Michigan opens as a 2.5 pt favorite over Nebraska
I think this is going to be a tough game. We have struggled against top defenses. Hopefully, Hoke continues his undefeated streak in the Big House.
Not sure what the all time record is against Nebraska but in the last 30 years or so we are 1-1 with the 85 team winning the Fiesta Bowl and the 05 team losing the Alamo Bowl. Need to get this one.
Thoughts?
November 13th, 2011 at 9:07 PM ^
this might be one of the more even matchups of the year, statistically speaking.
Michigan playing the game at home should be an advantage.
Rex Burkhead is the real deal though at TB. He can do it all.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
We've got a much better shot at it than I would have thought before the season, but I'm not going to get my hopes up until I see us keep Burkhead and Martinez in check. They've also got a pretty good defense.
Should be a very interesting game.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:04 AM ^
Thanks to the idiots in the B1G office, who could have done a better job throwing darts at a board with the games listed on it, Michigan has to play Nebraska the week before Ohio. When the change to divisions happened, I was glad because they weren't going to have to play Wiscy the week before Ohio anymore. So now, they get Nebraska?
I know that neither the schedule nor the conference is "all about Michigan," but I also think they could showcase a game that has been voted the number one rivalry game in football by scheduling it after "normal" games for both teams. The only saving grace this time is that Ohio has to play PSU this week, making next week's game "even," but this kind of scheduling could end up costing one of the teams a chance at a title game someday if it continues.
And it still forces both Michigan and Ohio to play trap games against two of the better teams in the conference.
November 14th, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^
Nebraska has Iowa (Farmageddon), PSU has WIskey and MSU has NW (GO CATS).
November 13th, 2011 at 9:14 PM ^
November 13th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
Nebraska fans are probably using the same argument. "Shutdown Denard & Toussaint's legs, we win." "We think we got QB problems... Robinson has 13 interceptions, and we have a very good secondary... Robinson's arm shouldn't be a factor."
November 14th, 2011 at 7:58 AM ^
You just stabbed me in the heart....say it isnt so.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:19 PM ^
Honestly surprised we have the early edge in predictions..I would have thought Nebraska would, however after the craziness of the B1G this year, who knows!! go blue!
November 13th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
Alright, by no means am I trying to "flamebait", but for everyone that's saying Martinez can't throw to save his life, etc. He has been throwing the ball way more effectively lately than Denard has. He was the only bright spot in the Northwestern loss for Nebraska.
All I'm saying is glass houses people, glass houses.
November 14th, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^
All in all Denard played pretty well against Northwestern, too. Their secondary makes Michigan's secondary from 09 and '10 look like LSU. Using NW as a barometer for good QB play against is not so good.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:24 PM ^
I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit worried about this one. However, that may be a good thing since last week I predicted UM to lose by 10. However, the boys seem to kick it up a notch when playing at home.
I say:
Michigan - 24
Nebraska - 17
After last year I never thought I would be predicting a score in the teens from an opponent, but there it is.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
If you were worried last week, then keep worrying.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
I was worried during Purdue, so beat that.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^
The over/under on "PITCH IT TO BREASTON AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH" references between now and Saturday: 7143
November 13th, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
i still loathe u for that
November 13th, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
probably wouldnt have helped since they had 85 people and coaches all on the field while we are trying to score.... thanks sun belt league refs
November 13th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
wouldve eclipsed the stanford band play and been shown on highlight reels for eternity had he pitched it....and now??....Not!
November 13th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
As capable as Michigan is of playing a stellar game on both sides of the ball, they are unfortunately equally capable of turning the ball over and making big mistakes offensively. If Michigan plays to their ability then they certainly should have a slight edge. However, if the come out the way they did against Iowa then it's another story.
Just as Nebraska might not click on all cylinders for this game, we cannot count on Michigan doing so either. There is a reason why Nebraska is 8-2 as well. With the way the Big Ten has been and how Michigan and Nebraska have played, this game looks like anything could happen.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
This game will be bet down to even by game time. The line being set like this makes me feel a little better about our chances of winning. Joe Public will be all over Nebraska.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:41 PM ^
Well, the fact that we are undefeated at home makes me feel good about this one. But, the best of those wins was a semi-lucky escape in the ND game. So I have no clue what happens against Nebraska.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
Good to see our Wolverines favored against a good squad in November. The Huskers are due for some Karmic retribution for the Alamo Bowl!
November 13th, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^
What would the line be if they change to Sun Belt refs?
November 14th, 2011 at 6:32 AM ^
the over/under on broken remotes in my house would be 2.5.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^
Holy Greg Mattison, Batman! Michigan is 16th in total defense!
Nebraska is 37th, hanging out with Notre Dame.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:07 PM ^
go with FEI, then Nebraska is even further behind. Our 17th to their 49th. We also have the 17th ranked offense to their 30th. Also we are home and they obviously aren't. However, they have a significant advantage in special teams play.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^
Based on all of the informed input it sounds like Michigan should be favored. Perhaps by 2 or 3 points. I'm going to split the difference and say 2.5.
November 13th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
Hoke will provide Borges with a new vision on how to avoid the bad direction his playing calling and Robinson took against Illinois. If the offense will complement the defense we win the next three games.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:06 PM ^
I'm not sure what to make of this one. I'm not entirely sold on our run defense, despite its fantastic job yesterday. I'm worried about Nebraska's ability to get to the edge with the option. They'll run option even on 3rd and long. If the Illinois game was no fluke and our linebackers can make big plays in space against the run, we'll be in business.
This game is a great opportunity for us. There's not too much pressure because we're pretty much out of the Big Ten race, but we have a chance to make a statement against a top 20 team. A win would be our biggest since - what? - the bowl win over Florida in Carr's last game?
November 13th, 2011 at 11:10 PM ^
thing that helps me sleep easier at night, it's that Northwestern shredded our defense in the 1st half with the option but Mattison fixed it. The 2nd half of that game was better and the option was nearly a non-issue against Illinois save for two plays where backups (Clark in once case, Black in another) got sucked in by good reads by Scheelhaase.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^
are having a very tough time on the road this year. We should be favored.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
Michigan comes out a little better in team defense rankings and it’s pretty even on offensive, but we've beaten two of 3 ranked teams, Michigan has only beaten 1 of 2, a (just now) barely ranked ND.
Martinez actually has better passing stats than DR with half the interceptions, and has improved those stats the last 4-5 games. Rushing numbers are a wash. It will be fun to see these two great athletes compete on the same field.
We have a young and inconsistent defense, great one game or half, then lay an egg. Mobile QBs like Robinson has traditionally given Pelini defenses a problem. On the other hand, your defense though improved from the RR days doesn’t scare anyone. I think Michigan is still too dependent on Denard, while the Huskers have Burkhead and a trio of fast freshman to spell him. I wonder how you'll handle the option, don't think you've seen that this year.
We have an excellent kicker in Maher for both place kicking and punting, UM doesn't even come close here. But you have home field advantage.
-2.5 seems about right
Should be a great game, good luck, Cornhusker fans are looking forward to competing with you as a conference rival as two of the best programs all time.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
Nebraska definitely has a better resume versus ranked teams, but they haven't beaten any ranked team, besides a Paterno-less, highly-stigmatized Penn State team, on the road. Penn State's offense is far worse than Michigan's, if you could even believe that.
As for "mobile QB"... Denard's been taking all the "not good as a passer" talk to heart and honestly refuses to run when given the chance. He'd much rather his teammates get the yards/points. But, with Touissant suddenly becoming a superstar, we might deploy the "Fritz" formation again and run triple option, which in my opinion, would be REALLY deadly. Who do you pick? We've got 3 guys who can run the ball real well with Devin, Denard, and Touissant.
We have seen triple option before (Northwestern). We got torched by it. That seems like years ago, though, as our defense is vastly improved since that game. Thomas Gordon, our FS/Nickel, is quickly becoming a boss with tackles in space and save for the true freshman Frank Clark, our SLBs/SDEs were on contain against Illinois, which also likes to run a bit of option. I remember one play in particular where Scheelhause absolutely got demolished by Jake Ryan and Jason Ford, the pitchman, got simultaneously demolished by Desmond Morgan. It was beautiful.
Nebraska has a definite advantage in PR/KR, and that's the one area where I'm really scared. Abdullah seems like the home-run-at-any-time type of guy and we really need to send a message to him.
It should be a classic game, but I'm thinking Nebraska will pull this one out simply because they are used to beating ranked, disciplined teams and we aren't (especially the disciplined teams... see Iowa). Nebraska 19 - Michigan 14.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^
Is NOT even top ten of best programs all time. Win one more title and you are tied with MSU at 6. I live in Hastings, Nebraska and you guys drink way too much Red Kool Aid. Kool Aid was invented in Hastings literally. Osborne is out, and you are having a good year. It won't last.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:21 PM ^
There are no worldbeaters in the B1G this year.
I had these last two games of the year circled as big fat Ls...now? Who knows.
Will we face the Nebraska that lost to NW? Or the Nebraska that curbstomped MSU?
Will we face tOSU that just lost to freaking Purdue? Or the same ol tOSU we hate, loathe and have handled us consistently?
Unfortunately, neither Nebraska nor tOSU will be looking past us. We will be getting their A games.
We're 8-2 going into our last two games...awesome position to be in year 1 of the Hoke era.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
along with the rest of the B1G. I expect I'll change my mind several times about who wins this week.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^
I notice many on this blog get after each other about grammar and accuracy. As a former varsity player for the Northwestern Wildcats, I have never once seen the school ever refer to itself as NW. We are always NU. It's in our cheer, "GO U! NU!" we are not North Western, we are Northwestern University.
November 14th, 2011 at 2:20 AM ^
November 14th, 2011 at 8:31 AM ^
Yes, but it is a directional acronym. SE == Southeast, NE == Northeast...
This is why most people that are referencing the teams have Northwestern abbreviated as NW.
It may not be accurate but it communicates the school name accurately, perhaps more so now that Nebraska is in the league.
November 14th, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^
Obviously this isn't really worth a long chain of comments, but I don't see how it's any more accurate to refer to Northwestern University to NW than it is to refer to the University of Nebraska as NU. Both are incorrect. Strictly speaking, it should be NU for Northwestern and UN([L], since the Nebraska fans I've heard find that much more preferable, and it's even more specific) for Nebraska.
November 14th, 2011 at 10:21 AM ^
as I've posted previously, it was always NU ("dear old Nebraska U") until the Lincoln school merged with the Omaha and Kearney schools.
November 14th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
Tradition-wise, it's correct, but doesn't a Nebraska degree read, "The University of Nebraska- Lincoln"?
Again, not really something to argue over, I don't care what Nebraska fans call their team. It just seems like NW and NU are equally incorrect from a technical standpoint for either school.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:21 PM ^
plz delete
November 13th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
the game will be decided by the d line and the linebackers. can the d line get push and can the outside backers and de's keep contain on the edges. northwestern killed us with the option until they inexplicably stopped running it. now i think mattison will have the d better prepared but they still have to execute. win or lose it's gonna be a tough close game. personally i expect nebraska to win 28-24 but it's the 2011 big ten and there are no guarantees.
November 13th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
My thinking on this is Nebraska and Michigan are kind of mirrors of each other. The advantage Michigan has is our defense is still improving every game. So if that trend can continue, we may see another teary eyed Greg Mattison video next week too.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:19 PM ^
Michigan is 3-2-1 all time vs. Nebraska.
November 14th, 2011 at 8:27 AM ^
Best. TV Theme. Music. Ever.
I used to love that show when I was a kid. Isn't that the show that had the "Bloodhound Gang" segment on it?
Big Blue Marble was always a fav of mine as well...
November 13th, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
on your post:
October 21, 1905: Michigan 31, Nebraska 0
November 25, 1911: Tied 6-6
October 27, 1917: Michigan 20, Nebraska 0
September 29, 1962: Nebraska 25, Michigan 13
January 1, 1986: Michigan 27, Nebraska 23-Fiesta Bowl
December 28, 2005: Nebraska 32, Michigan 28-Alamo Bowl
1911 was our only trip to Lincoln. Next year will be our first trip in 101 years to Nebraska and 2nd all-time.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
The fuck did T-Magic do?
November 14th, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
and it is going to be glorious."