The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com September 8, 2009 - 5B THE QUICK BREAKDOWN MAIZE GAUGE The Michigan Daily football writers break down the weekend's stats that don't show up in the box score. The Mesk-o-Meter measures the Wolverines' success on special teams, the Rod-o-Meterjudges how emotional (positive or negative) Rich Rodriguez was following the game and the Hype-o-Meter measures the fans' performance. N z, 9 , k, i . , , _ MESK-O-METER 4/4 Zoltans The special teams performance was worlds better than in last year's season opener - the Wolverines didn't drop any punts, they made their only field-goal attempt and Zoltan Mesko averaged 47.2 yards per punt. It was nothing flashy, but it worked. ROD-O-METER 2 / Despite all the pro-Rich Rod signs and chants during the game, Rodriguez was surprisingly blase during his post- game press conference. He didn't crack his usual jokes Rich Rods following a win, but then again, he's been under a lot of pressure lately. It must have been nice tojust breathe. HYPE-O-METER 4/4 The student section arrived well before kickoff, packed j the stadium and screamed for nearly the entire game. Big Houses Even with a 31-point lead, the crowd was still louder than during much of last season. You've set the bar high now, students. Don't let us down next week. LOOKING GOOD FEELING BLUE PLAY OF THE GAME SAM wOLSON/Daily ARIEL BOND/Daily WIDE RECEIVER JUNIOR HEMINGWAY PUNTER ZOLTAN MESKO (PREGAME) After receiving a medical redshirt last year, Sure, Mesko had a Ray Guy Award-esque Hemingway has obviously recovered from performance, with stellar punts during Saturday's mononucleosis nicely after grabbing two game. But he didn't win himself any points for grace touchdown passes in his first game back. He when he tripped and fell after tapping the "Go was surprised and emotional after the game, Blue" banner during the vaunted pregame ritual, saying that there were no words to describe how almost getting trampled by his teammates. Sorry, it felt to be back on the field in the Big House. Zoltan. We like you, but better luck next time. NOTABLE QUOTABLE God. I was happy, but it's nothing. I wasn't impressed by it. I've seen it happen. I've seen him do it so many times in practice, it's typical for him to do that." - Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier, when asked about fellow freshman quarterback Denard Robinson's touchdown on Saturday. THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL The Michigan Daily Top 10 returns for its first installment this season. Each week, Daily Sports staffers will fill out ballots, with first place votes receiving 10 points, second-place votes receiving nine, and so on. The results are published with first- place votes in parentheses. 1. FLORIDA (9): So what if 6. PENN STATE: The the Gators couldn't cover the Nittany Lions scored all of 73-point spread? Tim Tebow their 31 points in the first is still God in our books. half. Hmm. Sound familiar? 2. TEXAS: Atypical early- season Longhorn blowout kept Texas securely near the top. 3. SOUTHERN CAL: Trojan C freshman quarterback Matt I jBarkley went 15-of-29 for 233 yards. His real test will come next week against the Buckeyes. 4. ALABAMA: The Crimson Tide didn't look like themselves in the fourth quarter, but 498 total yards gets the job done. S. OKLAHOMA STATE: Closing off your program two weeks prior to kickoff to focus seemed to work. Rich Rod, please don't do that. 7. MISSISSIPPI: A road game can't frazzle the Rebels, hoping to end their 46-year SEC title drought. 8. OHIO STATE: When your quarterback knows everyone "kills people, murder people, and all types, steals from you, steals from me..." it's agood sign. 9. CALIFORNIA: Heisman candidate Jahvid Best had two touchdowns within a minute in the first quarter and never looked back. 10. BOISE STATE: Rule to live by: Don't sucker punch your opponent, and you'll stay in the Top 10. Hey, it worked forthe Broncos. SAM woLoSN/Daily Freshman quarterback Denard Robinson cuts back inside on his 43-yard touchdown run. U _______ STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers do their best to predict what happens in the 2009 football season. Michigan (-12.5) vs. Western Michigan No.1 Florida (-73) vs. Charleston So. No2 Texas (-41.5) vs. La. Lafayette No.3 Oklahoma (-22) vs No. 20 BYU No.4 Southern Cal (-32) vs. San Jose St. No.5Alabama (-6) vs. No. 7 Va. Tech No. 6 Ohio State (-21.5) vs. Navy No.8 Mississippi (-17) at Memphis No.9Okla. St. (-4.5) vs. No.13 Georgia No.10 Penn State (-27) vs. Akron No.11 LSU (-17.5) at Washington No.12 California (-21) vs. Maryland No.14 Boise St. (-3) vs No.16 Oregon No.15Ga. Tech. (NS) vs Jacksonville St. No.18 Florida St.(-65) vs Miami(Fla.) No.19 Utah (-21) vs Utah St. No.21 North Carolina (NS) vs Citadel No. 22 Iowa (NS) vs Northern Iowa No.23 Notre Dante (-14.5) vs Nevada No. 24Nebraska (-23) vs. Fla. Atlantic No.25Kansas(NS) vs No. Colorado This Week Michael Eisenstein Western Michigan Charleston So. Texas BYU Southern Cal Alabama Ohio State Mississippi Okla. St. Penn State LSU California Boise St. Ga. Tech Miami Utah St. North Carolina Iowa Notre Dame Nebraska Kansas 16-5-0 Ruth Lincoln f Courtney Ratkowiak Andy Reid AMMIL, ,P7-Al Western Michigan Charleston So. La. Lafayette BYU Southern Cal Alabama Ohio State Memphis Okla. St. Akron LSU Maryland Boise St. Ga. Tech. Florida St. Utah St. North Carolina Iowa N evada Nebraska Kansas 14-7-0 Western Michigan Charleston So. Texas BYU Southern Cal Va. Tech Ohio State Mississippi Georgia Akron LSU California Oregon Ga. Tech Miami Utah North Carolina Iowa Notre Dame Nebraska Kansas 13-8-0 Michigan Charleston So. Texas BYU SJSU Va. Tech Ohio State Mississippi Georgia Penn State LSU Maryland Oregon Ga. Tech Miami Utah North Carolina Iowa Notre Dame Nebraska Kansas 11-10-0 Guest Picker: Eitan Ingall Michigan Charleston So. La. Lafayette BYU Southern Cal Alabama Ohio State Mississippi Okla. St. Penn State LSU Maryland Boise St. Ga. Tech Florida St. Utah St. North Carolina Iowa Notre Dame Fla. Atlantic Kansas 14-7-0 To apply to be a guest picker, e-mail lincolnr@umich.edu. If you're chosen and can beat at least two of us, you'llstay on for another week. The longest tenured guest picker will get a prize at the end of the season.