Spartan Lesson: Never Look Ahead

By CHRIS DUFRESNE

Oct. 24, 1997 12 AM PT

A potential epic between undefeated, top-10, longtime bitter state rivals has been downgraded to “gosh darn really important” thanks to Michigan State’s look-ahead loss to Northwestern last week.

Truth is, Michigan almost blew it too, having to rally from a 21-7 halftime deficit to beat Iowa at Ann Arbor.

Still, there’s plenty at stake. Michigan, which plays as rugged a schedule as you’ll find, still has national championship ambitions.

Michigan State still has a shot at the Rose Bowl and still has Sedrick Irvin, the likable, quotable, foot-in-mouth sophomore tailback.

“I want to be the Deion Sanders, I want to be the Emmitt Smith,” Irvin said before last week’s loss. “I want to be that type of guy where everybody says, ‘Sedrick, what you going to do? We’re down. We need a play. We’re going to look at you.’ ”

Tip for Michigan State: Get ahead early.

Michigan has the nation’s second-ranked defense, giving up 207 yards per game and only nine second-half points all season--none in the fourth quarter.

Brian Griese looked awful in the first half against Iowa, then showed the poise of his father, Bob, in leading the Michigan comeback, tossing the game-winning touchdown pass to Jerame Tuman with 2:55 left.

Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr says Michigan State’s loss last week does not lessen the game’s impact.

“Our game with Michigan State is bigger than records,” Carr said. “It’s the game when one day a year in this state, everybody follows those two schools and will drop everything and cheer hard for those schools.”

* The line: Michigan by 2 1/2.

ON TV

* Wisconsin (6-2) at Minnesota (2-5), ESPN2, 9:30 a.m.: The Badgers’ six-game winning streak was ended last week by Purdue, and two fourth-quarter turnovers cost the Golden Gophers a golden chance to upset then-No.1 Penn State at Happy Valley.

The line: Wisconsin by 6.

* Boston College (2-5) at Notre Dame (2-5), Channel 4, 11:30 a.m.: This marks the end of the Ron Powlus/Two Heisman-hype era at South Bend, with Coach Bob Davie now promising to give quick-footed quarterback Jarious Jackson extended playing time.

The line: Notre Dame by 15.

* Kentucky (4-3) at Georgia (5-1), Channel 2, 12:30 p.m.: Georgia needs the win to tie Florida in the SEC East and set up a crucial Nov. 1 showdown with the Gators in Jacksonville.

The line: Georgia by 11.

* Arizona (3-4) at Washington State (6-0), Channel 7, 12:30 p.m.: Arizona has beaten Washington State four times in a row and the last two at Pullman. Not this year.

The line: Washington State by 13.

* Tulane (4-2) at Southern Mississippi (4-2), FX, 12:30 p.m.: First-year man Tommy Bowden is bucking for coach-of-the-year recognition if he keeps Tulane’s turn-around project going.

The line: Southern Miss. by 7 1/2.

* Auburn (6-1) at Arkansas (3-3), ESPN2, 3 p.m.: Was the Florida loss the end of Auburn’s world? Dad gum, no. The Tigers still control the SEC West and are headed for a Florida rematch in the conference title game.

The line: Auburn by 16.

* Washington (5-1) at Oregon State (3-3), Channel 9, 3:30 p.m.: The Huskies have recovered from the Nebraska loss and should pick up their 11th consecutive Pac-10 win.

The line: Washington by 24.

* Florida State (6-0) at Virginia (4-2), ESPN, 4 p.m.: The Seminoles return to the scene of their only ACC defeat in 44 games--a 33-28 thriller in 1995. No way this game matches that drama.

The line: Florida State by 19.

* Nebraska (6-0) at Kansas (4-3), FSW, 4 p.m.: What’s it like losing to Kansas? Tom Osborne has no clue. The Nebraska coach is 24-0 against the Jayhawks. Man had not yet taken one giant leap for mankind the last time--1968--Kansas beat Nebraska.

The line: Nebraska by 37.

* Air Force (7-1) at San Jose State (1-5), ESPN2, 6 p.m.: QB Blane Morgan missed last week’s game because of a shoulder injury, and it cost the Falcons a possible unbeaten season in a loss to Fresno State. Morgan’s shoulder is still sore, so Cale Bonds may start.

The line: Air Force by 13 1/2.

* San Diego State (2-5) at Hawaii (3-4), FSW2, 10 p.m.: The Aztecs ended a five-game losing streak last week and still might finish with seven wins with a five-game sweep to close out conference play.

The line: San Diego State by 6.

5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Gordon Geyer taking a refresher course. The Big East official received a one-game suspension for telling Boston College Coach Tom O’Brien last week he had to go for a two-point conversion in the second overtime against Miami. The rule actually stipulates a team has to go for two after the second overtime. O’Brien went for two in the second OT, failed, and lost 45-44. He said the ref’s bad info had nothing to do with his decision. OK.

2. John Mackovic calling John Robinson: Mackovic’s story is the Tex-Mex version of Robinson’s plight at USC. Mackovic of Texas is a former NFL coach who has won three straight conference titles--two Southwest, one Big 12--but is on the hot seat after embarrassing losses this season to UCLA (the infamous “Rout 66”) and last week to Missouri, which had not defeated Texas in 81 years. Texas (3-3) hosts Colorado on Saturday.

3. Northwestern (3-5) at Ohio State (6-1). Now they play, when no one cares. Northwestern’s miracle season two years ago was tainted because the Wildcats didn’t have to play powerhouse Ohio State. The schools missed each other on the schedule last year too and finished as Big Ten co-champions.

4. As Robinson twists in the wind, former Trojan coach Larry Smith has his 4-3 Missouri Tigers poised to post their first winning season since 1983. A win over Oklahoma State this weekend would put Missouri above .500 in conference play for the first time in 14 years.

5. A possible USC kidnapping. Saladin McCullough’s childhood dream of playing at the Coliseum comes true Saturday. Uh, McCullough never dreamed of playing there as an Oregon Duck. But after a test-score controversy chased him away from USC, the former Pasadena Muir flash fled to Eugene, where he averages 105.7 rushing yards, 5.1 yards a carry, 175.4 all-purpose yards and a Pac-10 leading 26.2 yards each kickoff return.

The Rest

Pittsburgh (-12 1/2) at Rutgers, 9 a.m.

Wake Forest (-3 1/2) at Duke, 9 a.m.

Clemson (-11 1/2) at Maryland, 12:30 p.m.

TCU (+18 1/2) at BYU, 11 a.m.

Alabama (-1) at Mississippi, 9:30 a.m.

Tulsa (+25 1/2) at Colorado St., 11 a.m.

Purdue (-10 1/2) at Illinois, 11 a.m.

Baylor (-4) at Iowa St., 11 a.m.

Texas A&M; (-5 1/2) at Texas Tech, 11 a.m.

Indiana (+26) at Iowa, 9:15 a.m.

Kansas St. (-8) at Oklahoma, 11:30 a.m.