The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Monday, November 20, 2006 - 5B MAIZE GAUGE The Michigan Daily football writers break down the weekend's stats that don't show up in the box- score. The defense-o-meter measures the intensity of the defense, the Carr-o-meter judges Lloyd Carr's demeanor following the game and the hypemeter measures the fans' game performance. Po DEFENSE-0-METER 0 The secondary was exposed as a weakness - again. But unlike past weeks, Michigan's rush defense wasn't there to bail it out. The Wolverine 'D' allowed more than 500 yards against the Buckeyes, wasting a 38-point offensive performance. STAFF PICKS Predictions against the spread for Nov. 18 Jim Betts, member of the '69 Michigan team that upset No. 1 Ohio State, 24-12, takes his shot at the Daily football writers on Scott the week of The Game. CARR-O-METER 1/4 Carr was obviously upset after his tough weekend. He lost a mentor and a friend in Bo Schembechler, and came up short for the fifth time in six games against the rival Buckeyes. But he did his best to put on a strong face for the media. HYPEMETER 414 Shockingly enough, the Ohio State fans were excited for arguably the biggest game in the history of college football's greatest rivalry. One reporter in the crowd said it was impossible to talk to someone three seats down from him. a MICHIGAN Kevin Stephanie JimBetts Wright Wright Former Wolverine matt Sina Bsell inger No.2 Michigan (+7) at No.1 Ohio State Ohio State Michigan Ohio State Michigan Michigan Western Carolina (+35) at No. 3 Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Western Carolina No. 17 California (+6) at No.4 Southern Cal Southern Cal California california SouthernCal SouthernCal No. 5 Arkansas (-14.5) at Mississippi State Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Army (+31) at No. 6 Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Army No. 7 Rutgers (-7) at Cincinnati Rutgers Rutgers Cincinnati Rutgers Rutgers No. 8 West Virginia (-11) at Pittsburgh West Virginia Pittsburgh West Virginia Pittsburgh West Virginia Mississippi(+27.5) at No. 9 Louisiana State Louisiana State Mississippi Louisiana State Louisiana State Mississippi South Florida (+16.5)at No.10Louisville Louisville South Florida Louisville Louisville Louisville Buffalo (+38) at No.12 Wisconsin Wisconsin Buffalo Wisconsin Buffalo Wisconsin Utah State (+37.5) at No.13 BoiseState Boise State Utah State Boise State Utah State Utah State No.19 Virginia Tech(+2) at No.14 Wake Forest Wake Forest Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Wake Forest Virginia Tech No.15Auburn(-3)at Alabama Auburn Auburn Auburn Auburn Auburn No.16 Oklahoma (-20.5) at Baylor Oklahoma Baylor Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Duke (+26) at No.18 Georgia Tech Duke Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Georgia Tech No.21Maryland(+7.5)atNo.20 BostonCollege Maryland Maryland Maryland Maryland Maryland No. 22Tennessee (-8.5) at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee New Mexico (+26.5) at No. 23Brigham Young Brigham Young NewMexico Brigham Young Brigham Young Brigham Young Iowa (+3) at Minnesota Minnesota Iowa Minnesota Iowa Iowa Michigan State (+17) at Penn State Penn State Michigan State Penn State Penn State Penn State Indiana (+10) at Purdue Indiana Indiana Purdue Indiana Indiana Illinois (-2.5) at Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Illinois Best Bet Rutgers Auburn California Maryiand Michigan Record 11-11 (0-1) 12-10 (1-0) 13-9 (0-1) 12-10 (0-1) 11-11 (1-0) Overall Record 114-112-8 (3-7-1) 111-115-8 (5-6) 108-1188 (5-6) 107-119-8 (5-6) 122-104-8 (6-4-1) Standings 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 1st Pickers finally back on track as Wright leads.500-or- above push. Kevin Wright's 13-9 mark was tops in a week where the Daily prognosticators all finally posted a mark of .500 or above. With Jim Betts stepping up and doing the picks for the celeb- rities. their spot atop the season standings was in good hands after a solid 11-11 performance. With few games left in the sea- son, the celebs look to have first place all but locked up with a comfortable eight-game lead. Wright pulled away from a last-place tie with his counter- part, Stephanie Wright. But he's just one game away from the cellar, as Stephanie posted a solid 12-10 mark of her own. With the season nearing its culmination, Daily Sports is des- perate. We're looking for a celeb- rity to do our picks. But we don't want just any celeb - we need a celebrity who would be horrible at Staff Picks. If you have any suggestions or nominations, or think you yourself are worthy of the distinc- tion and would do an absolutely horrible job, drop us an e-mail at sports@michigandaily.com. Or, if you're not a big fan of e-mail, leave a suggestion at our blog. It's called "The Game," and it can be found at michigandaily.com THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL week in our pull thanks to a convincisngvictory over California. Now, Michigan fans everywhere can spend Thanksgiving break rooting against Southern Cal. Smoking Buckeyes blow past Blue 'D' By MATT SINGER Daily Sports Editor COLUMBUS - Everyone knew Ohio State's offense was a force to be reckoned with. But few could have anticipated the shellacking the Buck- eyes' 'O' would put on Michigan's once-proud defense. Led by Heisman frontrunner quarterback Troy Smith, Ohio State racked up 503 total yards and 42 points - both season-worsts for Michi- gan's defense. "It definitely was a lot of points scored," senior co-captain LaMarr Woodley said. "Nobody prob- ably expected the (score) to be that high. They probably thought it was going to be a low-scoring game. It kind of shocked everybody." The Buckeyes beat up the Wolverines with a lethal combination of big-play ability and back- breaking, methodical drives. In 11 games prior to the Ohio State contest, Michigan's defense allowed just 10 plays of 30 yards or more from scrimmage - all passes. But against the Buckeyes, Michigan gave up four plays of more than 30 yards, including two 50- plus yard rushes. With the game deadlocked at 7-7 early in the second quarter, Ohio State began its big-play parade. Working out of shotgun on second-and- four at the Buckeyes' 48-yard line, Smith handed off to backup running back Chris Wells on a draw. Smith's fake rollout may have fooled Michigan's defense, because Wells burst through the Wol- verine front, beat the safeties and sprinted to the end zone for a 52-yard touchdown run. On the Buckeyes' next drive, Smith struck twice with monster plays through the air. First, he fired a 39-yard completion to receiver Brian Robiskie to get Ohio State past midfield. Two plays later, Smith pulled off a picture-perfect play-action fake, freezing safety Ryan Mundy. Smith then fired over the top to wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. for a 39-yard touchdown, giving Ohio State a 21-7 second-quarter lead. But the most crushing play for the Wolverines came in the third quarter. Michigan had all the momentum early in the second half, scoring 10 straight points to cut Ohio State's lead to 28-24. But then Ohio State running back Antonio Pitt- man stormed up the middle for a 56-yard touch- 7. West Virginia: Rutgers's shocking loss to Cincinnati ended any chance of the Big Eastcearning real respect in our eyes. But we decided that the Mountaineers, who beat up on Pittsburgh last week, are the best one-loss team of that sorry bunch. S. Wisconsin: Tlie Badgers rivedt eir regular soaston ejudc t-d ,cud1ave beo orIpe ssivef they had scheduled a top-75 teamn in their no~nconference season., 9. Louisville: The Cardinals' return to the Daily Top 10 more because of other teams' failures than any success of their own. Louisville, West Virginia and Rutgers are currently locked in a three-way tie atop the Big East. 10. Louisiana State: The definition of gettin > cauwght looking ahtead: L ettingr Ole Mbliss t ake youi to over timie twith Ark ans as 'loomi ng neQxt 1n the schedule. One thin g's for cer'tain- the Tigers nee d to plat a Int Ibe tter to knock oft thy. R a zobacks Also receiving votes: Boise State, Texas, Auburn, Rutgers. WE'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR LEAVING MICHIGAN STATE OFF THE Top 10... MUST HAVE BEEN A TYPO. Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith torched the Wolverine defense all day long. He threw for four touchdowns. down run, dealing Michigan a back-breaking "We just had mistakes," Woodley said. "Just blow. as far as the defense, too many mistakes. When "What I believe is that you can't give up big you have mistakes, the other team capitalizes on plays and be successful," Carr said. "We've done them. You give up big plays and stupid penalties, a great job of that throughout this season, but it allows the team to continue their drive." we just didn't do that today. And that was, in my Smith's performance iced his Heisman-wor- mind, the difference." thy season. Spreading out Michigan's defense Huge gains were just one weapon in Ohio with four- and five-wide receiver sets, Ohio State State's offensive arsenal. The Buckeyes proved coach Jim Tressel allowed Smith to slice and dice adept at stringing together long, thoroughly Michigan's overmatched nickel and dime pack- dominating drives. ages. Fourteen-play,nine-play and11-playOhioState After burning Michigan with his legs in the touchdown drives ate a total of 13:18 off the clock, previous two Michigan-Ohio State contests, demoralizing the Maize-and-Blue defense. Smith used his mobility to buy more time for It stiffened a bit in the second half, when Mich- throws on Saturday, instead of taking off down- igan gave up 183 yards, compared to 320 yards in field. He finished with just 12 yards rushing, but the first half. And the Wolverines took advantage completed 29-of-41 passes for 316 yards and four of Buckeye mistakes to pick up three turnovers. touchdowns. But even when the Wolverines slowed Ohio "He's definitely a great player," Michigan State, they found ways to allow the Buckeye quarterback Chad Henne said. "He proved that offense to continue rolling. Linebacker's Shawn today, that when there is pressure on him, that Crable's fourth-quarter personal foul, in par- he can get out of the pocket and make plays hap- ticular, deflated Michigan's defense. The 15-yard pen. So if he's leading the polls already, then I'm penalty erased a huge third-down stop and led to sure he's going to get (the Heisman). He's a heck the Buckeyes' critical sixth touchdown. of a player."