Michigan vs. Nebraska: Complete Game Preview

Now that the dreadful losing streak to Michigan State is over, the Wolverines can move on to the important task at hand. 

That, of course, is winning the Big Ten Championship. 

The next challenge begins Saturday night when Michigan travels to Nebraska to face the Cornhuskers. While Nebraska relatively new to the Big Ten, they're no strangers to winning conference crowns. 

As a member of the Big 12, 8, 7, 6 and Missouri Valley Conferences, Nebraska has accumulated 43 league champions, one more than Michigan has won in the Big Ten.

The Cornhuskers, with dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez doing his best to imitate Michigan's Denard Robinson, probably have the offense needed to win their first Big Ten crown. But it's been the defense, which has troubled head coach Bo Pelini.

In three Big Ten matchups, Big Red has allowed 118 points, including a whopping 63 to the Buckeyes. Michigan, who scored 47 on Nebraska a season ago, should have no trouble moving the ball on this group of Huskers.

USA Today's Danny Sheridan, however, has the Wolverines listed as 2.5-point road dogs, most likely recalling Michigan's poor performances in Dallas (Alabama) and Notre Dame.

Let's take a look at what might really happen in Lincoln. 

Game Day Information

Who: Michigan at Nebraska

When: Saturday, 8 p.m. (EDT)

Where: Lincoln, Nebraska

Stadium: Memorial Stadium (81,091)

TV: ESPN2

Radio: ESPN Radio/ Michigan IMG Sports Network

Last Meeting: Michigan 45, Nebraska 17 (Nov. 19, 2011)

Series Record: Michigan 4-2-1

Michigan's Official Depth Chart

WR 21 Roy Roundtree (6-0, 180, 5th Sr.)

12 Devin Gardner (6-4, 203, Jr./Jr.)
83 Jerald Robinson (6-1, 215, Jr./So.)
82 Amara Darboh (6-2, 220, Fr./Fr.)

LT 77 Taylor Lewan (6-8, 309, Sr./Jr.)
78 Erik Magnuson (6-6, 285, Fr./Fr.)

LG 52 Ricky Barnum (6-3, 296, 5th Sr.)
56 Joey Burzynski (6-1, 295, Jr./So.)
67 Kyle Kalis (6-5, 294, Fr./Fr.)

C 57 Elliott Mealer (6-5, 308, 5th Sr.)
60 Jack Miller (6-4, 288, So./Fr.)

RG 65 Patrick Omameh (6-4, 305, 5th Sr.)
56 Joey Burzynski (6-1, 295, Jr./So.)

RT 75 Michael Schofield (6-7, 300, Sr./Jr.)
69 Erik Gunderson (6-8, 303, Sr./Jr.)
71 Ben Braden (6-6, 308, Fr./Fr.)

TE 87 Brandon Moore (6-5, 268, 5th Sr.)
81 Mike Kwiatkowski (6-5, 262, 5th Sr.)
84 A.J. Williams (6-6, 283, Fr./Fr.)
19 Devin Funchess (6-4, 229, Fr./Fr.)

WR 10 Jeremy Gallon (5-8, 187, Sr./Jr.)
9 Drew Dileo (5-10, 180, Jr./Jr.)
17 Jeremy Jackson (6-3, 204, Jr./Jr.)

QB 16 Denard Robinson (6-0, 197, Sr./Sr.)
8 Russell Bellomy (6-3, 202, So./Fr.)
12 Devin Gardner (6-4, 203, Jr./Jr.)

FB 33 Stephen Hopkins (6-0, 240, Jr./Jr.)
36 Joe Kerridge (6-0, 244, So./Fr.)
31 Paul Gyarmati (6-1, 234, 5th Sr.)

RB 28 Fitzgerald Toussaint (5-10, 202, Sr./Jr.)
38 Thomas Rawls (5-10, 218, So./So.) 
2 Vincent Smith (5-6, 175, Sr./Sr.)
5 Justice Hayes (5-10, 183, So./Fr.)

DE 57 Frank Clark (6-2, 262, So./So.)
97 Brennen Beyer (6-3, 252, So./So.)
53 Mario Ojemudia (6-2, 231, Fr./Fr.)

DT 73 Will Campbell (6-5, 308, Sr./Sr.)
55 Jibreel Black (6-2, 279, Jr./Jr.)

NT 76 Quinton Washington (6-4, 300, Sr./Jr.)
56 Ondre Pipkins (6-3, 340, Fr./Fr.)
54 Richard Ash (6-3, 300, Jr./So.)

DE 88 Craig Roh (6-5, 281, Sr./Sr.)
92 Keith Heitzman (6-3, 270, So./Fr.)

SLB 47 Jake Ryan (6-3, 242, Jr./So.)
4 Cam Gordon (6-3, 236, Sr./Jr.)

MLB 25 Kenny Demens (6-1, 242, 5th Sr.)
35 Joe Bolden (6-3, 223, Fr./Fr.)
27 Mike Jones (6-2, 226, Sr./Jr.)

WLB 48 Desmond Morgan (6-1, 227, So./So.)
15 James Ross III (6-1, 225, Fr./Fr.)
7 Brandin Hawthorne (6-0, 220, Sr./Sr.)

LCB 6 Raymon Taylor (5-10, 182, So./So.)
5 Courtney Avery (5-11, 173, Jr./Jr.)
13 Terry Richardson (5-9, 162, Fr./Fr.)

SS 32 Jordan Kovacs (6-0, 202, Sr./Jr.)
3 Marvin Robinson (6-2, 200, So./So.)
23 Floyd Simmons (6-0, 200, 5th Sr.)

FS 30 Thomas Gordon (5-11, 207, Sr./Jr.)
22 Jarrod Wilson (6-2, 194, Fr./Fr.)
14 Josh Furman (6-2, 203, Jr./So.)

RCB 8 J.T. Floyd (6-0, 183, 5th Sr.)
6 Raymon Taylor (5-10, 182, So./So.)
24 Delonte Hollowell (5-9, 176, So./So.)

Special Teams

PK 34 Brendan Gibbons (6-1, 230, Sr./Jr.)
45 Matt Wile (6-2, 214, So./So.)

P 43 Will Hagerup (6-4, 227, Jr./Jr.)
45 Matt Wile (6-2, 214, So./So.)

LS 54 Jareth Glanda (6-3, 260, Sr./Jr.)
94 Curt Graman (6-5, 205, Sr./Jr.)

KO 45 Matt Wile (6-2, 214, So./So.)
46 Seth Broekhuizen (6-1, 205, Sr./Jr.)

PR 10 Jeremy Gallon (5-8, 187, Sr./Jr.)
26 Dennis Norfleet (5-7, 161, Fr./Fr.)

KR 26 Dennis Norfleet (5-7, 161, Fr./Fr.)
2 Vincent Smith (5-6, 175, Sr./Sr.)
14 Josh Furman (6-2, 203, Jr./So.)

Nebraska's Official Depth Chart

Offense

WR X 80 Kenny Bell, 6-1, 185, So.
88 Tyler Evans, 6-1, 200, So.

LT 71 Jeremiah Sirles, 6-6, 310, Jr. -OR-
76 Brent Qvale, 6-7, 315, Jr.
79 Brandon Thompson, 6-6, 300, Sr.

LG 77 Seung Hoon Choi, 6-2, 290, Sr.
62 Cole Pensick, 6-2, 275, Jr.
68 Jake Cotton, 6-6, 295, So.

C 72 Justin Jackson, 6-3, 280, Sr.
62 Cole Pensick, 6-2, 275, Jr. -OR-
56 Mark Pelini, 6-0, 285, So.

RG 61 Spencer Long, 6-4, 305, Jr.
69 Brodrick Nickens, 6-5, 305, Jr.
65 Ryne Reeves, 6-3, 295, RFr.

RT 63 Andrew Rodriguez, 6-6, 325, Jr. -OR-
71 Jeremiah Sirles, 6-6, 310, Jr.

TE 81 Ben Cotton, 6-6, 255, Sr. -OR-
25 Kyler Reed, 6-3, 230, Sr.
41 Jake Long, 6-4, 240, Jr. -OR-
89 Conor McDermott, 6-2, 245, Sr.

WR Z 18 Quincy Enunwa, 6-2, 215, Jr.
7 Taariq Allen, 6-3, 200, RFr. -OR-
21 Steven Osborne, 6-4, 205, Sr.

WR A 10 Jamal Turner, 6-1, 185, So.
6 Tim Marlowe, 5-10, 175, Sr.

QB 3 Taylor Martinez, 6-1, 200, Jr.
12 Ron Kellogg III, 6-1, 210, Jr. -OR-
4 Tommy Armstrong Jr., 6-1, 215, Fr.

IB 22 Rex Burkhead, 5-11, 210, Sr. -OR-
8 Ameer Abdullah, 5-9, 185, So.
5 Braylon Heard, 5-11, 185, So.
32 Imani Cross, 6-1, 225, Fr.

FB 35 Andy Janovich, 6-1, 215, Fr. -OR-
19 Mike Marrow, 6-2, 250, Jr. -OR-
31 C.J. Zimmerer, 6-0, 230, Jr.

Defense

DE 46 Eric Martin, 6-2, 250, Sr. -OR-
9 Jason Ankrah, 6-4, 265, Jr.

DT 53 Thad Randle, 6-1, 295, Jr.
92 Kevin Williams, 6-2, 265, RFr.

DT 55 Baker Steinkuhler, 6-6, 290, Sr.
97 Chase Rome, 6-3, 285, So.
96 Aaron Curry, 6-1, 280, Fr.

DE 34 Cameron Meredith, 6-4, 260, Sr.
7 Joseph Carter, 6-5, 265, Sr.
94 Avery Moss, 6-2, 260, Fr.

BUCK 42 Sean Fisher, 6-6, 230, Sr.
45 Alonzo Whaley, 6-1, 230, Sr. -OR-
40 Max Pirman, 6-5, 220, RFr.

MIKE 51 Will Compton, 6-2, 230, Sr.
43 Trevor Roach, 6-2, 230, So.

WILL 45 Alonzo Whaley, 6-1, 230, Sr. -OR-
41 David Santos, 6-0, 220, RFr.

CB 16 Stanley Jean-Baptiste, 6-3, 215, Jr. -OR-
11 Andrew Green, 6-0, 195, Jr.
2 Antonio Bell, 6-2, 200, Sr.

S 13 P.J. Smith, 6-2, 210, Sr.
1 Harvey Jackson, 6-2, 210, So.
6 Corey Cooper, 6-1, 210, So.

S 3 Daimion Stafford, 6-1, 205, Sr.
12 Courtney Osborne, 6-3, 200, Sr.
39 Justin Blatchford, 6-1, 200, Sr.

CB 5 Josh Mitchell, 5-11, 155, So. 
4 Mohammed Seisay, 6-2, 200, Jr. 
23 Daniel Davie, 6-1, 185, RFr.

NICKEL 17 Ciante Evans, 5-11, 185, Jr.

Special Teams

PK 96 Brett Maher, 6-0, 185, Sr.
37 Mauro Bondi, 6-0, 200, So.

P 96 Brett Maher, 6-0, 185, Sr.
37 Mauro Bondi, 6-0, 200, So

LS 92 P.J. Mangieri, 6-4, 240, Sr.
97 Joseph Rotherham, 6-0, 220, RFr.

KO 96 Brett Maher, 6-0, 185, Sr.
37 Mauro Bondi, 6-0, 200, So.

HOLD 31 Jase Dean, 6-0, 200, Sr.

KOR 8 Ameer Abdullah, 5-9, 185, So.
80 Kenny Bell, 6-1, 185, So.
10 Jamal Turner, 6-1, 185, So.
5 Braylon Heard, 5-11, 185, So.

PR 8 Ameer Abdullah, 5-9, 185, So.
80 Kenny Bell, 6-1, 185, So.
10 Jamal Turner, 6-1, 185, So.

What's at Stake

Both Michigan (5-2, 3-0) and Nebraska (5-2, 2-1) are in contention for the Legends Division Title, and a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game, December 1, in Indianapolis.

Should Michigan defeat Nebraska and if Northwestern (6-2, 2-2)  tops Iowa, the Wolverines would have a two-game lead. 

The Legends Division winner will most likely face defending Leaders Division and Big Ten Champion Wisconsin (6-2, 3-1), which has a clear path through the division since Ohio State and Penn State are ineligible for post-season play. Indiana, Purdue and Illinois are winless in Leaders Division play. 

Nebraska is looking for a bit of revenge over the Wolverines. Michigan won the first-ever Big Ten meeting between the two teams, 45-17, at the Big House last fall.

How They Got Here

Both Michigan and Nebraska were involved in games this year they'd like to forget.

Who could forget the Wolverines' season opener at Dallas Cowboys Stadium where Alabama stunned Michigan, 41-14.

The feeling was mutual in Nebraska as the Cornhuskers traveled to the Horseshoe, only to get crushed by the Buckeyes 63-38.

Nebraska's defense also struggled in its two Big Ten wins. The Huskers knocked off Wisconsin 30-27 and outscored Northwestern 29-28. 

Defense has been Michigan's strength, as the Wolverines have allowed just 23 points in their three Big Ten victories. 

Key Matchup: Denard Robinson vs. Taylor Martinez

The comparisons began when the two dual-threat quarterbacks met for the first time a year ago. Denard Robinson was in his second season as a record-setter for the Wolverines.

With the records also came criticism. Before Michigan and Nebraska took the field at the Big House, Robinson already had a whopping 13 interceptions to go along with his 13 touchdown passes.

Taylor Martinez, who had ankle problems as a redshirt freshman in 2010, was expected to give Robinson a run for his money.  

But it wasn't to be, as Michigan's defense held Martinez to just 122 yards passing and 49 rushing in a 49-17 victory.

Now a junior, Martinez looks much improved. This fall, he's thrown 12 touchdown passes against only four interceptions. Robinson continues to struggle in the passing game, but the wild card here might be defense. Michigan has allowed just 49 points in the last three games, while Nebraska has allowed 118 in the last three.

2012 Stats

Passing 

Denard Robinson   83-159, 1264 yds, 53.3%,  9 TDs, 9 INTs, 180.6 yds per game

Taylor Martinez    124-185, 1615 yds, 67.0%,15 TDs, 4 INTs, 230.7 yds per game

Rushing

Denard Robinson 121 carries, 900 yds, 6 TDs 7.4 yds/carry, 128.6 yds/game

Taylor Martinez    86 carries, 403 yds, 6 TDs, 4.7 yds/carry, 57.6 yds/game

Total Offense

Denard Robinson 308.1 yds/game

Taylor Martinez   288.3 yds/game

Michigan Player to Watch: WLB Desmond Morgan

Michigan linebacker Desmond Morgan is already becoming a "big name"  performer. He just entered his sophomore year, and he's been awarded a Legends Jersey, which honors Gerald Ford's No. 48.

As a freshman last year wearing No. 44, Morgan did just fine. He finished with 63 tackles, including 10 each against Ohio State and Virginia Tech. 

Morgan set his career record in another important contest, the 12-10 win over Michigan State.

At 6'1", 227-lbs, Morgan is anything but flashy. He simply does his job and does it well.

So far this season Morgan is second on the team with 44 tackles, including 4 tackles for loss. 

Nebraska Player to Watch: RB Ameer Abdullah

Michigan fans are well aware of Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead, who ran for over 1,300 yards last season and has more than 3,000 yards in his four-year career. 

But Burkhead has been fighting a knee injury throughout most of 2012 and is listed as questionable for the Michigan-Nebraska matchup.

But the Wolverines better not relax. Burkhead's backup has been doing just fine. 

Last year as a true freshman, Ameer Abdullah made First-team All-Big Ten as a kick returner, and made the All-Big Ten Freshman team as a kick returner, punt returner and a running back.

Abdullah, who had 19 carries for 101 yards in the last weekend's win over Northwestern, ran a kickoff back for 100 yards and a touchdown last season against Fresno State. Thus far in 2012, Abdullah has rushed for 615 yards on 105 carries as Burkhead's understudy.

Prediction

Winning the Big Ten Championship has always been the top priority for Michigan. 

Not that they need reminding, but Brady Hoke has been telling the players that every week is championship week. 

“I think we picked it up the first week Coach Hoke said it,” senior defensive lineman Will Campbell told The Michigan Daily. “Because every week is a championship week, and we have to win out.”

Defense wins championships, needlessly said.

A quick look at Michigan's points-allowed in recent weeks shows that Michigan can get the job done. Beginning with Notre Dame, the points-against look like this: 13, 13, 13, 0 and 10.

Which translates into the following: Michigan 23, Nebraska 17.