Thursday Night NCAAFB: Nebraska vs K-State
7:30p, ESPN/ESPN3
Taylor Martinez, and the #4 rushing team in the nation host a K-State team that, much like Indiana was prior to last wek, is undefeated after playing a hosts of near no ones.
K-State isn't all that bad. They do have wins over UCLA which looks better now than it did in week one. They also have a win over UCF, who for those who watched Wednesday night, looks like a half way decent win. They also have a win over Iowa State in the Big 12, which, that may mean nothing, but hey, Iowa State beat Texas Tech?
K-State fans are also pushing for running back Daniel Thomas for Heisman consideration. He currently has 628 yards on 105 carries (6.0 average). That puts him 5th in the nation rushing, just 277 yards behind whoever that guy leading the nation in rushing is.
Yes, that guy.
Anyway, over on the Nebraska side, we've got defense and we've got the vaunted Nebraska option. No, not the old option of Eric Crouch or past Nebraska QBs. I'm talking the zone read with freshman Taylor Martinez. The guy isn't any Denard, but he's plenty fast. Nebraska is currently #4 in rushing yards per game (309/game). The Huskers currently are 11th in points per game at 40. More astounding is that they also have a top 10 defense in terms of points allowed (#7 at 12.8 per game).
The line is Nebraska by 10.5, 11, or 11.5 depending your source. O/U is around 47 or 47.5. I'm liking Nebraska to cover and taking the under. Both the running games should slow the pace down a bit, at least if K-State can stay on the field long enough to do it.
Discussion goes here.
Thought to ponder: is cheering for Nebraska fine? They're going to call us a rival in 10 years. Should I get the hate started already?
October 7th, 2010 at 7:07 PM ^
damn new apartment
+1 for not living with in-laws after 3 months of it
-1 not seeing Nebraska woop a fellow corn-based U
October 7th, 2010 at 7:08 PM ^
does anybody have a slingbox? i'd like to "test drive" someone's for a half hour some time to see how it works and how feasible an option it is over returning to Comcast and putting up with their... ahem... "garbage"
October 7th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
I already strongly dislike Nebraksa due to the Great Tom Osborne Retirement Present of 1998.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
Nebraska isn't hosting them. It's at K State.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^
K-State has already had their bye week, so Daniel Thomas's yards are coming from only 4 games as compared to Denard's 5. That said, I don't think there's any way shape or form that Denard isn't the frontrunner at this point, but Thomas would likely be higher than 5th in the nation if given an extra game, and he's a much larger part of that offense than those numbers would indicate (Carson Coffman is inconsistant at best, bad at worst).
As someone who grew up in Manhattan, KS but is now attending UM I'm rooting for both to do well. Hopefully the Wildcats can pull off the upset tonight, and the Wolverines can take care of business this weekend.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:01 PM ^
I wouldn't say playing for about 6 minutes counts as a 5th game.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
Cheering for Nebraska is not only fine, I'd encourage it. We want the B10 to be perceived as the hardest/best conference. Look at the SEC, they obviously don't have the depth of conference teams that they did the last 3 years, but people still perceive them as being the best because they recently did. The B10 is in the rare position of being able to root for what is essentially a conference team in every single one of its games without any of those games coming at the expense of another conference mate losing the game.
Should Nebraska go on to do great things in the bowl season (i.e. BCS bid) and then enter the B10, it's not unlikely that the B10 would be the first and only conference to have 3 teams that went to BCS bowls the previous year.
Besides, Nebraska is going to be in our division. That means that we can beat them later but it will be all the sweeter if people perceive them as being an unstoppable juggernaut.
As a side note, I think that the B10 going to divisions almost guarantees that the B10 will be perceived as a stronger conference. Right now, when you think of the best teams in the B10 you think of OSU, Iowa, and (to a lesser extent) Wisconsin. Obviously that will change, but most people would put them at the top of the conference right now. That means that those 3 teams have to represent 11 teams. Meanwhile, the SEC has 2 divisions. Their top teams are Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and... LSU? But, even though Florida and LSU are very questionable, the SEC is perceived as being better because you think of divisions- in other words 'Bama and Auburn only have to represent 6 teams and Florida and LSU only have to represent 6 teams also. They don't have to represent 12 teams. At least that's my (poorly explained] theory.
So, go 'Huskers!
October 7th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^
I predict that Nebraska offense vs. K-State defense will look not a lot different than our offense vs. IU's defense. K-State's run defense is in the triple digits in rank. Thatsa no good when you're playing a team that runs it as well as Nebraska does.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^
thats why I took Nebraska to cover and the over on 46.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:39 PM ^
If Michigan's Denard Robinson were human, Cam Newton would be right in the middle of the Heisman discussion.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
I love having May on the bandwagon. Even when he's talking about an SEC qb in the pregame of a Big XII Thursday night game, he gives Denard some love. While I'm sure we can all agree that not all press is good press, this is the kind of ubiquitous exposure that is great for the program.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:41 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
Does anybody else remember when this was one of the biggest games in the country for a few years? Should be a good atmosphere at that high school stadium in Manhattan (NNTM).
October 7th, 2010 at 7:52 PM ^
I hope it never happens, but I definitely see the appeal being in the national spotlight. The only way it would ever happen is for a road non-conference game and Notre Dame won't do it, so really I am not worried. Curious what you guys think?
October 7th, 2010 at 7:55 PM ^
Against it. Week nights are for conferences that need the exposure. The Big Ten has enough clout where it's unnecessary.
And to specify, yes, I am saying the Big 12 needs the exposure. They lack the deal like the SEC has, or the appeal that gets so many Big Ten games on ESPN.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:59 PM ^
thats why I could only see it if we were playing Uconn on the road or something.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
I'm really hoping K-State goes for this. That Wildcat run was broken up horribly though.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
The fact they even lined up to do it, I love it.
Pretty cool to hear the whole crowd sing happy birthday to Snyder.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:59 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
If K-state ran other plays besides the incredibly surprising "run Thomas up the middle" they'd be in good shape. As it is..........
October 7th, 2010 at 7:58 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 8:00 PM ^
just defriended another soul
October 7th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^
I still think T-Mobile is missing a huge marketing prospect. I mean, it's not like Martinez can get any money from the play on words.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:03 PM ^
With Michigan and Nebraska in the same division next season our division is really going to become a showcase of modern option football.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
the spread is dead
--gary danielson
October 7th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
I don't think that was very Denard Robinson. I didn't see any blur.
Good start by Husker O.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
Someone on the air just compared Taylor Martinez to Denard Robinson X-|
October 7th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
That has to be demoralizing to K State. They should have took the points on that first drive.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
I love the fact that they keep on mentioning Denard Robinson. This has been one amazing season
October 7th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 8:06 PM ^
Big Red really moved the ball there. There was one play not on their terms. Everything else on that drive was 10-15 yards, positive, and as designed.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:06 PM ^
Martinez looks pretty good but he's not dilithium good.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
Did I really just hear Jesse Palmer say Martinez runs a 4.0 40? Is that not the FAKEST forty time ever? Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:18 PM ^
Well, Chris Johnson ran the fastest NFL Draft 40 at 4.24, so I'll use the Socratic method and ask you: Do you think Taylor Martinez is faster than Chris Johnson?
October 7th, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
Well I'm glad someone else heard it because I looked at my girlfriend and said, "really? So he's faster than Chris Johnson and Mike Vick?"
This is why I'm glad Michigan doesn't play on Thursday nights. I find myself enjoying Mr. Millen's comments compared to Palmer and Craig James.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
This is why I'm glad Michigan doesn't play on Thursday nights
Having attended another school with numerous Thursday night games a season I can tell you first had it's something to be avoided. The whole game day atmosphere is non-existent and the following saturday seem empty.
October 7th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
Your girlfriend is watching a (non-Michigan) Thursday night football game with you AND she knows who Chris Johnson and Mike Vick are? Do you have any idea how lucky you are?
October 7th, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^
who's #1 in runs 40 or longer?
October 7th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
Every time an announcer mentions Denard take a drink. I am SO enjoying Michigans "return to relevance" in the eyes of national media. Its fun to have people talking about our team for good reasons.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
Over/Under for Denard Mentions tonight?
October 7th, 2010 at 8:22 PM ^
twelveteen hundred. And a half, to avoid pushing.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
D. Thomas has been uninspiring this quarter. Definitely thought he looked better when I saw him against Iowa State.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^
My wife just asked what Prince Amukamaras' name was and I told her and my 2 year old daughter said " Bless You"
October 7th, 2010 at 8:14 PM ^
Wow, generous spot. Did not look like he got it .
October 7th, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
3 Denard Mentions so far
October 7th, 2010 at 8:25 PM ^
Nebraska definitely looks like the class of the Big 12. Martinez looks very dangerous, but the hits he takes look very stiff. You would think the coaches are hammering on him to go lower, but I've seen a couple of big-time hits already, including one that caused a fumble.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 8:30 PM ^
Martinez looked oddly indecisive on that draw.