The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom September 2, 2008 - 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 Rod-o-Meter judges how emotional (positive or negative) Rich Rodriguez was following the game and the Hype-o-Meter measures the fans' performance. DEFENSE-O-METER 2 We're filling in the last two Obis because the defense only decided to show up in the second half. With all its 4 preseason hype, the Wolverine defense has no excuse Obis for its first-half lethargy. But they tried to make up for it after the break by only allowing three points. ROD-O-METER Rodriguez didn't treat the media to any of his funny and some- times shocking Rich Rod-isms after Saturday's loss, and most of his answers were bland. He wasn't too upset about the Rich Rods game, buthe wasn't smiling, either. Unlike him, we don't have to watch the film to remember it was a dull press conference. HYPE-0-METER The student section was in rare form - Michigan Stadium was full and rowdy half an hour before kickoff, matching only the 4 Ohio State game in terms of early arrivers last year. Overheated Big Houses fans started leaving at halftime, but those who stayed redeemed themselves when Michigan pulled within two points late. THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL ASSOIATE PRSPL 6. MISSOURI: A win overlIllinois proves the Tigers aren't a one-year wonder -unlessthe Fighting Illini were. But Missouri shouldn'texpect Illinois to returnto St. Louis any time soon after two straight beatings. 0050 diiilfililiffiii F 1. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA(3): The Trojans have balls - they're the only team in the top 10 to play a true road game. The win is especially impressive because they lost their mascot, Snoop Dogg, to Louisiana State. 8. AUBURN: It must suck to be only the third best Tigers in the country. And how does it feel knowingcthatcAlabama won'tcbe a copcake on the schedule anymore? 3.OHIO STATE (2): Youngstown State went on probation after Ohio State coach Jim Tressel left for the Buckeyes. And the way the Penguins laid down Saturday, it lookslikethey're still on Tressel's payroll. 9. TEXAS: It's getting tough to write something about all these blowouts. TEAM 1. Georgia 2. Ohio State 3. Southern California 4. Oklahoma 5. Florida 6. Missouri 7. LSU 8. West Virginia 9. Clemson 10. Auburn 11. Texas 12. Texas Tech 13. Wisconsin 14. Kansas 15. Arizona State 16. Brigham Young 17. Virginia Tech 18. Tennessee 19. South Florida 20. Illinois 21. Oregon 22. Penn State 23. Wake Forest 24. Alabama 25. Pittsburgh LAST WEEK beat Georgia Southern 45-21 beat Youngstown State 43-0 THIS WEEK Central Michigan Ohio US. OKLAHOMA: We didn't even know Chattanooga had a football team. beat Virginia 52-7 bye beat Chatta- Cincinnati nooga 57-2 beatrHawaiiS6-1 Miami boat IllinoisS52-42 SE Missoari Slate beat Appalachian Troy State 41-13 beat Vuillanooa 48-21 at East Carolina lost toAlabama 34-10 The Citadel beat Louisiana- Southers Miss Monroe 34-0 beat Florida at Tenas-EI Paso Atlantic 52-10 beat Eastern Wash- at Nevada ington 49-24 beat Akron 38-17 Marshall beat Florida Inter- Louisiana Tech national 40-10 beat Northern Stanford Arizona 30-13 beat Northern at Washington Iowa 41-17 lost to East Cars- Furman lina 27-22 lost to UCLA 27-240T Alabama- Birmingham beat Tennessee- at Central Florida Martin 56-7 lostto Missouri 52-42 Eastern Illinois beat Mashing- Utah State ton 44-10 beat Coastal Oregon State Carolina be-1o beat Baylor 41-13 Mississippi beat Clemson 34-10 Tulane ots u adowlingrBuffalo Green 27-17 Games updated through Sept. 1 WANT TO BE A MICHIGAN FOOTBALL PLAYER? GO TO OPEN TRYOUTS. WEDNESDAY, 6:00 A.M., SCHEMBECHLER HALL. BRING A SIGNED PHYSICAL AND BE READY TO RUN. STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers do their best - to predict what happens in the 2008 college football season. Dan Courtney Ian Nate Marshall Feldman Ratkowiak Robinson Sandals Sunshine Michigan(-3.5) vs. Utah Michigan Michigan Utah Michigan Utah No.1Georgia(NL) vs. Georgia Southern Georgia Georgia Georgia Georgia Georgia No. 2 Ohio State (NL) vs. Youngstown St. Ohio State Ohio State Ohio State Ohio State Ohio State No.3SouthernCalifornia (-19) at Virginia Southern California Southern California Southern California Virginia Southern California No.4Oklahoma (NL) vs. Chattanooga Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma No.5Florida (-34.5)vs. Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii Florida Hawaii Hawai No.6Missouri(8.J) vs. No.20 Illinois Missouri Missouri Illinois Missouri Missouri No.7 Louisiana St. (NL) vs. Appalachian St. Louisiana State Louisiana State Louisiana.State Louisiana State Louisiana State No.8,West Virginia (NL) vs.Villanova West Virginia West Virginia West Virginia West.Virginia West Virginia No.9 clemson (4.5) vs. No. 24 Alabama . Alabama Clemson Alabama ..ciemoon-. .clemson . No.10Auburn (-26) vs.Louisiana-Monroe Auburn Louisana-Monroe Auburn.... Louisian.a.Monro LouisianaM onroe No.11 Texas (-24) vs. Florida Atlantic Florida Atlantic Texas.......................Texas Texas....- Florida Atlantic No12 Texas Tech (NL)vs.EWashington Texas Tech Texas Tech TexasasTechexasTech Texas Tech No.13 Wisconsin (-27) vs. Akron Wisconsin Akron Akron Wisconsin Akron No.14 Kansas (-35.5) vs. Florida Int'l Kansas Florida International Florida International Florida International Florida International No.15 Arizona State (NL) vs. N. Arizona Arizona State Arizona State Arizona State Arizona State Arizona State o.16 Brigham Young (NL) vs Northern Iowa Brigham Young Brigham Young Brigham Young Brigham Young Brigham Young No. 17virginia Tech (95) vs East Carolina Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Virginia Tech EastCarolina No.18 Tennessee (-7.5) vs. UCLA UCLA UCLA Tennessee UCLA Tennessee No.19South Florida (NL) vs. Tenn-Martin South Florida South Florida South Florida South Florida South Florida No.21Oregon (-3.5) vs.Washington Oregon Oregon Oregon Oregon Washington No l'2Penn State(NL) vs CoastalCarlin Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State No,.23.Wakeforest(-2) at Baylor .Wake Forest .Baylor * Baylr Wake Forest Wake Forest No,.25 Pittsburgh(-13) vs. BowlingGreen Bowling Green Bowling Green Bowling Green Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Northwestern(-11,5) vs. Syracuse Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Syracuse Indiana(-20.5) vs Western Kentucky Western Kentucky Western Kentucky Western Kentucky Western Kentucky Western Kentucky Iowa (NL) vs. Maine Iowa Iowa Iowa Iowa Iowa Minnesotas(-8) no. Northern Illinois Minnesota Northern Illinois Northern Illinois Minnesota Minnesota Michigan State (+4.5) at California California Michigan State California California Michigan State Best Bet Bowling Green UCLA Northern Illinois Hawaii Tennessee Record This Week 22-7-0 (1-0) 22-7-0 (1-0) 25-4-0 (1-0) 20-9-0 (0-1) 19-10-0 (0-1) OverallRecord 227-0 (1-0) 227-0 (1-0) 25-4-0(-0) 20-9-0 (0-1) 19-10-0 (0-) Remember, if you want your chance to be a star, e-mail danfeld@umich.edu. If you're chosen and can beat at least two of us, you'll stay on for another week. The longest tenured guest picker will get a prize at the end of the season. I A a -1