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Last updated: October 10, 2008 8:54 a.m.

UNC-ND Prediction ... and the confidence pool

By Michael Rothstein
The Journal Gazette

Good week for Insights last week in the old confidence pool. Went 7-3 with 39 points and upped my Notre Dame record this year to 4-1. Still, however, in 13th place.

Notre Dame is again one of the 10 games picked for confidence this week, so that'll be first, followed by the pool picks.

Here we go:

Notre Dame-North Carolina: Jimmy Clausen needs to be patient in this one. He's been good the past two weeks, but, this is on the road. In a place waiting for Notre Dame for over 30 years. It'll be loud, rowdy and it could rattle the sophomore a touch, which could lead to an interception or three. Insights' guess is a pair of interceptions for Clausen, but Notre Dame stays in it with a good defensive performance along with a punt return for touchdown by Armando Allen. Mike Floyd goes over 100 yards again, but the Irish's lack of a reliable field goal kicker nails them in the end. Our pick: North Carolina 28, Notre Dame 24.

On to the confidence pool:

Confidence Level 10: No. 1 Oklahoma over No. 5 Texas. Why: Sam Bradford's the man -- and Insights' early leader for the Heisman.

Confidence Level 9: Arizona over Stanford. Why: The Cardinal focused a lot on the Notre Dame game. A letdown is possible.

Confidence Level 8: Missouri over Oklahoma State. Why: Chase Daniel would be No. 2 on that Heisman ballot right about now. And Oklahoma State isn't quite at the level of the Tigers when their offense is playing well. Which it is.

Confidence Level 7: Illinois over Minnesota. Why: The Gophers are improved, but still won't be in the Top 5 of the Big Ten, which is where the Illini reside.

Confidence Level 6: Vanderbilt over Mississippi State. Why: Would have made this No. 1, but the 'Dores could be in for a letdown after the massive win over Auburn.

Confidence Level 5: Kentucky over South Carolina. Why: The Wildcats' defense is much improved and South Carolina has been suprisingly inefficient on offense under The Visor.

Confidence Level 4: North Carolina over Notre Dame. Why: Again, this would have been higher at the beginning of the week, but I started getting a funny feeling. Yet, couldn't pull the upset trigger.

Confidence Level 3: Penn State over Wisconsin. Why: The Nittany Lions are the class of the Big Ten -- and one of my midseason national championship game picks (along with Oklahoma). Plus, Wisconsin has not looked good the past two weeks.

Confidence Level 2: Michigan State over Northwestern. Why: Javon Ringer vs. Tyrell Sutton might be the most entertaining running back matchup of the year. Insights likes Ringer, though, to knock off the upstart Wildcats.

Confidence Level 1: Florida over LSU. Why: Tim Tebow won't be knocked out of the game. He'll instead revert to form and score four touchdowns.

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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