4B - September 28, 2009 The Michigan Daily -- michigandaily.com 0 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 success of special teams, 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. b 41 Tt C R { { No i All, MESK-O-METER ROD-O-METER Zoltans Darryl Stonum came three yards short of breaking Michigan's record for return yards ina game. And to help the defense, Mesko hit a 59-yard punt and pinned Indiana on its two-yard line on another kick. He definitely let his foot do the talking Saturday. 2/ Rich Rods Rodriguez wasn't particularly excited about the win. When he was faced with tough questions, he tersely said, "I'm gonna try to stay positive here." He also found himself already fielding questions about Michigan State. It's as if the Indiana close call never really happened. HYPE-O-METER 2 If you thought the annual Homecoming game meant wild parades, a lame dance and a to-die-for after party, a Michigan Homecoming is a boring surprise. Well, maybe not the after party part. But hey, at least the alumni band and cheerleaders were entertaining. LOOKING GOOD FEELING BLUE PL AY OF THF GAMF sAID ALSALAH/Dai y cHi DZOMBAK/ Daily CORNERBACK DONOVAN WARREN QUARTERBACK TATE FORCIER As the star of a secondary with serious depth Like the rest of the country, we forgot quarterback issues, it's rare that quarterbacks even look to his Tate Forcier is just a freshman. But we're not too side of the field. But when Indiana quarterback down on his poor decision making at times - he'll Ben Chappell dared to do so late in the game learn from that. It's the star's shoulder that has Saturday, he watched Michigan's premier corner Forcier feeling blue this coming week. Sure, he wrestle the ball away from a wide receiver who may have thrown a beautiful touchdown pass on it, had a 30-pound advantage. The pick sealed the but after the swelling kicks in, there's no telling if game, and a 4-0 start, for the Wolverines. Forcier will be ready to play against Michigan State. THE MICHIGAN DAILY TOP 10 POLL The Michigan Daily Top 10 returns for its fourth 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): Tim 5. BOISE STATE: In their 9. OHIO STATE: The Tebow's kryptonite: the flu first trip to the state of Ohio, Buckeyes scored a late TD combined with a concussion. the Broncos tallied 529 yards. to make the score 30-0. Take notes, LSU. E We like that. Keeping it classy, like usual. a 2. TEXAS (4): The 6 Longhorns scored more n points (64) than UTEP co gained yards (53). Yikes. r 3. ALABAMA (1): To beat 7 Arkansas, 'Bama stopped B the country's most efficient B passer, Ryan Mallett. fo 4. LSU: The Tigers barely 8 stayed in the top five, y. needing three late goal-line pi stands to get a 'W.' b STAFF PICKS The Daily Football writers do their best to predict what happens in the 2009 football season. Michael Eisenstein *.VIRGINIATECH: Hokie unning back Ryan Williams arried this one alone, ushing the ball 34 times. . SOUTHERN CAL: Matt arkley, you win this week. ut we still like Tate Forcier or Heisman in 2012. . OKLAHOMA: Zero ards of offense? No roblem. Don't you love a ye week? 10. HOUSTON: So what does a one-point win over an unranked opponent get you? The No.10 spot, of course! BYE, BYE: Well, that Miami bandwagon emptied out pretty quickly. It was fun while it lasted. 6/g LOOK OUT: Cincy is about to dominate the Big East. See you in the top 10 soon, , Bearcats. 0 NOTABLE QUOTABLE In the first half, I think Tate's eyes were everywhere. On the field, in the stadium, State Street, you know, Schembechler Hall. I don't know where his eyes were. They were everywhere." - Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez on quarterback Tate Forcier's play in the first half., Ruth Courtney Andy Lincoln Ratkowiak Reid Guest Picker: Michigan Marching Band )rum Major )avid Hines Jr. Indiana Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Kentucky Kentucky Florida Florida Florida No. 23 Michigan (-20.5) vs. Indiana No.1 Florida (-21) at Kentucky No. 2 Texas (-36) vs. UTEP No.3Alabama (-17.5) vs. Arkansas No. 4 Mississippi (-4) vs. So. Carolina No. 5 Penn State (-10) vs. Iowa No. 6 California (-5.5) vs. Oregon No. 7 LSU (-12) at Mississippi State No. 8 Boise St. (-16.5) at Bowling Green No. 9 Miami (-3)vs at No.11VA Tech No.12 Southern Cal (-45) vs. Wash St. No.13 Ohio State (-14) vs. Illinois No.14 Cincinnati (-17) vs. Fresno State No.15TCU (-2.5) at Clemson No.16 Okla. St. (NS) vs. Grambling St. No.17 Houston (PK) vs. Texas Tech No.18 Florida St. (-14) vs. South Florida No.19 BYU (-17) vs. Colorado St. No. 20 Kansas (-14) vs. Southern Miss. No. 21 Georgia (-11.5) vs. Arizona State No. 22 UNC (+3) at Georgia Tech No. 24 Washington (+7) at Stanford No. 25 Nebraska (-28) vs. La-Lafayette Wisconsin 1-3) vs. Michigan State Northwestern (-1.5) vs. Minnesota Purdue (+7) vs. Notre Dame Last Week Overall Indiana Kentucky UTEP Arkansas Mississippi Iowa California I.SU Boise State Virginia Tech Washington State Illinois Cincinnati Texas Christian Oklahoma State Texas Tech Florida State BYU Kansas Georgia North Carolina Stanford Nebraska Michigan State Northwestern Purdue 11-15 54-36-1 Michigan Kentucky Texas Arkansas Mississippi Iowa California Mississippi State Boise State Virginia Tech Southern Cal Illinois Cincinnati Texas Christian Oklahoma State Houston Florida State BYU Kansas Georgia Georgia Tech Stanford Nebraska Michigan State Northwestern Notre Dame Notre Dame 12-14 51-39-1 Michigan Florida UTEP Arkansas Mississippi Iowa Oregon LSU Boise State Miami Washington State Ohio State Cincinnati Clemson Oklahoma State Texas Tech Florida State BYU Kansas Georgia Georgia Tech Washington Louisiana-Lafayette Wisconsin Minnesota Notre Dame 11-15 50-40-1 Michigan Florida UTEP Arkansas Mississippi Penn State California LSU Boise State Miami Washington State Illinois Cincinnati Texas Christian Oklahoma State Houston Florida State BYU Kansas Georgia North Carolina Washington Nebraska Wisconsin Northwestern Notre Dame 9-17 42-48-1 Michigan Florida Texas Arkansas Mississippi Iowa California LSU Boise State Virginia tech Southern Cal Illinois Fresno State Clemson Oklahoma State Texas Tech Florida State BYU Kansas Georgia Georgia Tech Washington Nebraska Michigan State Minnesota Notre Dame 11-15 48-42-1 I 6 6 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'll stay on for another week. The longest tenured guest picker will get a prize at the end of the season.