8A - Thursday, October 23, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Top-25 showdowns fill Langlais steps upto slate for this weekend lea thinned defense Cowboys take on Longhorns in Big 12 clash By FELIX CARREON and TIM ROHAN Daily Sports Writers The winner of the last three BCS championships has been either a Southeastern Confer- ence or Big 12 team. And the dominance of those two confer- ences is evident again this year, with the pair boasting three of the top five and seven of the top 10 teams in the first BCS rank- ings. That means many of this week's matchups feature top-25 or unbeaten teams. NO.7 GEORGIA AT NO.13 LOUISIANA STATE Bothteamscomeintothegame with one loss, butcrecentcparity in college football has meant great conferences produce winners with at least one loss. Last year, Louisiana State won the SEC and the National Championship after two triple-overtime losses in the regular season. The loser of this game, with two losses, will be all but elimi- nated from conversation of a national championship. Pre- season No. 1 Georgia and the defending champion Tigers both have alot at stake. This battle between SEC West (Louisiana State) and SEC East (Georgia) will match high- powered offenses against fast and tenacious defenses. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford's arm might prove to be the differ- ence, and both coaches won't be afraid to take their shots in this chess match. Guaranteed: The close game is decided by a trick play called by Louisiana State coach Les Miles. The running back pass is snuffed out by a referee who tackles Tigers running back Charles Scott as he tries to throw the football. Strangely, it is the same referee who tackled the South Carolina quarterback in their game against the Tigers last week. It proves to be the dif- ference in the game as Georgia beats Louisiana State, 31-24. NO. 6 OKLAHOMA STATE VS. NO.1 TEXAS Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Heisman front-runner, aims to keep the No. 1 Long- horns on top of the Big 12 Sat- urday against No. 6 Oklahoma State. The Longhorns are a week removed from handing No. 16 Missouri its worst loss of the season, 56-31. While most of the attention will focus on McCoy, Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson has also garnered some Heisman talk by throwing for nearly 1,500 yards and 14 touch- downs. Look for Robinson to connect with wide receiver Dez Bryant, one of the best receivers in the conference with 11 touch- downs. If Texas wants to find itself in the BCS title game, it will need to improve its defensive play. Texas has allowed over 30 points in the last two games against ranked opponents, No. 16 Missouri and No. 4 Oklahoma. If the Long- horns give up at least 30 points to the Cowboys, expect Okla- homa State to capitalize and put the Longhorns' conference and national title hopes in jeopardy. The winner will be in firm con- trol of the South Division title and sit atop the Big 12. Guaranteed: The Longhorns to continue their rampage against ranked foes in the Big 12. McCoy will throw for three touchdowns, two to wide receiv- er Jordan Shipley. Oklahoma State will lead at the break but Texas will rely on the consistent play of McCoy to best the Cow- boys, 35-28. NO. 8 TEXAS TECH VS. NO. 23 KANSAS In another Big 12 matchup, No. 8 Texas Tech aims to continue its explosive offensive play against No. 23 Kansas. In a battle of pre- mier quarterbacks, Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell will aim to cement the Red Raiders' place among the conference elite. His top target, wide receiver Michael Crabtree, is one of the nation's best with 12 touchdown receptions. The Jayhawks lead the North Division of the Big 12, and Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing will need to rebound fromatwo-inter- ception performance last week in a 45-31 loss to Oklahoma. In a game with potent offens- es, defense will be the difference. The Kansas offensive line must protect Reesing for the Jayhawks to have a chance. Guaranteed: Harrell will throw for four touchdowns, two to Crabtree. Expect the Red Raider defense to pressure quar- terback Todd Reesing early and often. The Red Raiders will con- tinue to continue their offensive onslaught against the Jayhawks, 42-28. By NICOLE AUERBACH Daily Sports Writer Last weekend's stats for sopho- more defenseman Chad Langlais were pretty easy to overlook. No goals. No assists. No shots. But accord- ing to Michigan Niagara at hockey coach Red Berenson, a good Michigan defenseman is Matchup: hard to notice. Niagara 1-2-1 "When you're Michigan 3-1-0 looking at a When: Tonight, defenseman, you 7:35 p.m. don't judge them by their good Where: Yost plays," Berenson said last week. TV: Fox "You judge them College Sports by their mistakes. It's just the nature of the game.... If you don't notice the defenseman, he's not making turnovers or getting beat down on the line, he's probably having a good game." With the loss of senior cap- tain Mark Mitera and junior Steve Kampfer to injuries, Michigan needs Langlais to keep playing mistake- free hockey as his minutes on ice increase. Thursday's home game against Niagara (1-2-1) will showcase the new look of the Michigan defense corps to the Yost Ice Arena crowd. Berenson calls the unit "thinner." It's younger and less experienced, but it also has something to prove. After splitting their series at Northern Michigan last weekend, the Wolverines (3-1-0, 1-1-0 CCHA) need to step up their defensive effort, however short-handed they may be. Langlais might just be the player to lead the charge. Langlais came to Michigan as a 20-year-old freshman last fall, after playing two years of Juniors with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. Sophomore Chad Langlais was a power-play specialist last season, but he hopes to help lead the Michigan defense this year. Now, the second-oldest blueliner on the roster will have to lead the defense like a veteran - even though he's just a sophomore. Still, Michigan assistant coach Billy Powers stressed the impor- tance of not adding pressure to the defensemen who are filling the void left by injuries. "You have to do what you're capa- ble of," Powers said. "We just need him to continue doing what he's doing. It's good enough." In the Wolverines' season opener againstSt.Lawrence,Langlaistallied the first goal of his collegiate career midway through the second period. Before the season, he said he thinks he can be a more offensive defense- man this season, even though it's not his coaches' main focus. Last year, Langlais had 19 assists, and teammates have said he improved his passing from then to now, a development his coaches see, too. Powers said this could be Lan- glais' "breakout year." Berenson agrees. "Right from the get-go, I saw in him that he has the vision and the skill," Berenson said. Junior defenseman Chris Sum- mers called Langlais "one of the smartest guys on the team" because of his on-ice prowess. Langlais has been a constant fix- ture on the Wolverines' top power play unit since the beginning of last season. Power-play skaters possess certain intangible qualities in their games - like clear vision, quick reaction time and awareness - and they make Langlais special. "He has gifts and skills that you cannot teach," Powers said. This year, the Michigan coach- ing staff expects him to "quarter- back" the power-play group, leading the way with his experience and increased confidence. It's time for teammates to look up to the 5-foot-8 defenseman. "He's a warrior, he battles, and he plays bigger than his size," Powers said. "He's elusive. He's patient. We need him to continue being a domi- nant force at both ends of the ice. He's off to a good start." 6 6 STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers do their best to predict what happens in the 2008 college football season. Dan Feldman Nate Sandals courtney Ratkowiak ian Robinson Vince Coughlin Michigan (+4)vs. Michiga.n State Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan State Michigan No1 Texas (-12.5) vs. No.7 Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Texas No.2 Alabama (7) at Tennessee Alaama Tennessee Alaama. Alaama Tennessee No.3 Penn State (-2.5) at No.10 Ohio State Oio . State Ohio State Ohio State No.4 Oklahoma (-19) at Kansas State Kansas State Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma No. 5 Florida (-25) vs. Kentucky Florida Florida Florida. Florida Florida No.6 .Souhern .Ca .(-16) .a.Arizon.... :.__. . ............. ........... .._... ........... ..._ ..._ ...... No6 Southern Cal (16) at Arizona Arizona Southern Cal Arizona Southern Cal Southern Cal No.8 Texas Tech (-25) at No.19 Kansas Texas Tech Kansas Texas Tech Texas Tech Texas Tech No.9 Georgia (+2.5) at No.11 Louisiana State Georgia Louisiana Sate..........Georgia Louisiana State Georgia ... ....... .............. ..... ...................................................................... o 13 Boise State(-7.5) at San..se Stte SanJose Stateoise State San Jose State Bose State Boise State No.3 ..s.Sat.Sn.tae.ouh.loid.................................._ae. ........ No. 14 South Flrida (-5) at Louisville South Florida Louisville South Florida No.15 Texas Christian (-31.)vs. Wyoming Texas Christian Texas Christian Texan Christian Texas Christian Texas Christian No. 16 Missouri (-22) xs. Colrado Colorado Missouri Colorado . Clrado :Clorado No.17 Pittsburgh (-9) vs. Rutgers Rutgers Pittsburgh Rutgers Pittsburgh Rutgers No.18 Brigham Young (-23) vs. UNLV UNLV UNLV Brigham Young Brigham Young Bigham Young No. 20 lull State (-24) vs. tastern Michigan Ball State Ball State Ball State Bal State Ball State No. 21 Georgia Tech (-12) vs. Virginia Virginia Georgia Tech Virginia Virginia Virginia No. 22 Tulsa (-23.5) vs. Central Florida Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa No. 23 Boston College (+3) at North Carolina Boston College Boston College Boston College.Boston College North Carolina No.24 Florida State (-4.5) vs. Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Florida State Florida State Florida State No. .....a...._adu . Mineot..............Min.o...Mineot.Prde . ..n...a...... .lll5 inneoa()axudeMneoaMneoa Mi(-2.o)aatuWiscoinsinot Ilios(25 tWsosnWisconsin Illinois Illinois Wiscnsin Wiscnsin test Bet South Florida UNLV Virgiia Florida Ohio State Record Last Week 11-9-0 (1-0) 5-15-0 (0-1) 12-8-0 (0-1) 13-7-0 (0-1) 11-9-0 (0-1) OverallIecord 106-78-253 97-87-2 (62) 105-79-2 (5-2-1) 106-78-23 5 (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. 6 6 I 6 IS THIS THE ONLY SECTION YOU READ? JOIN DAILY SPORTS. Email sandals@michigandaily.com. a