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