Sports

WOLVERINES SHOW CLAWS

LLOYD Carr knows how to play it coy with the media. The Michigan coach is aware how the game is played: Give as little midweek information as possible, keep the reporters and the opponent guessing at all times.

Wolverines senior left tackle Jake Long? Well, he’s a different story.

In this two-month resurgence in Ann Arbor – you remember those Wolverines, the ones who lost to Appalachian State, the ones who opened 0-2 – Carr has orchestrated seven straight victories. He shoots for eight Saturday at Michigan State (5-4).

The streak has coincided with a slew of injuries, especially on offense. Quarterback Chad Henne and running back Mike Hart, in fact, did not play in the 34-10 victory over Minnesota last week, and their status for East Lansing – Carr said in so many words – is still to be determined.

Don’t tell Long that, though.

“I have no doubt in my mind that they’ll play,” he said. “They’ve been working hard at rehab and they want to come back definitely for this game, so I see them coming back.”

We do, too. And though we clearly respect the work first-year Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio has put in, and we admire his using the Michigan game as a “measuring stick” for his program, we just don’t see that Wolverines train slowing down here.

After all, you can make a case Michigan (7-2) is again playing like a Top 10 team. And let’s not forget – Ohio State’s prowess notwithstanding – this team can still win the Big Ten title.

“We know it’s there, but we’re not trying to focus on it too much,” senior cornerback Morgan Trent said. “We’ve got a big game coming up, it’s Michigan State, and we know that in order to get that title we’ve got to win this game.”

We think they will. Michigan (-4) is the pick.

TONIGHT

GEORGIA TECH (-3) over Virginia Tech: Trap of the week. If the Hokies are so good, they played so well for 58 minutes last week, then what’s up with this line?

SATURDAY

PENN STATE (-7) over Purdue: We’ll stick with the Lions at home and hope for a bounce-back. No shame in losing to the No. 1 team in the land.

OHIO STATE (-151/2) over Wisconsin: The Badgers have been a shaky prop on the road. We don’t love the number, but you can’t ignore that Bucks’ defense.

Wake Forest (pick) over VIRGINIA: The Cavaliers were exposed last week and, don’t look now, the Deacons are back to their 2006 fireworks.

KANSAS (-181/2) over Nebraska: Tough to lay this kind of number, but the Jayhawks would love nothing more than to return a favor – err, a couple of favors – to a Cornhuskers team that has never backed down from a ‘Hawk beatdown in the past.

Vanderbilt (+151/2) over FLORIDA: The Commodores always show some fight against the Gators. If they can win at South Carolina, they can cover in Gainesville.

NOTRE DAME (-31/2) over Navy: Let’s go with history here, and the fact Charlie Weis had two weeks to prepare.

OKLAHOMA STATE (+3) over Texas: Cowboys’ coming-out party. A consistently inconsistent team, OSU had this one circled all season.

Louisiana State (-7) over ALABAMA: Tigers can’t seem to cover anymore, but Les Miles has more talent and more at stake. The big story is that Nick Saban gets a shot at his former team. Everyone seems to miss that Miles has a shot at his predecessor.

Missouri (-31/2) over COLORADO: Tigers’ cover streak ended last week, but the Buffaloes might be a tad hungover after beating Texas Tech.

Arizona State (+7) over OREGON: Dennis Erickson’s defense is better than most thought. Tough test here in Eugene, but the Sun Devils are unbeaten for a reason.

Rutgers (+2) over UCONN: Don’t give up on the Knights yet. They could win out, and let’s face it, they’re not the only bunch to get hammered by the Mountaineers this season.

OKLAHOMA (-21) over Texas A&M: Sooners, like LSU, have forgotten how to cover. Let’s hope a week off, along with new BCS life, is enough to ignite a rout.

BOSTON COL. (-61/2) over Florida State: Ignore the hangover theory on this one. The Eagles have too much on the line, and an opportunity to set one of the nation’s declining programs back even further.

OFF THE GRID

SOUTH FLORIDA (-5) over Cincinnati: The Bulls could have won either at Rutgers or UConn. Listen, they clearly aren’t what they were billed, but at home, in nice weather, a bounce-back seems likely.

Last Week: 7-7-1 Overall; 1-2 Best Bets; 0-1 Off The Grid. Season: 63-70-2; 12-14-1; 4-4-1.

tsullivan@nypost.com