The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 6, 2000 - 13
I
STAFF PICKS
WEEK 4 SELECTIONS
ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD.
HOME TEAMS IN CAPS.
PURDUE (-2) vs. Michigan
NORTHWESTERN (-5) vs. Indiana
Ohio State (-1.5) vs. WISCONSIN
Michigan State (-9) vs. IOWA
MINNESOTA (-6.5) vs. PennState
Kansas State (-22.5) vs. KANSAS
NOTRE DAME (-12) vs. Stanford
FLORIDA (-15.5) vs. Louisiana State
GEORGIA (-4.5) vs. Tennessee
WASHINGTON (-9.5) vs. Oregon State
Florida State (-6) vs. MIAMI (FLA.)
CLEMSON (-21.5) vs. North Carolina State
VIRGINIA TECH (-31) vs. Temple
Nebraska (-15.5) vs. IOWA STATE
TEXAS (-3.5) vs. Oklahoma
Best bet
Record last week (Best bets)
Record to date (Best bets)
David
Den Herder
Purdue
Chris
Duprey
Purdue
Mark Stephanie
Francescutti Offen
Indiana Northwestern
Wisconsin Wisconsin
Michigan State Michigan State
Penn State Minnesota
Kansas State Kansas State
Stanford Stanford
Florida Florida
Tennessee Tennessee
Washington Washington
Miami Florida State
North Carolina State North Carolina State
Temple Virginia Tech
Nebraska Iowa State
Michigan
Northwestern
Ohio State
Michigan State
Penn State
Kansas
Stanford
Florida
Tennessee
Washington
Florida State
North Carolina State
Virginia Tech
Nebraska
Texas
Michigan State
5-10 (0-1)
30-30 (2-2)
Michigan
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Michigan State
Minnesota
Kansas State
Stanford
Florida
Tennessee
Oregon State
Florida State
North Carolina State
Virginia Tech
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Michigan State
7-8 (0-1)
24-36 (1-3)
PURDUE
Continued from Page 11
Notre Dame touchdown and a failed
fake punt that led to an Irish ield goal.
Then this past weekend against an
emotional Penn State team. Travis
Dorsch botched two more punts that led
to 14 points for the Nittany Lions.
Special teams aside, the talk of Ann
Arbor and West Il afavette about this
weekend's game is, of course, the battle
of the Drews.
Michigan's Drew Henson w ill finally
start against the other Drew of the Big
Ten quarterback corps --- Drew Brees.
Henson said after the Wisconsin game
that he's not afraid to get into a shootout
this weekend. But Brees' numbers may
scare Michigan enough to try to avoid
that type of "beat them at their own
game" strategy.
Brees has attempted a whopping 209
passes in five games, completing 60.3
percent of his throws for 1.040 yards,
touchdowns and only 1wo interceptions.
"ie possesses a lot of intangibles"
Carr said. "They can run what is consid-
ered a high-risk offense and it becomes
low-risk. He can throw an interception
every 100 times, and only get sacked
five times (in the first five games).
Brees also has the talent for quick
drops and flirting out of the pocket like
Henson.
"H1's because of his mobility and
because he's smart that you've got the
best of all worlds." Carr said. "I'll be
glad to see him gone, I promise you.'.
Experience-wise, the Michigan defen-
sive backfield has the advantage.
Purdue's leading receiver right now is a
true freshman in John Standeford. This
weekend the Wolverines will also get
Justin Fargas at safety, after he switched
from running back.
"We've got a lot more experience, but
that doesn't mean the job will be any eas-
ier." Carr said. "Standeford can run and
those other guys can run. It's not going to
be easy, but they won't be like they were
a year ago where we had to play guys that
didn't have any experience."
One more factor in the game the
weather could dampen the
Boilermakers spirits.
Last season under rainy conditions.
Brees only completed 20 of 49 passes
with one touchdown, including several
drops. Brees also fumbled three times
and threw an interception to linebacker
Larry Foote in the 38-12 loss at the Big
I ouse.
But with the fall weather things are
changing in West Lafayette.
IThe Boilermakers are in the midst of
Big Ten adolescence. In the middle o
conference power and bargain bascment.i
Purdue still hasn't fared well against top
opponents. Since 1997, the Boilermakers
are 6-1 1 versus top 25 foes.
T'heir last win came in-a 37-34 nail-;
biter over then-No. 6 Kansas Stateailn
1998.
Texas
Florida
7-8 (0-1)
23-37 (2-2)
Texas
Wisconsin
4-11 (0-1)
27-33 (0-4)
*Can Brees m
MATCHUPS
Continued from Page 11
spread offense has produced the most
prolific passing attack in the Big Ten.
The best ever, if you ask Carr. So the
question is, how can Michigan hope to
contain? It's no secret that the Blue
defensive secondary has been under
*crutiny. Julius Curry did have two inter-
ceptions last week and that may mean
things are looking up. But if Michigan
brings the blitz, Brees will scramble, and
successfully. The X-factor here is Justin
Fargas, who will see time at free safety.
lie isan'impact player in his own right.
But so are people like Sutherland - and
inthis game, more effective as well.
Advantage: Purdue
ike the dz erence at home?
SPEC.cA - Nis: Carr called INtANGBLES: Ross-Ade Stadium has
Wisconsin punter Kevin Stemke the best been described by local beat writers as
he'd ever seen. Touch. Michigan's best "the closest thing to the Twilight Zone'
field position all day was its own 29. in the Big Ten." Furthermore, Purdue has
There will be no such problems this an impressive 8-2 record after a loss
week for the Wolverines. under Tiller. Another "I' in West
Travis Dorsch has a powerful punting Lafayette means bye-bye Rose Bowl.
leg, but also has the bobbles. He's Unless it rains, give the enigmatic edge
already had one punt blocked and sever- to the Boilers.
al more botched. Advantage: Purdue
Michigan has had its problems punt-
ing as well, but managed to keep things
under control last week.
Sutherland is a dangerous returner, This game has been more than a year
but Ron Bellamy does well to balance in the making. Drew Brees is the most
him out. Expect to see Fargas on special talented player in the Big Ten, and the
teams again, and Del Verne will proba- Wolverines' days of playing catchup will
blv handle mid-range field goals. finally catch up to them.
Advantage: Even
Final Score:
Purdue 34, Michigan 31 (()i)>
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Presented by:
MiMchigan vs. Indiana
Fri., Octsher 6
1 pm. at Keen Arena
Don't miss your
f tchance to win great
prizes...t-shirts,
watches and more!
Maine trip ho-hum for harriers
By James Mercier
Daily Sports Writer
You have to love Ron Warhurst.
ost coaches, when asked about the
~mportance of their upcoming com-
petition, will issue a standard politi-
cally correct reply, along the lines of.
"Really. they're all important. We
take it one day at a time."
But that is not the Warhurst way.
The Michigan men's cross country
coach, after being asked if his team
was pointing to the weekend's trip to
Orono, Maine, bluntly replied, "No."
No?
"Well, we do expect to win,
Warhurst said of his No. 19 team.
"And we want to prepare well for the
Wolverine Interregional (on Oct.
s5).
"But if' someone asked me before
the season about which meets we
were pointing to, this wouldn't be
one of them."
The coach was not alone in this
regard. Junior Mark Pilja, who has
set the pace for the team this season,
wasn't cho'mping at the bit, either.
"I look forward to every competi-
tion," Pilja said. "But this one does-
n t really stand out from the others.'
It's tough to fault the Wolverines
for appearing unexcited.
The team has made the trek to
Orono each year since 1995. and has
won the Invitational four of the last
five seasons.
No other ranked teams will com-
pete this year.
16%9 w ha
\j e
U-M vs. Penn State
Sat., October 1
1 p. at
Keen Arena
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New Address: 4410 Jackson Rd. Ann Arbor,
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