19
The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 30, 1998-11
~toff Picks
-- all picks made
against the
spread. Correct
selections appear
in bold.
Game (HOME TEAM IN CAPS)'
ichigan (-12.5) vs. MINNESOTA
MIAMI (FLA.) (-15) vs. Boston College
PENN STATE (-36) vs. Illinois
Ohio State (-21.5) vs. INDIANA
NEBRASKA (-17.5) vs. Texas
Louisiana State (-8.5) vs. MISSISSIPPI
NOTRE DAME (-15) vs. Baylor
FLORIDA (-11.5) vs. Georgia
SOUTHERN CAL (-5) vs. Washington
UCLA (-27) vs. Stanford
tLORIDA STATE (-25) vs. North Carolina
PURDUE (46) vs. Iowa
Best Bet
Last Weekv
Overall (best bet)
SHARAT
RAJU
JIM
ROSE
Minnesota
Miami
Illinois
Indiana
Nebraska
Louisiana State
Baylor
Florida
Washington
UCLA
North Carolina
Purdue
Washington
9-3 (1-0)
48-36-1 (5-2)
Michigan
Boston College
Illinois
Indiana
Nebraska
Louisiana State
Notre Dame
Florida
Washington
UCLA
North Carolina
Purdue
Purdue
6-6(1-0)
37-47-1 (2-5)
MARK
SNYDER
Michigan
Miami
Illinois
Ohio State
Texas
Louisiana State
Notre Dame
Florida
Washington
UCLA
Florida State
Purdue
Washington
7-5 (1-0)
37-47-1 (4-3)
Go west, young men.
Guest Selector
GEORGE WASHINGTON*
Michigan
Boston College
Penn State
Indiana
Texas
Louisiana State
Baylor
Florida
Southern Cal.
UCLA
North Carolina
Iowa
Michigan
8-4 (1-0)
45-39-1 (2-4)
By Kevin Rosenfield
Daily Sports Writer
Set to enter the final tournament of
the fall season, the Michigan men's
golf team heads to Palo Alto, Calif.,
this weekend for the Stanford
Invitational. The 18-team annual
tournament boasts several of the
nation's top collegiate programs -
only the top 12 finishers at the event
earn a return invite.
"This is the strongest competition
of the year for us," Michigan coach
Jim Carras said. "But that's what we
want, and we're going in with a posi-
tive state of mind. I think we're up
for the challenge."
Expecting more from his team than
simply a top-12 finish, Carras deems
a finish in the top six as difficult but
not unreasonable. The key, Carras
stressed, will be a consistent balance
from the five-man Michigan squad
that, for the first time all season, will
remain intact for consecutive tourna-
ments. Coming off a fifth-place fin-
ish two weeks ago at the Xavier
Invitational, Michael Harris, Scott
Hayes, Kyle Kilcherman, Andrew
Chapman and Andy Matthews will
make the trip to California.
"Xavier was by far our best team
effort all fall, and I feel we can build
on that performance," Carras said.
"We finally got the balance we've
been striving for. It's critical that we
get a complete three rounds of golf
from five guys.
"I was exceptionally pleased with
our two true freshmen, Andy
Matthews and Andrew Chapman.
Both show a lot of composure and
mature. I'm also happy to see that
Kyle Kilcherman has recommitted
himself to golf and is playing very
well."
Carras has struggled all season to
find a consistent lineup to support
the two returnees from last year's
squad: Harris, an All-American, and
Hayes. With an inexperienced and
freshman-dominated squad, Carras
characterized the fall season as "a
sort of spring training"
While their fall struggles have
placed added pressure on their future
performance, the spring season will
ultimately decide whether the team
earns a postseason berth.
Opportunities certainly remain, and
Carras thinks the potential is certain-
ly there.
"There's no substitute for experi-
ence, but I'm quite pleased about the
effort and performance from this par-
ticular lineup," Carras said. "The five
are really playing well right now, and
I'm hopeful that everybody will play
as they're capable.
"We're really looking to this week-
end as a stepping stone into the
spring season."
i
"OWN
* Former President and war hero George Washington made his picks through
a seance with a coin - heads for the favorite and tails for the underdog.
--r-.- _ -- - .
I
THE MATCHUPS
MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. MINNESOTA PASSING DEFENSE
--,
GO0PHERS
Continued from Page 9
Five straight wins have gotten the
Wolverines back on track, and have even
gotten them back into the rankings (No.
22). But if there's one thing history
teaches, it's that a streak of impressive
wins all too often can be rendered irrele-
vant with one lackluster performance.
Consider 1986. The Wolverines were
cruising, undefeated, toward a season-
ding clash with Ohio State and a
tential national title. The Gophers
were 5-4 and had lost to Michigan State,
Ohio State and Oklahoma by a com-
bined total of 128 points. Can you guess
what happened?
That's right, the Gophers shocked the
Wolverines, 20-17, by way of a game-
winning Chip Lohmiller field goal. They
haven't beaten Michigan since.
Last year, there was no letdown when
undefeated Michigan team hosted
q,-Minnesota. The Wolverines cruised to a
24-3 victory, thanks to a 33-yard touch-
r down by Charles Woodson, and were
never really tested. But they know that
y last year's success certainly doesn't
translate into an easy time this season.
The oppressive Metrodome atmos-
jphere has been responsible for more than
a few miscues in years past, and Carr
knows it.
So this week in practice, the
Oolverines packed it up and went
indoors. With songs such as "We Will
Rock You" and "Eye of the Tiger" blar-
ing, the Wolverines have been trying like
razy to simulate the atmosphere of the
Metrodome. But then again, maybe none
MATCHUPS
Intlnued from Pag 9
Meanwhile, Michigan is happy if
Marcus Knight just holds onto the punt.
EDGE: MINNESOTA
INTANGIBLES
Michigan may have the edge in most
of the skilled categories, but Minnesota
is riding a tidal wave of emotion fol-
lowing last Week's game. The Gophers
have been tough to beat in the
Metrodome, nearly upsetting Penn
:te three weeks ago.
.Mason, who has a reputation for
turning programs around, has done a
pretty good job in just his second year.
-The Gophers are still a lower-division
team but are not patsies. The scenario is
ripe for an upset.
Can the Gophers thwart two
Michigan schools in two weeks? A
,,,,screaming, sellout crowd at the
- Metrodome sure hopes so.
EDGE: MINNESOTA
of that matters much, anyway.
"Nothing really changes," Michigan
linebacker Juaquin Feazell said. "The
only difference is you don't really have
to worry about the weather or field con-
ditions."
If nothing else, the Gophers enter
tomorrow's game on something of a roll
after last week's thrilling come-from-
behind win over Michigan State. Down
eight with less than two minutes to play,
the Gophers rallied for a touchdown, an
onside-kick recovery and a 37-yard field
goal to shock the Spartans and send the
Metrodome crowd into a frenzy. And it's
a safe bet that last week's excitement has
translated into this week's anticipation.
And it's also likely that last week's
late-game hero, replacement quarter-
back Billy Cockerham, will be this
week's starter. Last week's starter,
sophomore Andy Persby, has been slow
to recover from a thigh injury.
Minnesota's big name on defense is
junior strong safety Tyrone Carter, a sec-
ond-team all-Big Ten selection in 1997.
He's averaging nearly 15 tackles per
game this season, a number Carr called
"phenomenal" for a defensive back. He
was also the Big Ten's leading kick
returner last season, averaging nearly 27
yards per return.
"I have not seen Minnesota's defense
do the same thing from game to game"
Carr said. "They will play the style of
defense which gives them the best
chance to win on that afternoon, because
they are versatile. Tyrone Carter is one
tremendous safety. He is a guy they use
in blitz packages a lot and utilize his
abilities."
Minnesota's passing defense is the worst in the
Big Ten.Worst. No team is worse. Michigan QB
Tom Brady will have fun picking apart the defense
with help from Tal Streets.
Edge: MIch gan
-ee----e-------e--es .------------------------------
MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MINNESOTA RUSHING DEFENSE
Michigan tailback Justin Fargas on Astroturf?
Better have the slow-motion button ready on the
VCR; you might not be able to see him in real
time,
Edge: Michigan
-------------------.-....-rtrrr. . ...............-...--.... r
MINNESOTA PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE
The Michigan secondary managed to prevent the
big play against Indiana's vaunted air attack.
Minnesota's air attack? Not so vaunted.
Edge: Michigan
MINNESOTA RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE
Michigan's linebacking corps are coming together at
just the right time, recovering from injuries and early-
season dehydration. They should have no problem
against a below-average rushing game.
Edge: Michigan
-......-...............eeeeeeeeeeee ... o.... .nne~~
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Gophers have two special-teams touchdowns this
year. Last week, they recovered an onside kick and
nailed a last-second field goal to win the game.
Michigan has ... neat helmets.
Edge: Mmnnesota
------------------- ------------------ ---a------------
INTANGIBLES
Minnesota's thriller last week and a very loud
Metrodome crowd could be enough to bring the Jug
back to Minneapolis. Plus, Bob Dylan went there.
dge: Mknn ota
PREDICTION: MICHIGAN 35, MINNESOTA 24
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PREDICTION: MICHIGAN 35,
MINNESOTA 24
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