Nebraska vs. Michigan: The Curnhuskers Will Ride Rex Burkhead to Win

The Nebraska Cornhuskers face the Michigan Wolverines this week in a faceoff between teams with similar styles, similar goals and similar hopes. Unfortunately for the home team, it is the visitors who are going to be leaving with their hopes still alive.

Both teams offer dual-threat quarterbacks. The Wolverines have Denard Robinson who has passed for 1709 yards and rushed for 910. Through the air and on the ground Robinson has a total of 25 touchdowns. 

Nebraska counters with Taylor Martinez who has passed for 1688 yards and run for 768, totaling 19 TDs. 

Michigan has a fast and effective back in Fitzgerald Toussaint who has rushed fro 753 yards and seven TDs. Nebraska has a back nearly as fast, but 20 pounds heavier in Rex Burkhead, and that should be the difference in the game. 

Burkhead has rushed for 1072 yards and 14 TDs. He's added another two trips to the end zone and 134 yards receiving. 

When you add together the rushing and passing stats of the two teams' star players, it's strikingly similar. Michigan's tandem totals 3372 yards and 32 touchdowns. Nebraska's pair has 3528 yards and 33 TDs. 

The difference is more in how they get their yards than how many they get though. Nebraska has dominated the clock during their season because they play a higher brand of power football. They average a 12:25 minute advantage in the clock compared to 5:35 for Michigan. 

Michigan's rush defense has been good, but they won't be good enough to stop the Cornhuskers. The most similar back they've faced this year was Marcus Coker, who gained 132 yards and had two touchdowns when the Hawkeyes upset the Wolverines. 

While Michigan has a greatly improved defense, it's more about stopping speed than power and they won't be able to stop Nebraska's big powerful rush. Additionally Nebraska's defense has been getting better lately, and has actually been the best between the teams over the last three weeks. 

The other thing that will affect Michigan is turnovers. Michigan is giving the ball away 1.8 times per game to only 1.3 times per game for Nebraska. Over the last three games Nebraska is a +0.3 in turnover margin while Michigan is a -1.0. 

This is going to be a hard fought football game where the traditional things—power, the line of scrimmage, the clock and turnovers—are going to be the deciding factors, and Nebraska has the edge in all of those things.

Look for the Cornhuskers to get the win and keep their Big Ten title hopes alive in their inaugural year.