The Michigan Daily - SportsThursday - January 5, 2006 - 5B
Defensive Intensity
We could probably use the exact same entry from
the Ohio State game and several other contests. For
stretches, the defense looked as if it could stop any-
one, but then the inconsistency that plagued the unit
all year long reared its ugly head. The defensive line
put more pressure on Nebraska quarterback Zac
Taylor than it did on anyone else this year. Alan
Branch, LaMarr Woodley and crew pounded the
junior all game long to the tune of nine sacks. But
the defense also gave up long runs to the diminu-
tive Cory Ross. Ross finished with 161 yards, one
touchdown and offensive MVP honors.
Carr-o-meter
Hypemeter
Rush Yards
After the Ohio State game, it looked as if Lloyd
Carr may have had tears in his eyes. After this
game, he looked angry and tired. Carr congratulat-
ed Nebraska on a well-played game, but he thought
his "players deserved better" in a game that he said
was very poorly officiated. Like most games, Carr
was happy with the effort his team gave, but it was
obvious he thought the outcome could've been a
little different. This press conference went like
most of those after losses this year: Carr praised
his team for never giving up, but he looked as if he
was happy to be done with the game.
A neutral site, this was not. The Alamodome was
a sea of red for the contest. The Wolverines didn't
give you much to be excited about this year, but 150
student ticket requests? That's it? Predictably, crowd
volume followed the color pattern. The noise was
deafening when the Cornhuskers made a play, and
considerably less so when the Wolverines came up
with a big gain or a critical stop. Nebraska apparel
was everywhere around San Antonio in the days
surrounding the game, and maize and blue were
rare finds. Props to the Nebraska fan standing in
front of the press box with a big wad of chew.
What do you get when a healthy Mike Hart goes up
against a battered group of Nebraska linebackers?
You would've expected Hart to have a huge night,
but instead he turned in a dud, picking up a measly
74 yards on 19 carries. Kevin Grady was mediocre
in a backup role. Quarterback Chad Henne was
the lone bright spot on the ground, showing an
uncharacteristic willingness to keep the ball and
run for first downs. Henne picked up 38 yards and
a touchdown on the game. Still, the Wolverines
couldn't get it going in the rushing department. A
thoroughly disappointing performance.
STAFF PICKS
Predictions against the
spread for bowl games
No. 20 Michigan (-11.5) vs. Nebraska
Southern Miss (-17) vs. Arkansas State
UTEP (+3) vs. Toledo
BYU (+7) vs. California
Colorado State (+3) vs. Navy
Kansas (-3) vs. Houston
Nevada (-2) vs. Central Florida
Memphis (-5) vs. Akron
No. 23 Clemson (NO LINE) vs. Colorado
Arizona State (-11) vs. Rutgers
Boise State (+1) vs. No. 19 Boston College
No. 24 Georgia Tech (-8.5) vs. Utah
No. 6 Oregon (-3) vs. Oklahoma
Minnesota (-3.5) vs. Virginia
Northwestern (+3) vs. No. 17 UCLA
South Carolina (-4) vs. Missouri
No. 9 Miami (NO UNE) vs. No.10 Loulslana State
South Florida (+5.5) vs. North Carolina State
Tulsa (+7) vs. Fresno State
No. 14 TCU (-4) vs. Iowa State
No. 18 Texas Tech (-3) vs. No. 13 Alaba na
No. 25 Iowa (+3) vs. No.16 Florida
No. 15 Louisville (+7.5) vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech
No. 21 Wisconsin (+11) vs. No. 7 Auburn
No. 5 Notre Dame (+4) vs. No.4 Ohio State
No.11 West Virginia (+7.5) vs. No. 8 Georgia
Gabe
Edelson
Ian
Herbert
Michigan
Arkansas State
UTEP
California
Navy
Houston
Central Florida
Akron
Clemson
Arizona State
Boise State
Georgia Tech
Oregon
Minnesota
UCLA
South Carolina
Miami
North Carolina State
Fresno State
TCU
Alabama
Florida
Virginia Tech
Auburn
Ohio State
Georgia
Nebraska
Southern Miss
UTEP
California
Navy
Kansas
Nevada
Akron
Arizona State
Boston Collage
Georgia Tech
Oklahoma
Virginia
Northwestern
South Carolina
Lolsiana State
South Florida
Fresno State
TCU
Matt
Venegoni
M ichigan
Southern Miss
UTEP
California
Colorado State
Kansas
Central Florida
Memphis
Clemson
Arizona State
Boise State
Georgia Tech
Oregon
Minnesota
UCLA
South Carolina
L~OuisanState
South Florida
Fresno State
TCU
Iowa
Virginia Tech
Auburn
Notre Dame
Georgia
Penn State
Texas
Georgia
9-18-1(0-1)
1014044(48)
Stephanie Bonnie
Wright Hunt
Nebraska
Arkansas State
Toledo
California
Colorado State
Kansas
Central Florida
Memphis
Clemson
Arizona State
Boston College
Georgia Tech
Oregon
Minnesota
UCLA
South Carolina
Loulsiana State
South Florida
Fresno State
TCU
Michigan
Arkansas Stat
Toledo
California
Colorado Stat
Houston
Nevada
Memphis
Clemson
Rutgers
Boise State
Georgia Tec
Oregon
Minnesota
UCLA
Missouri
Miami
South Florida
Tulsa
Iowa State
Texas Tech
Iowa
Former'Beethoven'star
agrees to picks, sort of
Daily Sports has finally
arrived. When world-
renowned actress Bonnie
Hunt agreed to grace
us with her picks we
nearly cried, "Jumanji!"
Yes, this is the same
Bonnie Hunt who starred in
"Jumanji," "Cheaper by the
e Dozen," "Jerry Maguire,"
"Beethoven," "Dave,"
"The Green Mile" and, of
course, the newly released
"Cheaper by the Dozen 2."
She's worked with the best
- yeah, we're calling
Tom Cruise, Kirsten
Dunst, Hilary Duff and
h Steve Martin "the best."
And she was going to
work with us, too. It was
obviously an honor.
Unfortunately, we never
got in touch with Bonnie
Hunt - aunt of former
a sports writer Bob Hunt
- so a nickel did the
picking for the movie star.
Ian relied on Ohio State
(like he always does)
to help him make up
h some ground on the
other writers - but he
needed a lot more help
than that. He finished
a the year in last place.
Alabama
Alabama
Iowa
VIra Tech
Auburn
OhIo State
Georgia
Penn State
Texas
Auburn
12-15-1(0-1)
97-108-4(4,8)
Florida
No. 3 Penn State (-7.5) vs. No. 22 Flodda State
No. 1 Southern Cal (-7) vs. No. 2 Texas
Best Bet
Record (Best bet)
Overall Record (Best bet)
Penn State
Southern Cal
South Carolina
10-17-1(0-1)
1031024(4.8)
Virginia Tech
Auburn
Ohio State
Georgia
Penn State
Texas
UCLA
15-12-1(1-0)
106-994(7-5)
VirginIa Tec
Auburn
Ohio State
West Virgini
Penn State Stephanie proved herself
Southern Cal to be the Daily's best
Miami prognosticator, and
she was once again the
11-16-1(0-1) only writer to nail the
95-164 (3-)concept of a "best bet."
-H A ........... - ................. .
NEBRASKA
Continued from page 1B.
r* en route to offensive MVP honors.
Then, Nebraska made it a three-point game,
28-25, on a successful two-point conversion.
On the ensuing possession, the Wolverines drove down - . ."
the field and into Nebraska territory - bouncing back,
but only for a moment.
After finding a seam in the Nebraska zone and picking f
up a first down, Avant fumbled the ball. And even though
the Cornhuskers were forced to punt just a few plays later,
Avant said he placed much of the blame for the loss on
himself.
"I can't fumble the ball' Avant said. "I never fumble the
ball. ... I put a lot of blame on me because that took away
field position and momentum and gave it to Nebraska."
Henne also lost the pigskin, a mistake that put Nebras-
ka on Michigan's 17-yard line and set up the final score. 19
It was a 13-yard strike from Nebraska quarterback Zac
Taylor to sophomore receiver Terrence Nunn that put ...
the Cornhuskers ahead by four and forced Michigan to
attemot a last-minute. come-from-behind drive for the
RANT BOX
After Michigan's 32-28 loss to Nebraska, The Michigan Daily received its fair
share of angry comments from fans. Yup, you guessed it. Most of them were
about the poor play from the Wolverines all season long. Here's a sampling of
some of the things readers had to say:
I have to agree with Avant that the officiating was the worst that I can remember.
Even the plays that were reviewed seemed to come out wrong. The Wolverines
had their chances, but this game would have been in the "win" column without all
the poor calls, including mugging our receivers several times. It was a shame.
- Jim Parker, Class of 1968
How much longer can we alumni tolerate such mediocre performances? We
are repeatedly losing to teams with inferior talent. Although this year has been
injury plagued, with the abundance of talent on this team, it is a shame that
there are mid-major teams playing at a higher level and giving more consistent
performances. Although I think Lloyd Carr has been great at maintaining the
integrity of the program, it is clearly time for a change. This stale offense and
unproductive, porous defense are an embarrassment to our tradition.
- Jerry Pena
Sadly enough, it is time for Lloyd Carr and his defensive coordinators to take