12- The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 19, 1997 ri die tff 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 I 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. 1 n U U Un n n I