The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com October 17, 2007 - 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. DEFENSE-0-METER 3/ Take away two late fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the defense played a dominating game. The front four got pressure on Pur- due quarterback Curtis Painter and forced multiple turnovers, Crables which the offense converted into points. The starters gave up lust one touchdown, and that was following a Michigan fumble. CARR-O-METER Carr always has his good days and bad days with the media, and Saturday was definitely the latter. Even 4 though his team completely handled the Boilermakers, Lloyd Carr didn't really care to field questions concerning Mike Carrs Hart, K.C. Lopata and the special teams in general. THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL _zi lT)eufiO 6.OREGON: The Ducks beat Washington State TEICHIGN DAILY 53-7 this week. In other words, they had a bye. ihfisle vn1 second-lacThey're probably licking their beaks at their chance s ttobeaSouthernCalhutthey betternotlookpast vott in prezztesgsWashington this week. 1. OHIO STATE (6): This ranking is more other 7 ETCY vntog h idasba teams losing than the Buckeyes winning. With a Loiin tt:ti audyte'etl ak 48-3 over Kent State, Ohio State added another unimpressive win to its resume. Talk to us on Nov.t 18. -frrel HYPEMETER It was pretty good showing for a Fall Break game, but still, the 2I4 studentsection came late and never got very loud. Sure, Purdue never really got into the game, and the contest was practically Big Houses decided by halftime, but that's no excuse. The wave did look good, but the Boilermakers never really had to worry about crowd noise. ASSOCIATED PRESS PO For the second week in a row, the nation's No.1 team lost in an upset. Kentucky outlasted Louisiana State in three overtimes, winning 43-37. After, Oregon State beat No. 2 California 31-28, Ohio State rose to the top of the charts. TEAM LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 1. Ohio State beat Kent State 48-3 Michigan State beat Central at Rutgers 2. South Florida Florida 64-12 3. Boston College beat Notre at Virginia Tech Dame 27-14 4. Oklahoma beat Missouri 41-31 at Iowa State 5. Louisiana State lost to Kentucky 43-37 Auburn 6. South Carolina beat North Carolina21-15 Vanderbilt 7. Oregon beat Washington at Washington St. 53-7 8. Kentucky beat Florida Louisiana St. 43-37 9. W. Virginia bye Mississippi State 10. California lost to Oregon at UCLA State 31-28 11. VirginiaTech beat uke 43-14 Boston Colege 12. Arizona State beat Washington44-20 California 13. Southern Cal beat Arizona 20-13 at Notre Dame 8.SOUTH CAROLINA: Gotto love the'OlBall Coach. He's got his Cocks ready to rise to thetop of the SEC this season. Hopefully, Coach Urban Meyer's Gators won'tblock them. 3. LOUISIANA STATE (2): The Tigers'three-OT lossowasn'tenough to discourage two voters from picking them No. 1. Perhaps they were impressed by coach Les Miles's classy move after game. Seems like a guy we'd like to have in Ann Arbor ... 10. CALIFORNIA: MAJOR PARTY FOUL! Backup freshman quarterback Kevin Rileycost the Bears this game. No way he'll be able to tap that. The girl or the keg. S.OKLAHOMA: The Sooners have found a way U D torise in the rankings afterback-to-back wins over Texas and Missouri.True, Oklahomablew it against Colorado,but this season's hadbigger upsets. Just ask around Ann Arbor. p Staff Picks recap: Oh how the mighty have fallen. After a great first four weeks, the Daily's football beat . has, well, struggled, in the past two. Scott Bell topped everyone once again - his fourth time with that distinction already this season. He only managed to go .500 for the week, though. Everyone else was below that number, including returning guest picker Chad Gerencer, who won't be returning next week after a 9-15 performance. Daniel Bromwich was the only picker to get his best bet right this week. 1.Missouri 17. Hawaii 18. Auburn 19. Texas 20. Tennessee 21. Georgia 22. Texas Tech 23. Cincinnati 24. Michigan 25. Kansas lost to Oklahoma 41-31 beat San Jose State 42-35 beat Arkansas9-7 beat Iowa State 56-3 beat Mississippi State 33-21 beat Vanderbilt 20-17 beat Texas A&M 35-7 lost to Louisville 28-24 beat Purdue 48-21 beatColorado 47-20 T exas Tech New Mexico State at Louisiana State at Baylor at Alabama bye at Missouri at Pittsburgh at Illinois at Oklahoma State Games updated through Oct.16 Gerencer's departure means it's time for someone new to step in. Want to take your best shot at besting a bunch of wannabee prognosticators? E-mail the group at footballbeat07@umich.edu to get your name entered in the pool of potential applicants. If you can best two of the writers when picking against the spread, you'll stay for another week. STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers do their best., to predict what happens~ in the 2007 College football season. _ Scott vaniei Bell Bromwich Herman Wright Gerencer MICHIGAN(-6)vs. Purdue LSU (-95)vs. KENTUCKY CALIFORNIA (-14) vs. Oregon State OHIO STATE(-30.5) vs. Kent State BC (-3.5) vs. NOTRE DAME SOUTH FLORIDA(-12) vs. Central Florida OKLAHOMA (-105) vs. Missouri South.Carolina (-7) vs UNC OREGON (1.8)vs Washington State. SOUTHERN CAL (-21) vs. Arizona. Virginia Tech (-13.5) vs. DUKE ARIZONA STATE(-12) vs. Washington CINCINNATI (-10.5) vs. Louisville Hawaii (-19) vs. SAN JOSE STATE Illinois (-35) vs. IOWA Wisconsin (+7)vsPENN STATE KANSAS (-25.5) vs. Baylor Florida State (-6) vs. WAKE FOREST Auburn (+3) vs. ARKANSAS TEXAS(-06) vs. Iowa State Georgia (-7) vs.VANDERBILT Tennessee (-7) vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE Indiana (+4.5) vs. MICHIGAN STATE Minnesota (+7)vs NORTHWESTERN Best Bet Record This Week Overall Record Michigan Kentucky California Ohio State Boston College. South Florida Missouri North Carolina Washington State Southern Cal Virginia Tech Arizona State Louisville Hawaii Illinois Wisconsin Kansas Florida State Arkansas Texas Vanderbilt Mississippi State Indiana Northwestern Northwestern 12-12-0 (0-1) 84-65-4 (2-4) Purdue Louisiana State California Ohio State Boston College. South Florida Oklahoma South Carolina Oregon Southern Cal Virginia Tech Arizona State Cincinnati Hawaii Illinois Wisconsin Kansas Wake Forest Arksanss Texas Georgia Tennessee Michigan State Northwestern Virginia Tech 10-14-0 (1-0) 76-73-4 (4-2) Michigan Louisiana State California Ohio State Boston College South Florida Missouri South Carolina Oregon Southern Cal Virginia Tech Arizona State Cincinnati Hawaii Illinois Wisconsin Kanas Florida State Arkansas Texas Georgia Mississippi State Indiana Northwestern Northwestern 9-15-0 (0-1) 74-75-4 (1-5) Michigan Louisiana State California Ohio State Boston College South Florida Missouri South Carolina Oregon Southern Cal Virginia Tech Washington Louisville Hawaii Ilinois Wisconsin Baylor Wake Forest Arkansas Iowa State Georgia Tennessee Michigan State Northwestern Wisconsin 10-14-0 (0-1) 76-73-4 (4-2) Purdue Louisiana State California Ohio State Boston College South Florida Missouri South Carolina Oregon Southern Cal Virginia Tech Arizona State Cincinnati Hawaii Illinois Wisconsin Kansas Florida State Auburn Texas Georgia Mississippi State Indiana Northwestern Boston College 9-15-0 (0-1) 74-75-4 (1-5)