7B
TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com
find his open receivers early
in the game, enough to put up 21
points in the blink of an eye.
Martinez may not have the
weapons around him nor the
experience to do that on this stage.
But he has the skill.
Still, if Michigan’s defense
can avoid the over-aggression
that plagued it early against
Notre Dame, you have to like its
chances against a true freshman
quarterback in a new system at
Michigan Stadium.
(An aside: Martinez is going to
be a problem in the Big Ten for
the next few years. He’s brimming
with talent, and he’s in the right
place at the right time.)
Advantage: Michigan
Nebraska’s run offense vs.
Michigan’s defense
Some of this is covered in the
section above, but Nebraska’s
run
attack
is
multi-pronged.
There are lots of moving parts,
motioning, options and more.
Martinez orchestrates it all —
he will probably end the game
with the most carries, too — but
he’s certainly not alone in the
backfield.
After
being
ejected
for
targeting in the third quarter
last week, junior VIPER Khaleke
Hudson will have to sit for the first
half. Defending Martinez and all
those moving parts will be where
Michigan misses Hudson most.
In all likelihood, senior Jordan
Glasgow will slot into the VIPER
spot in Hudson’s absence.
There are three Cornhuskers
with at least 20 carries on the
year. Greg Bell and Maurice
Washington both average over 5.5
yards per carry. Devine Ozigbo,
who’s been less effective early this
season, will also figure into the
equation.
This is an offense predicated
on space and decision-making.
The space they have been able to
find, offering promising glimpes
of what the Scott Frost offense
could become in the years to come.
The deicision-making has lagged
behind, and it has led to some
expected mistakes this season.
The Cornhuskers have averaged
two more turnovers per game
than their opponents this season,
which is tied for 126th of 129,
nationally. For now, the mistakes
are going to be enough to hold
this offense back; the roster depth
is also not up to nearly where it
needs to be in the aftermath of the
Mike Riley era.
All that being said, this is
almost certainly not the caliber of
offense Michigan will see when
it plays Frost and Nebraska down
the line. For now, Michigan’s
(generally) stout run defense
holds the advantage.
Advantage: Michigan
Special Teams
Michigan’s
special
teams
remain a surprising team strength.
Sophomore kick returner Ambry
Thomas is still a threat to take
any kickoff to the endzone. Junior
punter Will Hart ranks sixth
in the nation in yards per punt,
averaging 50.1 yards per punt.
Both kickers are certifiably
iffy in this one. Quinn Nordin has
made two of his three field goal
attempts this season, Nebraska
kicker Barret Pickering has made
just two of four, none over 40
yards.
Frankly, if this game comes
down to special teams, things
have gone astray for Michigan.
Advantage: Michigan
Intangibles
How
about
this
for
an
intangible: Many Michigan fans
are convinced Scott Frost robbed
them of an undisputed national
championship
in
1997.
His
Nebraska team was ranked No. 2
in the nation, behind Michigan.
Both teams won their bowl games
— the Cornhuskers did so a bit
more convincingly against Peyton
Manning’s Tennessee team. After
the game, Frost (a quarterback for
Nebraska at the time) suddenly
turned into a politician.
“You know, if all the pollsters
honestly think, after watching
the Rose Bowl and watching the
Orange Bowl, that Michigan could
beat Nebraska, go ahead and vote
Michigan, by all means,” he said.
“Let me say this. Let me say this.
But I don’t think there’s anybody
out there that with a clear
conscience can say that Nebraska
and especially that (coach) Tom
Osborne, that great man, doesn’t
deserve a national championship
for this. At least a share.”
And so, a share it was. Michigan
topped the AP Poll, Nebraska
claimed the coaches poll. And
forever, Frost lives in Michigan
infamy.
But the history with Frost and
Michigan didn’t end there. In
2016, he told reporters he was
proud that his team had “outhit”
the Wolverines — this coming
after a 51-14 drubbing. He’s
thrown subtle jabs at Harbaugh’s
antics. Nebraska’s prodigal son,
Frost has even been crowned the
next Harbaugh.
Come gametime, it all might
mean nothing (for what it’s worth,
chatter this weak has remained
cordial). But let’s just say if it’s not
close, don’t expect Michigan to
ease off the pedal until the clock
hits 0:00.
Edge: Nebraska, I guess?
Prediction
This is one of those games that
probably shouldn’t be close, but
just might be anyway. Nebraska
comes in with nothing to lose and
everything to gain. For Michigan,
it’s vice versa. Those games are
inherently dangerous.
But it just seems highly unlikely
a 0-2 team starting a freshman
quarterback with iffy health wins
this game on the road.
Michigan 34, Nebraska 17
EVAN AARON/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines are looking to go 3-0 at Michigan Stadium this weekend with Michigan’s Big Ten opener against Nebraska (0-2) on Saturday before heading to Maryland next week.