
and 5-1 1 fullback Anthony Overstreet
have combined for almost 300 yards and
five touchdowns in two games.
But will Baylor get to use its backs
enough in order for them to be effective?
Chances are the Bears will be playing catch-
up for most of the game meaning that most
of the offense will depend on the arm of
quarterback Jeff Watson.
As long as the Wolverines can keep the
ball out of the hands of Baylor's backs, their
secondary can take over from there.
EDGE: Michigan
BAYLOR PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN
PASSING DEFENSE:
Watson's passing game has been anything
but elementary thus far. Against Miami (Fla.),
Watson went 25 of 37 for 222 yards. But deep
threats are usually not an option for Watson,
who has completed just one pass this season
for more than 20 yards, meaning that
Michigan's secondary can afford to gamble.
Michigan can also afford to gamble with
regard to blitzing, which rattled Colorado
quarterback John Hessler last week.
EDGE: Michigan
SpEciat. TEAMS: Hidden in last wec'
blox out was the surprise punting offjunior
walk-on Jason Vinson, who a erageLd 42
yards per boot.
Unfortunately, also hidden in the blowut
was the mediocre field-goal kicking tandem
of Kraig Baker and Jay Feely which went 2-
for-4. with the two misses coming from 45
and 49 yards out. Michigan should not hay e
to worry about this game coming down to a
battle of field goals.
But in the rare chance that it does, Baylor
certainly has the edge. Matt Bryant nailed a
42-varder last week and punter Kle
Attleberry is averaging almost 46 yards per
kick in 16 punts, which is about as much
pressure one can put on Michigan punt
returner Charles Woodson.
EDGE: Baylor
If there is one word that has come up
repeatedly this week, and with good rea-
son, it's letdown. Michigan is a prime can-
didate to suffer from such an emotional
dropoff after last week's high-powered
victory.
But letdown, at least outside of the gam-
bling world, connotes a loss. That's.com-
pletely out of the question for this game. A
Baylor victory would come as a greater'-
shock than Purdue's upset over Notre Dame
last week, which isn't to say that it can't hap-
pen, but it won't.
Picking a winner here doesn't involve
knowledge of nuclear physics. But because
of Carr's penchant for keeping scores
respectable and turning to second-stringers
early, the margin is not as evident.
PREDICTION: Michigan 27, Baylor 7.
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