Nebraska vs. Michigan: 10 Keys to Watch When Big Ten Powers Collide

When the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Michigan Wolverines meet on Saturday, more than just the Big Ten Legends Division Championship will be on the line.

Both teams have had up-and-down years and are looking to finish strong heading into the postseason.

Michigan is led by Denard Robinson's dynamic play, but has also been hampered by his high turnover rate.

Nebraska has a similar problem, often riding Taylor Martinez's hot hand to victories, but continue to be burned by interceptions and inconsistency.

The two teams are both looking for a big win to end their season on a high note. 

Here are 10 keys to watch when the Big Ten powers meet.

Which Nebraska Team Will Show Up?

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have had an up-and-down season thus far. The team has shown flashes of brilliance, beating a very talented Michigan State Spartans team (that currently sits atop the Legends Division) by 21 points.

That same Cornhuskers team lost to the Wisconsin Badgers by 30 points.

Last weekend, Nebraska beat 12th-ranked Penn State in an incredibly charged environment. The week before, they lost to unranked Northwestern. 

Nebraska has had some great games. It has also had quite a few embarrassing losses.

The competitiveness of this game will ultimately rely on which Cornhuskers team shows up to play in Ann Arbor. If it is the team that completely decimated Michigan State, it will be quite a good game. If it is the team that could not put together one decisive drive to beat Northwestern, this could be a blowout.

Rex Burkhead

The junior running back has been the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ main weapon this season. Rex Burkhead averages over five yards per carry and has already run for 1,000 yards on the season.

The Michigan Wolverines do not have a great run defense, allowing over 100 yards per game. However, the team is allowing just 15 points per game. If Michigan’s defensive line comes to play, it could win the game simply by stopping Burkhead.

Aside from the first two games in the season (in which Taylor Martinez was running all over the field and Burkhead was still finding his stride), Burkhead’s performance has completely dictated Nebraska’s record.

Nebraska’s only two losses this season have come when Burkhead has run for less than 100 yards. In every game that it has won (except for the first two of the season), Burkhead has run for at least 115 yards. 

As Burkhead goes, so does Nebraska. If Michigan can slow the running back, it will have a great chance at a win. If not, the Wolverines could be in for a long afternoon.

Denard Robinson's Legs

The Nebraska Cornhuskers do not have a good run defense. They are ranked a measly 70th in the country, allowing over 170 yards per game on the ground.

The Michigan Wolverines will not make life easy for the Cornhuskers. The team averages 235 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Denard Robinson leads the attack.

If Nebraska can slow down Robinson, Michigan’s offense will suffer. Robinson’s ability to break off big plays opens up the offense for the rest of the team. Its running backs are more successful and the passing game is much smoother when Robinson is gaining yards on the ground.

The Cornhuskers must keep the pressure on all game. Robinson can make one cut and run 50 yards for a touchdown in the blink of an eye. Nebraska can never let up or else Robinson will make them pay.

Penalties

Penalties can lose a game for a team. One small yellow flag can give the other team free yards and extra downs.

The Michigan Wolverines are a disciplined team. They average just four penalties a game. It is rare that a team can play tough defense and not fall prey to costly penalties. Michigan has proved that it is not impossible. 

Nebraska, on the other hand, averages over six penalties per game. Its defense is prone to giving up plays because it cannot stay under control. Its offense can negate huge gains through a simple holding call.

Penalties will be a factor on Saturday. Momentum could change at any time and if Nebraska makes too many mistakes, they will lose confidence very quickly. One mistake could open the door for Michigan to put the game away.

Denard Robinson Interceptions

Denard Robinson has thrown 13 interceptions this season and at least one pick in the last five games.

Robinson’s passing woes have adversely affected the Michigan Wolverines. They have started focusing much more on the run and are rarely a threat to throw the deep ball.

This enables Nebraska’s defense to play right at the line of scrimmage to stop the run. Its secondary does not need to play deep and, because of that, can blitz more.

If Robinson’s interceptions continue, Michigan’s offense will lose its luster, and teams will learn quickly how best to defend such a dynamic player.

Taylor Martinez Interceptions

Denard Robinson is not the only Big Ten quarterback with interception problems. Taylor Martinez is right there with him. The Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback trails only Robinson for the most interceptions in the league.

Martinez’s seven interceptions tend to come in bunches. He has one game with two interceptions and one with three, then can go weeks without throwing a pick at all.

The Michigan Wolverines do not force turnovers at an incredibly high rate, but if their defense can grab one interception, another could follow.

Martinez has had some great games and some very forgettable ones. His level of play can either give Nebraska an edge or put them at a disadvantage. 

Fitzgerald Toussaint

Fitzgerald Toussaint became the Michigan Wolverines’ starting running back after his 170-yard game against Purdue three weeks ago. He responded with a 58-yard outing the next week, then against Illinois, Toussaint ran for almost 200 yards.

The past three weeks have epitomized Toussaint’s season and Michigan’s running back conundrum. The sophomore has looked unstoppable at times. He has overwhelmed defenses with his strength and quickness. In other games, the running back has looked overmatched and incapable of gaining any yards at all.

There is no way of anticipating which Toussaint will emerge against Nebraska. Much like Taylor Martinez, Toussaint can either give his team a huge advantage or set them back depending on his level of play.

Special Teams

Special teams are often a key but overlooked part of games. Especially if the game is close, one field goal, either made or missed, can change everything.

Neither team is terribly bad at field goals, but the Nebraska Cornhuskers definitely have the edge.

The Michigan Wolverines kicker, Brendan Gibbons, is 8 of 11 on the year. On the face of it, his statistics seem pretty good. However, outside of 30 yards, Gibbons is nowhere near accurate.

All three of his misses have come from that distance. If the Wolverines are driving late in the game, they will need to get as far down the field as possible, which takes more time off the clock and increases the chances of a turnover.

Nebraska’s kicker, Brett Maher, is 16 of 19 on field goals. His three misses have all come from outside of 50 yards. Maher is comfortable kicking long field goals and gives the Cornhuskers’ offense confidence that its kicker can win games.

Nebraska’s Time of Possession

This is fairly simple. The team that has the ball for the longest amount of time is much more likely to win. The offense will have more chances to score and the opposing defense will get tired, increasing the chance they will give up big plays.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have had problems controlling the clock. In their two losses, Nebraska has lost the time of possession battle by close to 10 minutes each. Against a Michigan team whose strength is running the ball, the Cornhuskers need to focus on sustaining long drives and keeping the ball out of Michigan’s hands. 

Nebraska must give its offense a chance to succeed. The responsibility is on both sides of the football. The offense must hold on to possession and the defense must force short drives.

Experience

This will be a big game for both teams. Whichever team wins will have done what it can to make a run for the Legends Division championship. Both teams will have to come out ready to play.

A big part of game preparation that cannot be simulated in practice is experience. Big games mean louder fans, harder hits and more talented teams.

Michigan has won one big game this season—against a Notre Dame team that has since fallen quite a bit in the polls. Its second test was against Michigan State where the Wolverines lost by 14 points.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have played three games against teams currently ranked. They have won two of them—pasting Michigan State 24-3 and beating Penn State by three in an emotional game for both sides.

Nebraska has the advantage here, but will it pay off? Both teams have had their fair share of tests on the year and both are in for at least one more before bowl season.