Wildcat staff picks

By Staff Picks
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 28, 1998

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sports@wildcat.arizona.edu

With the beginning of the college football season also comes a Wildcat tradition in staff picks. Throughout the year, we'll pick games or individual matchups from all major sports and predict the outcomes on a weekly basis.

So here is our initial batch of "expert" prognostications:

Greg Maddux (17-6, 1.91 ERA) vs. Mark McGwire (54 HR), Friday, 10 p.m.

No. 16 Colorado State (plus 4 1/2) at No. 23 Michigan State, Saturday, 7 p.m.

Louisiana Tech (plus 34 1/2) at No. 3 Nebraska, Saturday, 7 p.m.

Purdue (plus 7 1/2) at USC, Sunday, 5:30 p.m.

No. 15 Texas A&M (plus 14 1/2) vs. No. 2 Florida State, Monday, 8 p.m.

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Arizona Daily Wildcat
Craig Degel

My boy Big Mac finally breaks the Maddux curse and goes 1-for-4 with a home run and three Ks.

Does Colorado State still play football? Michigan State 28 - Colorado State 10.

Cornhuskers' starters have a parole hearing and need to put this one out of reach early to get there. Nebraska 56 - Louisiana Tech 7.

This game is the "Frat House Special" with Boilermakers and Trojans. USC 21 - Purdue 17.

Upset special. Texas A&M 35 - Florida State 21. College Station has not seen this much rejoicing since Clinton pushed the button in Afghanistan and the Sudan.

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Arizona Daily Wildcat
Seth Doria

McGwire is only 2 for 8 with four strikeouts against Maddux, so Big Mac will have to abandon his assault on Roger Maris' record for the night. McGwire goes 0-4 with two strikeouts.

Michigan State is almost always tough at home but the WAC champion Rams are riding a nine game winning streak. Colorado State 28 - Michigan State 17.

The only question about the Nebraska game is by how much the Cornhuskers blow the bums out. Nebraska 66 - Louisiana Tech 6.

USC has questions, but Purdue won't have the answers. USC 17 - Purdue 14.

The Seminoles are still stacked on both sides of the ball and 24-year-old sophomore quarterback Chris Weinke has a lot to prove. Florida State 44 - Texas A&M 20.

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Arizona Daily Wildcat
Chris Jackson

I hate the Braves, but Maddux is the best pitcher in the game right now, and after seeing what he did to McGwire last time he'll keep it up for another game. Maddux strikes him out twice and forces him to pop up twice more.

WAC teams can't win on the road. Trust me, I'm from New Mexico. Michigan State 35 - Colorado State 28.

Boy, are the Cornhuskers looking to have a tough time starting off the '98 season. Nebraska 72 - Louisiana Tech 3.

It's the battle of mediocrity as the Pac-10 and Big 10 renew their rivalry. I'm no Trojan fan but I'll give them the edge in Los Angeles. USC 21 - Purdue 20.

I'd love to give my friend Adam's school props, but against the Seminoles? Friendship's one thing, reality is another. Florida State 34 - Texas A&M 14.

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Arizona Daily Wildcat
Dan Rosen

Big Mac continues to hit Ruthian bombs as he takes Maddux deep once and then in the 8th inning gets closer to the record with a second shot into the atmosphere off a measly Braves reliever.

Big Ten vs. the WAC. Too easy. Michigan State 31 - Colorado State 14.

Wait, Nebraska has a new coach and a new quarterback so maybe, just maybe Louisiana Tech... nah. Nebraska 69 - Louisiana Tech 6.

Who cares except for Angelenos and people who should be Indiana University fans? Trojans suck and the Boilermakers aren't much better. Purdue 14 - Southern Cal 12.

Florida State starts a quarterback who is older than most NFL players, but will it matter? No. FSU 38 - Texas A&M 21.