The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com POctober 6, 200 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 ROD-0-METER HYPE-0-METER It's a shame we're bashing the defense's performance A reporter asked an on-edge Rodriguez why he was more upset in After Michigan's great comeback against Wisconsin by giving no Obis. Ezeh registered15 tackles, includ- his postgame press conference than afterotherlosses. "I'm in charge 2/ last Saturday, the crowd was still riding high early.A j"' ing 4.5 for a loss. But the defense allowed 501 yards4/ of the program, and we didn't play well today," he snapped. "So, I'm 4 quick 14-3 lead fueled the e xcitement, but it didn't take Obis to the Fighting Illini. At least they were in good enough Rich Rods mad. Is there somethingwrong with that? I meanyouwant metobe Big Houses long for Illinois to quiet the Wolverine faithful. Hope of shape to keep allowing those yards all afternoon. happy when we lose? It ain'tgonna happen.It ain't gonna happen." another comeback kept everyone involved a little long 8-5B er than normal, but it was still pretty empty at the end. NOTABLE QUOTABLE "You think I like standing there watch- ing that? You think I want to stand and watch us drop the ball? I mean, you think it hasn't been addressed? I mean, you've got to be kidding me. I've never j' seen nothing like it. And I don't know if you can work on it more than we're working on it." - Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, ranting about how his team needs to work on reducing turnovers. ASSCITEDPRSS*OL THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL 6. LOUISIANA STATE: The Tigers head to The Swamp for aprimetime showdown with SEC powerhouse Florida this Saturday. This SEC matchup willbe aperfectgame for the SEC-lovers to wax notically about the L-reat SEC. Woo. SEC! TEAM 1. Oklahoma (5-0) 2. Alahama (6-0) 3. Missouri (5-0) 4. Louisiana State (4-0) S. Texas (5-0) 6. PennState (6-0) 7. Texas Tech (5-0) 8. Southern Cal (3-1) 9. Brigham Young (5-0) 10. Georgia (4-1) 11. Florida (4-1) 12. Ohio State (5-1) 13. Vanderbilt (5-0) 14. Utah (6-0) 15. Boise State (4-0) 16. Kansas (4-1) 17. Oklahoma State (5-0) 18 Virginia Tgcho(5-1) 19. South Florida (5-1) 20. Auburn (4-2) 21. Wake Forest (3-1) 22. North Carolina (4-1) 23. Michigan State (4-1) 24. Pittsburgh (5-0) 25. Ball State (6-0) LAST WEEK beat Baylor4-17 beat Kentucky 17-14 beat Nebraska 52-17 bye beat Clsrados38-14 beat Purdue20-6 beat Kansas State 58-28 beat Oregsn 44-10 beet Utah State 34-14 bye beat Arkansas 38-7 beat Wisconsin 20-17 beat Auburn 14-13 THIS WEEK Texas bye Oklahoma State at Florida Oklahoma at Wisconsin Nebraska Arizona State New Mexico Tennessee Lsuisiana Stale Purdue at Mississippi State at Wyoming U1. OKtLAHOUMA (12): eTse Sooners won a conference road game, but itwas at Baylor. This weekend's Red River Shootoutwill revealtwhether they deservesuch a high ranking. 8. SOUTHERN CAL: The Trojans had 597 yards of offense againstOregon this week. They would have doubled that had they played Michigan. Can the Big Ten just drop its Rose Bowlitie-in to save embarrassment? beat Iowa State beat Texas A&M 56-2 beat Weste Kentucky 27 lost to Pitt burgh 26-2 lost to Vanderbil lost to Navy 2 beat Connei cut 38-12 beat Iowa16 beat Soutl Florida 26- beat Toledo 3 35-33 5 sg Colorado at Missouri 3.MISSOURI: The Tigers earn their hrst win in Lincoln in 30 years. Not if you're measuring by the amount of saliva projectiled between the players. Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel alleged a Cornhusker spat on him during pregame warmups. r! bye -13 s- Syracuse 21 t14-13 Arkansas 4-17 Clemson cti- Notre Dame -13 at Northwestern h bye 21 1-0 at W. Kentucky Games updated through Oct. 5 10. VANDERBILT: We'll just leave it to a sign seen at the Commodores' win over Auburn last Saturday. "The geeks shall inherit the turf." STEXAS: The Longhorns won arconference road game, but it was at Colorado. This weekend's Red River Shootout will reveal whether they deserve such a high ranking. STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers predict what happens in the 2008 * college football season. Dan Feldman Courtney Ratkowiak Ian Robinson Michigan (-3) vs. Illinois Illinois Michigan Illinois No.1 Oklahoma (-27) at Baylor Baylor Baylor Oklahoma No 2 Alabama (-17) vsKentucky Alabama Alabama Alabama No.4 Missouri (-11) at Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska No.5 Texas (-13.5) at Colorado Colorado Texas Colorado No. 6 Penn State (-135) at Purdue Penn State Penn State Purdue No.7Texas Tech (-75) at Kansas State Texas Tech TexasTech . Texas Tech No.8 Brigham Yuung (-30) at UtahState Brigham Young Utah State Utah State No.9 Southern Cal (-17) vs Oregon Southern Cal Southern Cal Southern Cal No.10 South Florida (-14) vs Pittsburgh South Florida Pittsburgh South Florida No.12Florida(-25) at Arkansas Florida Arkansas Arkansas No.13 Auburn (-4.5) at Vanderbilt Auburn Auburn Auburn Nol4OhioState (-1 5) at No.18 Wisconsin Ohio State Wisconsin Ohio State No.15 Utah (-12) vs. Oregon State Oregon State Utah Utah No.17 Boise State (-24 5)vsLouisiana Tech Louisiana Tech Boise State Boise State No. 20 Virginia Tech (-28) vs. W. Kentucky W. Kentucky W. Kentucky W. Kentucky No. 21 Oklahoma State (-25) vs. Texas A&M Oklahoma State Texas A&M Texas A&M No.22 Fresno State (-23) vs. Hawaii Fresno State Fresno State Fresno State No. 24 Connecticut (-7) at North Carolina North Carolina Connecticut North Carolina Michigan State (-8) vs. Iowa Michigan State Michigan State Michigan State Idiana(7Tat Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota Best Bet North Carolina Penn State Texas Tech eod ThisWeek 12 -00-11-0 (1-0) OverallRecord .-59-2 (4-2) 81-62-2 (5-1) 82-61-2 (5-1-1) Nate Sandals Illinois Oklahoma Alabama Missouri Colorado Purdue Texas Tech Brigham Young Southern Cal South Florida Florida Auburn Wisconsin Utah Boise State Virginia Tech Texas A&M Fresno State North Carolina Michigan State Minnesota Texas Tech 9-12-0 (1-0) 83-60-2 (3-3) Josn Sotsky Michigan Baylor Alabama Missouri Texas Penn State Texas Tech Brigham Young Southern Cal South Florida Florida Auburn Wisconsin Utah Louisiana Tech W. Kentucky Texas A&M Fresno State North Carolina Michigan State Minnesota Texas A&M 9-12-0 (0-1) 72-71-2 (1-5) U"T' J/ L \T L/ 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