Friday
October 1, 2004
sports. michigandaily. com
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Michigan should cruise
past mediocre Hoosiers
By Gennaro Fice
Daily Sports Editor
weeks. The Wolverines will keep last week's changes
on the offensive line: (from left tackle to right tackle)
Adam Stenavich, Leo Henige, David Baas, Matt Lentz
and Jake Long.
Edge: Michigan
To say that the Michigan-Indiana series has been one-
sided would be the vastest of vast understatements. The
Wolverines own a 47-9 overall record against the Hoo-
siers, and since 1968, Indiana has won just once - a
14-10 win at Memorial Stadium in 1987. Last year, the
Wolverines prevailed 31-17 in their most uninspiring
home effort of the year. Indiana (0-1 Big Ten, 2-2 over-
all) began this season with a 41-10 thumping of Cen-
tral Michigan and a surprising 30-24 win over Oregon
at Autzen Stadium, but the Hoosiers have dropped two
straight games at Kentucky and against Michigan State.
Michigan is coming off an impressive 30-17 victory
over Iowa (1-0, 3-1).
MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. INDIANA PASSING
DEFENSE: True freshman Chad Henne - who had a knack
for zoning in on Braylon Edwards in the Wolverines' first
three games - spread the ball around last week, hitting
six different receivers. While Edwards is still Michigan's
top target, last week Jason Avant seemed to return to 2003
form as the Wolverines' most reliable possession receiver.
The Indiana secondary is headed by senior free safety
Herana-Daze Jones. A former linebacker, Jones plays a
very similar big-hit style to Michigan strong safety Ernest
Shazor. The Wolverines should have their way with Indi-
ana's inexperienced cornerbacks.
Edge: Michigan
INDIANA PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING
DEFENSE: Senior wide receiver Courtney Roby will test
Michigan's inconsistent secondary. Roby needs just 13 recep-
tions and 279 yards to become Indiana's career leader in both
categories. The 6-foot, 185-pound speedster joined the Indi-
ana track team for a race before spring ball and posted the
school's fastest 60-meter time (6.9 seconds) of the year. But
after Roby, Indiana quarterback Matt LoVecchio's best tar-
get is running back BenJarvis Green-Ellis. The Wolverines
lead the NCAA in interceptions, but they've also given up 239
passing yards per game - a number that puts them at 82nd in
the country in pass defense.
Edge: Michigan
INDIANA RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN RUSHING
DEFENSE: The strength of the Hoosier offense lies in
Green-Ellis. The sophomore had his best game of the
year against Kentucky - rushing for 115 yards on 23
carries - but one week later, Michigan State stuffed
Green-Ellis, holding him to just 65 yards on 23 carries.
In 2003, Green-Ellis carried the ball 21 times in the Big
House, but managed just 70 yards (a meager 3.3 yards
per pop). Green-Ellis would have to have a hell of a day
to top that sum this season, as Michigan boasts the No. 2
rushing defense in the country and is coming off a game
in which it held Iowa to -15 yards on the ground.
Edge: Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: Standing just 5-foot-5, 167 pounds,
sophomore Lance Bennett is one of the most dangerous
RYAN WEINER/Daily
Indiana running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis might have trouble finding room against Michigan on Saturday.
MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. INDIANA RUSHING
DEFENSE: The Hoosiers are giving up 222 yards per game
on the ground - a surprising stat, considering coach
Gerry DiNardo entered the season with six returning
starters in the front seven. Junior linebacker Kyle Kil-
lion does everything for the Hoosiers. Besides leading
the Big Ten in tackles with 44, Killion also ranks second
in the conference in sacks with three. It looks as though
Michigan has found a running back to carry the bulk
of the load in Mike Hart. The 5-foot-9, 194-pound true
freshman has 51 attempts for 220 yards in the last two
special teams players in the country. Bennett averages
34.1 yards per kick return and 13.4 yards per punt return
and has notched a touchdown in both facets of the game.
Bryan Robertson has hit 6-of-7 field goals and punter
Tyson Beattie has averaged 41.8 per punt. Outside of
kickoff coverage and Adam Finley's punting, Michigan
has been mediocre at best on special teams.
Edge: Indiana
nothing to lose. Last year, Michigan jumped out to a big
lead, but then played a marginal second half to keep the
game interesting.
Edge: Push
PREDICTION: Indiana has been a Big Ten cellar-dweller
for many years, and this year's team doesn't look like it's
really going to change that. The Wolverines will roll, behind
yet another big day from Edwards. Don't be surprised if the
Michigan 'D' produces a bevy of turnovers, again.
Michigan 31, Indiana 14
*I
INTANGIBLES: The Wolverines own Indiana, holding
a 13-1 mark at Memorial Stadium, but the Hoosiers have
MIE 3tdiigun BUdIEU
STAFF PICKS
Predictions against the
spread for 10/2/04
No, 19 Michigan (-18.5) at Indiana
Ohio State (-11) at Northwestern
Purdue (-1.5) at Notre Dame
Michigan State (+7.5) at Iowa
Illinois (+15.5) at Wisconsin
LSU (+3.5) at Georgia
West Virginia (+2) at Virginia Tech
Miami (-13.5) at Georgia Tech
Auburn (+2.5) at Tennessee
Cal (-4) at Oregon State
Arkansas (+7) at Florida
Colorado (+7) at Missouri
Texas Tech (+28) at Oklahoma
Michigan women's soccer (-0.5) vs. Ohio St.
Michigan field hockey (-1.5) vs. Harvard
Best Bet
Season record (Best bet)
Chris
Burke
Gennaro
Filice
Bob
Hunt
Sharad
Mattu
Wolverine Sports
Magazine's Doug Karsch
Michigan
Ohio State
Purdue
Michigan State
Illinois
Georgia
Virginia Tech
Miami
Tennessee
Oregon State
Florida
Missouri
Texas Tech
Ohio State
Mvichigan
Missouri
24-19-2 (21)
Indiana
Northwestern
Purdue
Iowa
Wisconsin
Georgia
West Virginia
Georgia Tech
Auburn
California
Florida
Missouri
Oklahoma
Michigan
California
22-21-2 (2-1)
Michigan
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Michigan State
Illinois
Georgia
West Virginia
Miami
Tennessee
California
Florida
Missouri
Texas Tech
Michigan
Michigan
Ohio State
23-20-2 (21)
Indiana
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Iowa
Wisconsin
LSU
West Virginia
Georgia Tech
Auburn
California
Arkansas
Missouri
Texas Teech
Michigan
Michigan
Iowa
24-19-2(2-1)
Michigan
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Iowa
Illinois
Georgia
Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech
Auburn
California
Florida
Colorado
Oklahoma
Michigan
Michigan
Georgia
27-16-2 (2-1)
Karsch attempts to keep
celebs out in fMont
How many times have you been
at the Big House and suddenly
wondered, "How'd the volleyball
team do last night in its showdown
against Penn State?"
Well, Doug Karsch is there for you.
When Michigan calls that timeout
on third-and-goal, Karsch is the
man who suddenly appears on the
scoreboard (isn't his voice always
a little too loud?) and supplies
you, the fan, with scores you so
desperately crave.
Few realize this, but Karsch runs up
and down the campus, camera in
tow, to cover every single Michigan
athletic event. At least he should.
So, since he presents himself to
110,000 people a week as the
university's sports guru, we thought
we'd see how much he really knows.
Hence, the women's soccer and
field hockey lines that we made
ourselves.
Got a problem with those lines?
Take them up with Chris Burke, who
thinks he knows everything after his
10-5 showing last week.
But all four football writers need a
good week, as they're well behind
the celebrities.
01
I
"A BLAST OF FRIGHT AND FUN!"
PROCRASTINATION
STATION*
MICHIGAN 2
INDIANA 35
" Before every football game this season,
two of the Daily football writers will take the
weekend's matchup to the PlayStation 2.
* Play of the game - With Indiana up 35-
28 in the final minute of the game, QB #10
scrambled for 26 yards - converting a long
third down in the process. Michigan DE #56
had a chance at a sack, but dove into the
ground, allowing #10 to escape.
PRESS CONFERENCE
QUOTES:
Michigan coach Bob Hunt: "There's not much to
say after a loss like this. I was feeling good after
the 58-10 warm-up game against coach Brian
Schick, but it was no match for what I was about
to face."
"My actions on and off the field have forever
disgraced Michigan football, and anyone else ever
associated with me."
"The shoe thrown was not directed at Coach
Burke, anyway."
"Well, we played good special teams."
"Don't worry, after his touchdown, TE No. 88 is
surely the player of the game."
Indiana coach Chris Burke: "Let me start by
saying that I was very shocked and surprised
when coach Hunt threw his shoe at me after
that last first-down run."
"I didn't expect to put 35 points up ... but I
also didn't expect the Wolverines to use three
quarterbacks. We're sorry to hear their freshman
QB broke his wrist."
"No, our crowd didn't help. It was like a mime
convention in there."
"I can't imagine Indiana has ever had a bigger win.
But I also know nothing about Indiana football
history. I know it was probably one of the worst
losses in Michigan history. I do know that. Coach
Hunt may never coach again."
tion * Pool * Sign Language * Yoga * Bartending * Belly Dancing * Br
UAC & the Michigan Union Present
MINI-COURSES
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