Offense should lead Michigan to win, cover

Embarrassed early in the season after losses to Appalachian State and Oregon, Michigan has made a strong comeback that might even save clueless coach Lloyd Carr's job.

The Wolverines have won eight straight, quelling speculation that Carr could be replaced by Joe Torre, Joe Girardi or Don Mattingly.

Carr might even get a raise if he wins his next two games -- at Wisconsin and at home against No. 1 Ohio State -- and if he does, I'll stop referring to him as clueless.

Michigan is finally playing close to its potential. With quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart and receiver Mario Manningham, the Wolverines have the offensive talent to cover as 21/2-point road favorites over the Badgers on Saturday.

Michigan is 7-1 straight up in the series, and Hart should run all over a Wisconsin defense down two starters and allowing 194 rushing yards per game in Big Ten play.

After a 4-2-2 record against the spread last week, I'm back with 10 more plays for Saturday (home team in CAPS):

Indiana (-21/2) over NORTHWESTERN; PURDUE (-4) over Michigan State; MIAMI (-31/2) over Virginia; Kentucky (-31/2) over VANDERBILT; NOTRE DAME (+31/2) over Air Force; Alabama (-4) over MISSISSIPPI STATE; SOUTH CAROLINA (+7) over Florida; CAL (+4) over Southern California; UNLV (-3) over San Diego State; HAWAII (-17) over Fresno State.