Ohio State Football: HUGE First Preview of the Nebraska Game

Buckeye fans experienced déjà vu this past weekend, as Ohio State failed to gain momentum against Michigan State, causing a 10-7 loss against the Spartans. This same result happened against Miami a few weeks earlier.

Nebraska visited Madison on Saturday, playing their first conference game against the Badgers. Wisconsin shellacked the Cornhuskers 48-17.

Two teams, coming off losses, will face off next weekend when the Buckeyes visit Lincoln. Click "Begin Slideshow" to learn everything you need to know before Saturday's kickoff. 

The Quarterback Game

Ohio State: Other than words like "bleak" and "dismal," there isn't much else to say about Ohio State's quarterback situation. Senior Joe Bauserman was given the nod at the beginning of the season, but his poor performance gave freshman Braxton Miller the reins. Miller showed off his running skills against Colorado, but fans were skeptical given his mediocre passing.

Against Michigan State, Miller was 5-for-10 for 66 yards before he was benched for Bauserman. Together, both quarterbacks mustered only 143 passing yards. It seems that no matter what coach Luke Fickell does, it doesn't help the quarterback situation. 

Nebraska:  Sophomore Taylor Martinez has yet to average more than 50 percent for pass efficiency, and his youthfulness makes him vulnerable. Against Wisconsin, Martinez threw three interceptions and no touchdowns. He has only had one 200-yard passing game, and that was against Fresno State. For the season, Martinez has thrown four touchdowns and five interceptions.

However, Martinez's talent lies in his rushing skills. This year alone, he has rushed for almost 500 yards and an astounding eight touchdowns. He is currently the offense's No. 1 rusher.  

The Bottom Line: Both quarterbacks are mediocre passers, but Martinez's rushing stats are more impressive than Miller's. Until Ohio State can make adjustments, their opponent will always have the edge. The advantage clearly goes to Martinez.

The Receiving Game

Ohio State: The Buckeyes are relying on a group of inexperienced receivers. Devin Smith, who has already been flagged as a budding star, did not record a catch against the Spartans. Braxton Miller used sophomore Chris Field and freshman Verlon Reed as his primary targets last weekend.

Devier Posey comes back this week from suspension, but it may not matter. With the poor passing game, it's hard to predict the performance of the receivers. Ohio State has a talented group who has the potential to be phenomenal; fans just haven't received the chance to see it yet.

*Note* As of October 3, Posey has been suspended for Saturday's game due to more violations. He will not be playing.

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers also have a young group of wide receivers. Sophomore Quincy Enunwa averages 15.6 yards per reception, but has only recorded one touchdown this season. As a freshman, Enunwa only had one catch. Nebraska also relies on freshman Jamal Turner. Turner leads in receptions this year with 223 yards, but has yet to record a score.

The Bottom Line: Ohio State definitely has the more talented group of receivers (don't forget about tight end Jake Stoneburner), but with no one to throw to them, it easily becomes a moot point. Though the Cornhuskers have slightly better control of the quarterback game, their receivers are nothing to write home about. Sorry, but there is no winner here.  

The Running Game

Ohio State: Daniel "Boom" Herron comes back this week from suspension, but he may have to earn his place back on the field. In his absence, Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall have taken the bulk of the carries. Jaamal Berry did not play on Saturday, due to an on-campus incident earlier in the week. Hyde and Hall have produced very well, leading the Buckeyes' offense. Hyde is averaging a healthy 4.3 yards per carry, and Hall is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. When Herron returns, Ohio State will be well stocked with running backs.

*Note* As of October 3, Herron has been suspended due to NCAA violations. He will not play this Saturday.

Nebraska: Quarterback Taylor Martinez does double duty, as he is a deadly weapon on the run for the Cornhuskers. Nebraska also has junior Rex Burkhead. Burkhead has recorded eight touchdowns already, and has an impressive 6.4 yards per carry. Look for Burkhead to be the primary running back, with Martinez using his quick feet to scramble.

The Bottom Line: Though Burkhead and Martinez put up impressive numbers, Ohio State has more depth and is able to spell their backs when the players are getting tired. The Buckeyes take the advantage here.    

The Coaching Game

Ohio State:  Luke Fickell stood in front of the podium at his first press conference and promised Buckeye Nation that his players would be "men of action." However, perhaps they should change their name to "men of inaction."

After taking two tough losses to Miami and Michigan State (both unranked opponents), Fickell is in the coaching hot seat. He has three ranked opponents approaching consecutively (Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin, respectively). For the first time since 2004, Ohio State dropped out of the AP's Top 25 rankings.

Nebraska: Bo Pelini was LSU's defensive coordinator before becoming the head coach of Nebraska in 2007. He worked under Les Miles, and brought the Tigers to the third best defense in the country every year he coached. Since Pelini has taken over the Cornhuskers, Nebraska is 35-13. Pelini understands the impact of huge defensive plays, and that showed in the 33-0 shutout against Arizona in the 2009 Holiday Bowl.

The Bottom Line: Fickell is inexperienced and has too much pressure riding on him this season. Look to Pelini for the advantage here.    

The Motivation Game

Ohio State: Luke Fickell's job is clearly on the line. Michigan State hasn't beat Ohio State in 10 years; in 2008, the Buckeyes rolled the Spartans 45-7. Fickell clearly needs to win next weekend if he wants to keep his job.

Nebraska: In the first game as a member of the Big Ten, Nebraska was embarrassed by Wisconsin. Coach Bo Pelini has a statement to make, to prove that his team can compete in the Big Ten. With this game being at Lincoln, expect the Cornhuskers to seek revenge and play angrily.

The Bottom Line: Ohio State is angry, but Nebraska is angrier. Expect Nebraska to use its 48-17 loss as motivation. 

The Bottom Line

Even though Ohio State has more to lose right now (mainly, their head coach, and their pride), Nebraska will still win. Without a quarterback, the Buckeyes are left with a one-dimensional offense in their running game. The constant three-and-outs are forcing the silver bullets to stay on the field the majority of the game, and the defense is getting worn and exhausted. Look for Nebraska to have a win when the Buckeyes visit Lincoln on Saturday.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 27, Ohio State 10