portS,
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
October 22, 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
O The performance combined two of the defense's worst
games of the season. Like at Notre Dame, it never
stepped up when put in a tough spot because of a
Obis turnover. And like against Illinois, the Wolverines were
frequently out of position and missed several tackles.
Penn State averaged an insane 6.8 yards per play.
ROD-O-METER
4/4 Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was visibly angry after
the game, sarcastically answering many questions.
When asked about the status of redshirt freshman quar-
Rich Rods terback Steven Threet's elbow, he said "I'm not a doc-
tor." He was annoyed by questions about the snapped
winning streak and ranted about his frustrations.
If Penn State fans consider Michigan their biggest rival,
we expected it to be a bit louder when they knock off
4 the Wolverines for the first time in 12 years. It was quiet
Big Houses early on, and all the promotions were way too gim-
micky. The pink S-zone was pretty awesome, consider-
ing pink is one of the Nittany Lions'original colors.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
"We gonna come out, we gonna work hard
this week. Because I don't think we are
going to ever lose to State. I'm feeling like
we're not gonna to lose to State because
that's just, we're not going to lose to State.
We are going to work hard. We're gonna
win."
- Junior defensive end Brandon Graham when asked how the
Penn State loss would affect this weekend's game against Michi-
gan State.
ASSOIATD RES OL
THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL
6. OKLAHOMA STATE: The undefeated Cowboys
play at No. 1 Texas Saturday, Oklahoma State's big-
gest game in recent memory.It's a good thing Cowboy
coach Mike Gundy is excellent at stayingcomposed.
After all, he's a man. And he's 40. Well, 41now.
TEAM
1. Texas (7-0)
2. Alabama (7-0)
3. Penn State (8-0)
4. Oklahoma (6-1)
5. Florida (5-1)
6. Southern Cal
(5-1) -
7. Oklahoma State
(7-0)
8. Texas Tech (7-0)
9. Georgia (6-1)
10. Ohio State (5-1)
11. Louisiana State
(5-1)
12. Utah (8-0)
13. Boise State
(6-0)
14. South Florida
(6-1)
15. Texas Christian
(7-1)
16. Missouri (5-2)
17. Pittsburgh (5-1)
18. Brigham Young
(6-1)
19. Kansas (5-2)
20. Ball State (7-0)
21. Georgia Tech
(6-1)
22. Tulsa (7-0)
23. Boston College
(5-1)
24. Florida State
(5-1)
25. Minnesota (6-1)
LAST WEEK
beat
Missouri 56-31
beat
Mississippi 24-20
beat Michigan
46-17
beat Kansas 45-31
bye
beat Washington
State 69-0
beat Baylor 34-6
beat Texas
A&M 43-25
beat
Vanderbilt 24-14
beat Michigan
State 45-7
beat South
Carolina 24-17
beat Colorado State
49-16
beat Hawaii 27-7
beat
Syracuse 45-13
beat Brigham
Young 32-7
lost to Texas
56-31
beat Navy 42-21
lost to Texas
Christian 32-7
lost to
Oklahoma 45-31
beat Western
Kentucky 24-7
beat
Clemson 21-17
beat Texas-El
Paso 77-35
beat Virginia
Tech 28-23
beat North Caro-
lina St. 26-17
bye
THIS WEEK
Oklahoma State
at Tennessee
at Ohio State
at Kansas State
Kentucky
at Arizona
at Texas
at Kansas
at Louisiana State
Penn State
Georgia
bye
at San Jose
State
at Louisville
wyoming
Colorado
Rutgers
UNLV
Texas Tech
Eastern
Michigan
Virginia
Central Florida
at North
Carolina
Virginia Tech
at Purdue
1. TEXAS (15): The Longhorns' schedule doesn't
let up. For the third straight week, they play a
top-25 team. This week it's No. 6 Oklahoma State.
No. 8 Texas Tech will be next. But in two weeks,
it's Baylor. The Bears orobably won't be ranked.
8. TEXAS TECH: The Graham Harrell-to-
Michael Crabtree connection is obviously
very good, but the Red Raiders' defense has
quietly played well, too. Texas A&M gained
just 32 yards in the second half last week.
0~
3. PENN STATE: The only thing more out ofstyle
than the Nittany Lion's nine-game losing streak
against Michigan is Penn State coach Joe Paterno.
Just kidding, Joe.You're the man. Who cares if
you startedthinking about retiring in the 70s?
10.OHIO STATE: Normally, Michigan State's
annual collapse begins with a loss to Michigan, but
the Buckeyes might have beaten the Wolverines
to the punch with a 45-7 pounding last week. So
typical - Ohio State beats Michigan atsomething.
S. SOUTHERN CAL:The Trojans ended Washington
State's 280-game streak of not being shut out. That gives
Michigan, the nation's active leader inthat category,
a little more cushion(305games). There's a joke with
Trojans winning 69-0, but we're notrgoing to go there.
Games updated through Oct.19
STAFF PICKS
The Daily football
writers do their best
to predict what happens ;
* in the 2008 college
football season. Dan courtney Ian Nate Liz
Feldman Ratkowiak Robinson Sandals Kiefer
Michigan (-23.5) at No.3Penn State-Michi Michigan Michigan Michigan chigan
No.1 Texas (-6) vs. No.11 Missouri Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas
No4 Oklahoma (19) vs No.16 Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Oklahoma
No.6Southern Cal(43) at Washington St Washington.State Wsit eWashington State Southern Cal Washington State
No.7 Texas Tech (-215) at Texas A&M Texas Tech Texas Tech .easA&M TexasTech Texas
No. 8 Oklahoma State (-17) vsBaylor Oklahoma State Baylor Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Oklahoma State
No.9.BYU (-1.5) at Texas Christian Texas Christian Brighar Young Texas Christian Brighaw Young Brigham Young
No.10 Georgia (-14.5) at No. 22 Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Georgia Vanderbilt Georgia Vanderbilt
No.12Ohio State(-3.5) at No.20 Michigan St Ohio State Michigan State Ohio State Ohio State Ohio State
N,.13 Louistiana S1te3S) atScarolina Louisiana State.Louisiana State Louisiana State Louisiana State Louisiana State
NoC4Utah (-23)at Colrado State colrado Stat clrd Stat colorado State Utah Colorado State
No.17 Virginia Tech (+2) at Boston College Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Boston College Boston College
No.18 North Carolina (-5) at Virginia Virginia North Carolina Virginia Virginia North Carolina
No. 19South Florida (-24) vs. Syracuse South Florida Syracuse South Florida South Florida Syracuse
No 21 Wake Forest (-1)at Maryland Wake Forest Wake Forest Wake Forest ke Forest Wake Forest
No.23 Pittsburgh(-3) at Navy Navy Pittsburgh Navy Navy. Pittsburgh
No,2Caliornia(-2)at Arizona Arizona California California Arizona California
Wisconsin (+3) at-lowa Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin Iowa
Indiana (+17) at Illinois Illinois Illinois Illinois Illinois Ilinois
NotwsenNorthwestern Northwestern
Purdue (+35) at Northwestern.......Purdue Purdue Nrhetr Northwestern Notwetr
Best Bet Suth Florida Srac caornia Wisconsin Wake Forest
Record Last Week 11-9-0 (1-0)10-0 (01)...12.80 (01) 3-7-0O0-1)
Overall Record 106-78-2 (5-3) 97-87-2 (6-2) 105-79-2 (5-2-1) 106-78-2 (3-5) 95-89-2 (2-6)
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.
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