SWAMI PICKS M, MSU, PURDUE
By Jerry Liska
CHICAGO (AP)—The Midwest Football Swami has thrown away his crystal ball and oiled up his computer.
After last weekend’s season-opening round in which Big Ten teams figured in nine games averaging 60 points per outing—the Swami had a 7-2 picking record—you just put the computer on automatic pilot.
We push the button and fall back with:
Michigan 28, Washington 14—Michigan has uncovered a good quarterback in Don Moorhead and will be healthier than in its 42-14 romp over Vanderbilt. Washington is big, but perhaps not quick enough for the Wolverines.
Purdue 21, Notre Dame 19—The Fighting Irish last won at Lafayette in 1961 and after 1963, 1965 and 1967 defeats there, call Rosse-Ade Stadium the Snake Pit. Mike Phipps is carrying on without Leroy Keyes but figures to bombard the ground-hugging Irish.
Ohio State 20, Texas Christian 13—The Horned Frogs hopped late through the heat and Purdue reserves to scare the Boilermakers in a 42-35 loss.
But No. 1 Ohio State won’t dilly-dally in striving for its 15th straight victory in the Buckeye opener at home.
Michigan State 28, Southern Methodist 21—Chuck Hixson of SMU failed to torpedo Air Force and Georgia Tech, so Michigan State’s Spartans should be able to get the bugs out of their triple option attack without stumbling. Against Washington, Michigan State showed the Big Ten’s best opening-round defensive effort with a 27-11 victory.
Indiana 19, California 12—The who-cares-about-defense Hoosiers should outlast the Bears in their home debut. But California, a 17-0 loser to the powerful Texas, won’t be the pushover Indiana had in a 58-30 track meet victory at Kentucky.
Missouri 19, Illinois 13—Missouri pulled one out of the fire against Air Force, 19-17, and Illinois blew its opener in the closing seconds to Washington State, 19-18. The Tigers are rated a strong Big East contender. Illinois is rebuilding in the Big Ten. But the game is at Busch Stadium where strange things happened this year, like the collapse of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Southern California 30, Northwestern 13—(Saturday night)—Northwestern coach Alex Agase says the Trojans aren’t missing O.J. Simpson and are stronger on defense than last year. Better protection for Wildcat passer Dave Shelbourne could make it a ball game.
Iowa 21, Washington State 19—The Cougars needed a second-chance field goal to snatch victory from Illinois. Quarterback Larry Lawrence should steady Iowa after a 42-14 surprise spanking from Oregon State.
UCLA 28, Wisconsin 14—Badger Alan Thompson can grind out yardage on the ground, but the darts of UCLA’s Dennis Dummit will puncture Wisconsin’s bid to end a 21-game victory famine.
Minnesota 21, Ohio University 14—Ohio University’s Bobcats from the Mid-American Conference won’t catch the Gophers looking ahead to Nebraska. Not after that 48-26 ambush by Arizona State out in the cactus country.