Friday October 1, 2004 sports. michigandaily. com sports@michigandaily.com PR TSidl ga aiu 10 .. .. .. .. ... .. .. . .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. . 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 x. iin * Bartending 110L 'q -I AI I I - * a Sjme I I -U 0 h