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Last updated: September 26, 2008 3:22 p.m.

ND-Purdue Pick....and other games

By Michael Rothstein
The Journal Gazette

Another 7-3 week netted Insights 36 points in the confidence pool (missed on UCF, UNC and Texas A&M for those keeping count) and Notre Dame is among the 10 games again, so I'll pick that first and then hit the rest of the pool.

Notre Dame-Purdue: This could end up being the longest college football game in history, with Purdue's expectation of passing and Notre Dame's lack of a running game, which could force the Irish to pass. Wide receiver Golden Tate had a breakout game last year against Purdue and the Boilermakers are quite familiar with the sophomore. Expect him to receive double coverage all day, opening things up for freshman Michael Floyd (eight catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs) and a surprise, Robby Parris, who will have four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Tate still gets yards and touches and Notre Dame's offensive identity is established: a little more balanced offensive version of Texas Tech. Our pick: Notre Dame 35, Purdue 31.

On to the confidence pool:

Confidence Level 10: Fresno State over UCLA. Why: The Bruins are bad. Real bad.

Confidence Level 9: Wisconsin over Michigan. Why: P.J. Hill will batter a struggling Michigan defensive front line, and the Wolverines offense is still a few games away.

Confidence Level 8: Notre Dame over Purdue. Why: See above.

Confidence Level 7: Colorado over Florida State. Why: Buffaloes beat West Virginia. Florida State is nowhere near as good. Watch out for the Hawk, who is building something in Boulder.

Confidence Level 6: Georgia over Alabama. Why: If there is a coach in the SEC better than Nick Saban, it's Mark Richt. With USC losing, Georgia sees a clearer path to the national title game so it'll be on alert.

Confidence Level 5: Tennessee over Auburn. Why: Phil Fulmer always wins games like these when it looks like his job could be in trouble.

Confidence Level 4: Penn State over Illinois. Why: The Nittany Lions are the best team in the Big Ten.

Confidence Level 3: Nebraska over Virginia Tech. Why: Nebraska is at home and Lincoln can be tough to play in.

Confidence Level 2: Stanford over Washington. Why: Harbaugh's team is improving. Willingham's squad is reeling.

Confidence Level 1: Duke over Virginia. Why: Because Duke might actually be better than the Cavaliers.

Agree? Think I'm nuts? Throw your comments below.

The Journal Gazette's Assistant Sports Editor Tony Krausz covers The University of Notre Dame. Krausz, a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and a native of St. Louis, has been assistant sports editor since October 2005. Prior to joining the JG, he worked at two papers in Mississippi covering high school and college athletics.
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