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Thursday September 27, 2001
Maxx Wolfson, assistant sports editor
UA/ Washington State
Even though Jason Johnson and Bobby Wade beat Connor and I in NCAA Football 2002, I've got no hard feelings, especially because they're going down next week. But, back to real life - I think Saturday's contest will be close, but the Wildcats will pull it off with a miracle touchdown. It will be a pass to little-known James Hugo that puts UA ahead.
UA 42, WSU 33
Kansas State/Oklahoma
What's this talk about Kansas State winning a national title? They better worry about beating the defending national champions first, and that won't be an easy task. The Sooners beat the Wildcats twice last season and will beat them one more time this year. Nick Hybl is making Sooner fans forget about John Heupel. Heupel plays for whom now? Oh that's right, he's unemployed.
Kansas State 28, Oklahoma 35
Northwestern/Michigan State
I think we have a theme brewing here with staff picks. Including this game, there are three team mascots named the Wildcats. Too bad Arizona will be the only one with a win. Spartan tailback T.J. Duckett is healthy again and will cause nightmares for a suspect Wildcat defense. By the way, MSU tailback Little John Flowers has the coolest name ever.
Northwestern 21, Michigan State 32
UCLA/ Oregon State
This game might be the best of the year and perhaps the most overlooked. This could decide the Pacific 10 Conference champion. UCLA linebacker Robert Thomas will shut down Heisman hopeful Kenny Simonton as the Bruins squeak out another victory over a ranked opponent. UCLA has won 12 of the last 16 games against ranked opponents; add one more to the win column.
UCLA 21, Oregon State 17
Illinois/ Michigan
Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner owns the Wolverines. In his two games against Michigan, he has six touchdowns and no picks. Think that's impressive? He has completed over 70 percent of his passes against UM. None of that matters, though, because the Wolverines don't lose in the Big House in September. Look for Michigan tailback B.J. Askew to have a big game.
Illinois 24, Michigan 32
Ryan Finley, editor in chief
UA/Washington State
Could there be a better pair of unknown quarterbacks in this nation than Jason Johnson and Jason Gesser? Johnson's a longtime backup who's thrived under Arizona's pass-happy offense, and Gesser has revolutionized the game with his outside-the-pocket passing. If the Wildcats can keep string-bean wide receiver Nakoa McElrath from catching everything in sight (they couldn't last year), they should win, barely.
Arizona 45, WSU 42 (OT)
Kansas State/Oklahoma
Welcome to an old-fashioned Big XII barnstormer - yee haw! Saturday should be a big day for Oklahoma (insert your own musical reference here) and unproven quarterback Nate Hybl, who should vault into national prominence with a win against the unproven Wildcats. Sure, K-State beat USC, but who doesn't? You're doing fine, Oklahoma! Especially with Rocky Calmus making those big hits on a soft Wildcats team.
Oklahoma 31, K-State 17
Northwestern/Michigan State
Anyone who saw Michigan State stumble their way past Notre Dame last weekend knows the result was more a matter of the Domers losing than the Spartans winning. Northwestern's revolutionary offense and revived national image will carry them past MSU's Neanderthal offense, which consists of pitching the ball to T.J. Duckett and occasionally running a slant route here and there. Northwestern is not Notre Dame· they're better.
Northwestern 21, Michigan State 7
UCLA/ Oregon State
Two of the nation's best running backs will square off this weekend in what many once thought would be a battle for Pac-10 supremacy. Look for the Bruins' Eric Dickerson-in-baby-blue running back DeShaun Foster to struggle against the Beavers' stingy defense. Good thing the Bruins have quarterback Cory Paus and wide receiver Brian Poli-Dixon. More passes than a Family Feud final-round will lead UCLA to a big win.
Bruins 31, OSU 28
Illinois/ Michigan
Never before have I wished for a basketball game to materialize in the middle of a football game more than I do now. Look for first-year head coach Tommy Ammaker to implement a full-court press on Bill Self's Fighting Illini to take the game away toward the end of the second half. Frank Williams drops 40 points, but it isn't enough as the Wolverines jump into national prominence with a huge win at home. Hail to the Victors!
Michigan 101, Illini 89
Connor Doyle, sports editor
UA/ Washington State
This might end up being the toughest game of the year for the Wildcats·just kidding! Really, this WSU team is softer than a multi-pack of Quilted Northern, and Clarence Farmer is going to blow his way through an overrated defense. Look for the Wildcats to drop a bomb on these pansies from Pullman. And it's about time we start talking Heisman for Jason Johnson.
UA 47, WSU 14
Kansas State/Oklahoma
How the hell did Bill Snyder let this game get scheduled? Oh, that's right, he picked the games seven years ago, and the Sooners used to be gimps of the Big XII. Well, that's not the case any longer, and Rocky Calmus - who's Brian Bosworth minus the juice - is going to pound the crap out of the over-hyped Josh Scobey.
Oklahoma 27, K-State 3
Northwestern/ Michigan State
There's nothing I like more than two great running backs - Damian Anderson of Northwestern and T.J. Duckett of MSU - in the same game. All sarcasm aside, this might be the best game of the year if you hate the passing game, as I do. However, Northwestern's spread offense usually gives teams with suspect defenses fits, and if the Wildcats get out to an early lead, MSU is toast.
Northwestern 28, MSU 17
UCLA/ Oregon State
I still stand by my prediction that OSU's winning it all this year, so I think we all know where I'm going with this game. Ken Simonton runs for 200 yards, Jonathan Smith passes for 300 and the Beavers defense shuts Corey Paus and Brian "the only man in the world with a maiden name" Poli-Dixon. DeShaun who? UCLA will ask to be in the WAC after this massacre.
OSU 42, UCLA 0
Illinois/Michigan
This will be the epic battle of the overrated. Kurt Kittner may have the frame of a prototype pocket passer, but he's got the completion rate of me in a flag football game. He's completed less than 50 percent of his passes this year against Cal, Northern Illinois and Louisville. Pathetic. I wish I had the time to rip into John Navarre, but I don't think I need to. Bring out the kickers.
Illinois 6, Michigan 3
Brian Penso, staff reporter
UA/ Washington State
I never thought I would say this, but UA is for real. Jason Johnson is looking more and more like the nation's best quarterback - Miami's Ken Dorsey. Besides having a balanced attack offensively, Lance Briggs is leading a resurgence of the "Cactus Curtain." I don't know how Vegas picked Arizona as the underdog in this game, but the play of the week for you gamblers out there is Arizona over the Cougars.
UA 28, Washington 10
Kansas State/ Oklahoma
The defending National Champs look just as good as last season. Everyone thought they would take a dive after they lost Josh Huepel, but then again, Huepel is probably bagging groceries somewhere. KSU stepped up to the plate by actually playing a real team - USC - in its non-conference schedule. The problem is they only put up one touchdown in the victory.
Kansas State 17, Oklahoma 31
Northwestern/Michigan State
Northwestern has something extra to play for this weekend - it will be the first home game for the Wildcats without cornerback Rashidi Wheeler, who died over the summer. The Wildcat emotions will be at an all-time high, and the Spartans won't be able to respond despite the good news about Paul Harker, who was released from the hospital after collapsing last week.
Northwestern 21, Michigan State10
UCLA/ Oregon State
This is a match of two Pac-10 powerhouses. The game will feature two of the nation's top running backs in UCLA's DeShaun Foster and the Beavers' Ken Simonton. The problem for Simonton is that the Beavers lack a passing game, and the UCLA defensive line will eat him alive. Also look for UCLA's overpowering tight ends, which include sophomore Blane Kezirian, to roll over the Beaver defense.
UCLA 31, Oregon State 15
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