The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com September 15, 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-0-METER The defense was put into a tough spot because of the 1A Wolverines' six turnovers, and it never really stepped up. The Notre Dame offense didn't score in the sec- Obis ond half, but that was probably more a product of the rain than Michigan's defense actually playing well. ROD-O-METER Rodriguez apologized to the media for taking so much f time in the shower before coming out to his press confer- 4 ence. He probably could have used a few minutes in the Rich Rods shvitz to calm down a bit, too. Where did those unsolic- ited comments defending his program come from? HYPE-0-METER The Notre Dame student shirts, playing off the famous quote 4 by sportswriter Grantlarid Rice, said, "Outlined against a cold, gray October sky ... Notre Dame will rise again." And it was Big Houses true - for 80,795 drenched fans, the dreary weather didn't matter. They were raucous and had plenty to cheer about. NOTABLE QUOTABLE ASSOCIATED PRES POLL "ACL and MCL. How do you like that? I feel like an athlete - first time in my life." - Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on the knee injury he suffered in the second quarter after one of his play- ers crashed into him on punt coverage. He sported a leg brace and crutches on the sidelines, and was driven off the field on a golf cart. TEAM 1.Southern Cal 2. Oklahoma 3. Georgia 4. Florida 5. Missouri 6. LSU 7. Texas 8. Wisconsin 9. Alabama 10. Auburn 11. Texas Tech 12. South Florida 13.0 hio State LAST WEEK beat Ohi oState35-3 beat washington 55-14 beat South Carolina 144 bye beatNevada69-17 beat NorthTexas41-3 postponed beat Fresno State 13-10 beat western Kentucky 41-7 beat Mississippi State 3-2 beat Southern Methodist 43-7 beat Kansas 37-34 lost to Southern Cal 35-3 THIS WEEK bye bye at Arizona State at Tennessee Buffalo at Auburn Rice bye at Arkansas LSU Massachusetts at Florida Internationai Troy THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL DUaihy Top 10 returns for its third nstallme hi 6. LOUISIANA STATE: At leastcone coach seriously vek, Daily Sports staffers will fill out ballots, with linkedto Michigan's coaching search last year is 66% reving10 points, second-place vowes receiving having some successthis year. Rutgers coach Greg Ei he results are published with first-place votes in Schiano and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez can't say that. 1. SOUTHERN CAL(10): The Trojans made Ohio State looklike a joke. If that's the best the Big Ten has to offer, the conference might really be in trouble this year. See page 2B. 3. GEORGIA: After twoblowouts against weak, non-conference teams, Georgia saw how tough the SEC is and snuck by South Carolina by just a touchdown.Itwill be nearly impossible to go undefeated inthis conference. 16.rPenn Sate beat Syracuse55-13 Iermple 8. WISCONSIN: Seriously, why were you playing at Fresno StatevAren't you a top-10 Big Ten team? 17.Oregon beat Purdue Boise State Theybetter rest up for theirtough road test in 26-23 (20T) two weeks --we've heard those Wolverines are 18. Wake Forest bye at Florida State dangerous. 19. Kansas st to Soth Sar Houston Stat Flida734 20. Utah beat UtahState 58-10 at Air Force 21. West Virginia bye at Colorad o(9/18 22. Illinois beat Louisiana- bye 10. BYU (1): BYU is the new chic pick after its Lafayette 20-17 59-point drubbing of UCLA, which makes us 23. Clemson beat N.C. State 27-9 South Carolina Stat wonder - when's the last time anything chic came out of Utah? 24. Florida State beat Chatta- Wake Forest nooga 46-7 25. Fresno State lost to Wisconsin at Toledo Le 3) ite Games updated through Sept.14 STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers do their best to predict what happens in the 2008 college football season. Dan Courtney Ian Nate Lauren Feldman Ratkowiak Robinson Sandals Perlin Michigan (-1.5) at Notre Dame Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan No.1Southemal(-1.5)vs NoSbiooState Oi State Ohio State Southern Cal Southern Cal Oio State No. 2 Georgia (-75) at South Carolina Georgia Georgia Georgia Georgia Georga No.3Oklahoma (20.5) at Washington Oklahoma Oklahoma Washington Washington Washington No. 6 Missouri (-27) vs. Nevada Nevada Missouri Nevada Missouri Nevada No. 7 LouisianaState (42) vs. NorthTexas Louisiana State North Texas North Texas North Texas North Texas No.9 Aburn (-10.5) at Mississippi State Mississippi State Auburn Mississippi State Auburn Abrn No.10 Wisconsin (-1.5)at No.21 Fresno St Fresno State Wisconsin Fresno State Fresno State Fresno State No.11Alabama (-28) vs. W. Kentucky W. Kentucky Alabama Alabama Alabama W. Kentucky NO12 Tows tech (-37)at SMU Texas Tech SMU Texas Tech Texas Tech SMU No3.Kansas (+3.5afNo. 19 South Florida Soth Florida South Florida Kansas South Florida South Forida No.14 East Carolina (13.5) at lane East Carolina Tulane tat Carolina East Carolina East Carolina No.15 Arizona State (-23) vs. UNLV Arizona State UNLV Arizona State Arizona State Arizona State No.16 Oregon (-8) at Purdue Oregon Oregon Oregon Purdue Purdue No.17 Penn State (27.5) at Syracuse Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Nol8BrighamYoung (-8)vs. UCLA UCLA UCLA Brigham Young Brigham Young Brigham Young No.22Utah (24) atUtah State Utah Utah Utah Utah Utah No 23 California (-14.5) at Maryland Maryland California Maryland Maryland California No.24Illinois(-25) vs. UL-Lafayette Illinois Illinois Illinois inois Illinois Northwestern (NL) vs. Southern Illinois Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Michigan State (-17) vs. Florida Atlantic Florida Atlantic Florida Atlantic Michigan State Michigan State Michigan State Iowa (-14) vs. Iowa State Iowa State Iowa State Iowa Iowa State Iowa Minnesota (NL) vs. Montana State Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota lest Bet Oregon Tulane Brigham Young Arizona State Michigan Record Last Weak 51- 01 391(-)1-11(-)1 0101 8-14-1 (0-1). Overall Record 49-30-1 (1-2) 51-28-1 (3-0)... 53-26-1 (2-1) 4930-1 (1-2) 38-41-1 (03) . 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.