Pre-Michigan notes and week 1 of picks

No word on injuries this week until the official UConn release, expected between 6 and 7 p.m. That's the new policy. Edsall will be mum on the weekly Thursday update call.

Edsall said six true freshmen will travel to Michigan: Leon Kinnard, Gilbert Stlouis, Taylor Mack, Yawin Smallwood, Byron Jones and Reuben Frank. The three who aren't on the depth chart (Smallwood, Jones and Frank) likely won't play, and the hope is to redshirt them.

Scout team players of the week were J-J Louis on offense, Smallwood on defense and Brandon Steg on special teams.

Practice today in 95 degree heat once again before the team charter leaves at 2 p.m. from Bradley for Ann Arbor. Some rain expected, but no delays anticipated as it will likely beat the heavy stuff from Hurricane Earl.

On to the picks...

After much debate, I decided to run the picks contest again this year. Feel free to post your own in the comments section. I'll even keep weekly stats and offer up the blog for the day as prize for whoever gets the most right at the end of the season. Someone even took me up on it last year.

Game 1: Purdue (+11) over NOTRE DAME - Notre Dame successfully lobbied NBC to change its policy on commercial breaks to accommodate Brian Kelly's new no-huddle offense. Why didn't Joe Moorehead think of that? Oh, yeah. He would have been laughed out of a job.

Game 2: Connecticut (+3) over MICHIGAN - Rich Rodriguez spent much of the week talking about what a great program UConn has become, and how difficult an opponent the Huskies will be on Saturday. It may be true. But for the sake of Rich-Rod's job security, let's hope the Michigan boosters and administration buys it. I don't think they will.

Game 3: Kentucky (-3) over LOUISVILLE - After six seasons stomping opponents into piles of their own innards at Florida, new Louisville coach Charlie Strong might feel a little like Charlie Brown this season.

Game 4: Syracuse (-9) over AKRON - Tough call. We know Syracuse doesn't like to win by too much. The Orange know a losing team has feelings, too.

Game 5: Oregon State (+13.5) over TEXAS CHRISTIAN - Oregon State always a slow starter, but I think they'll hang close enough to cover.

Game 6: LSU (-5) over North Carolina - Butch Davis has Chapel Hill looking more and more like the "U" every day.

Game 7: Cincinnati (+2.5) over FRESNO STATE

Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA (-38) over Coastal Carolina - This spread holds as long as Noel Devine stays away from shellfish the night before the game. Then, it might dip to 37.5.

Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA (-40) over Stony Brook - The post-Jim Leavitt era begins. In his honor, I will speak no more than two words at a time today. I also put my head through a car windshield to pump myself up for this blog entry.

Game 10: KANSAS STATE (-1.5) over Ucla -

Game 11: VIRGINIA TECH (+2) over Boise State - Too much national championship hype surrounding Boise. It'll end after one week.