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 Thank You for the Honor of Being Voted Best Shoe Store* 1200 S. University at Church St. 734-994-9401 adidas Your Authorized Original Adidas Retailer For All of Your Footwear Needs From Funky Fashion to Cozy Comfort e Also Carry Birkenstock. Doc Martens. Vans. Nike. Dansko. Fluerog. Aluro & Many Alore Full line of Adidas clothing coming February '99 322 F. Liberty 734-662-9401 217 S. 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