Nebraska Preview

Det News

Time: Noon
Location: Big House
Weather: 60 and no rain
TV: FS1
Line: Michigan -17.5

Nebraska has gotten off to a strange start to the Scott Frost Era.  They have had one game rained out and lost two.  One of those loses was to a former rival in Colorado and another one to Troy last weekend.  

Michigan is more then a two touchdown favorite against a winless team, which means an easy victory, right?  Think again.

Tale of the Tape:

Neb D Line vs. Mich O Line = Nebraska
Michigan WRs vs. Neb DBs = Michigan
Michigan D Line vs. Neb O Line = Michigan
Nebraska QB Running vs. Michigan D = Nebraska
Nebraska QB Throwing vs. Michigan D = Michigan
Special Teams = Michigan
Coaching = Push

Nebraska's true freshman QB Adrian Martinez is a game time decision after hurting his knee late in the Colorado game.  He is the only scholarship QB on the roster and his back-up Andrew Bunch played last week in the loss to Troy.   Unless Martinez is hurt worse then we think, I expect him to play in this game.   If that happens, he is going to give the Wolverine defense a ton of problems.

He is a true freshman but looked pretty explosive against Colorado.  He was running and throwing a ton and really moving the ball downfield.   They run an RPO/Option type of offense with Martinez.  If Scott Frost knows one thing, its how to design an offense around the guys he has.    The down side to how they use Martinez is that he gets hit a ton and almost on every down.   I don't know how he is going to make it through any season with so many hits.

Yell, this is for 1997 if...…………………

• Don Brown figures out how to stop a running QB 
• Michigan is hitting Martinez hard and often
• Michigan's O Line plays well 
• Shea throws for 250+ yards 
• Michigan runs for 200 with a healthy Higdon & Evans
• Michigan takes advantage of a young team on the road for the 1st time 

Wonder if UCF did out hit Michigan a few years ago? if...

• Martinez is gaining first downs and scoring a lot of points 
• Nebraska is protecting the ball
• Nebraska is running all over the defense and then hitting deep balls in the passing game
• Scott Frost is the kryptonite to Don Brown's Superman 
• Nebraska D Line is shutting down the running game and hitting Shea 

I don't like this game at all.   Nebraska is mad and hasn't gotten a win yet.   It's not because they don't have good players.   They have a talented freshman QB and good WR's in Stanley Morgan and JD Spielman.  They run tempo which will keep the Michigan defense from subbing.  Even though they lost the game they outgained Colorado 565 to 395. 

Guess what Nebraska is going to do on defense?  Just like everyone that plays the Wolverines.  They will put guys in the box to stop the run and blitz Michigan's Oline in pass protect.    If Michigan's can't move the ball through the air, this is going to be a long day for the Wolverines.  

Michigan has to get Nebraska off the field with quick 3 and outs, which will wear down Nebraska's defense.  Running tempo isn't great, when you go 3 and out in one minute of football time.    Don Brown also can't be blitzing Martinez so much and must leave a guy to spy on him.   That means waiting at the LOS and then stopping him after a couple yard gain.  (too many times the spy does a late blitz up the middle and gets caught up in the wash and the QB runs for 20 yards)  Not having Hudson here for the first half is a killer.  

Michigan has to win this game by playing great defense, not making mistakes, and taking advantage of Nebraska's turnovers.   It would be nice if Don Brown can show he can stop a running QB and designs a defense that confuses the young QB.  The offense needs to pass to run and expect a lot of short routes.  Michigan has a significant advantage in their WR's vs. Nebraska's DB's.  The passing game will be open and Shea could have a big day if the line can protect him and Jimmy turns the damn page in the play book.   Keep a RB or TE in as an extra blocker.

This game might be an ugly one and the Wolverines could look really bad at times.   Michigan is at home and clearly the better team.     

Michigan 27 Nebraska 17