#21 ranked Michigan heads to Lincoln to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in what some people around here are calling the biggest game in the last 10 years of this program.
The 3-0 Huskers battled their way through the Cincinnati Bearcats and have shown no mercy against their non-power four opponents, winning by a combined score of 127-7 against Akron and Houston Christian.
That level of domination is something that the Huskers have not shown in recent years against lesser opponents, it is clear and obvious that “Matt Rhule Year Three” is taking its effect and it couldn’t have been set up more perfectly for the Huskers.
The Michigan Wolverines are much different opponents from Cincinnati, Akron and Houston Christian, we know that, but Nebraska will compete in this game and potentially make it difficult for interim head coach Biff Poggi, who is coaching his second and last game for the Wolverines in place of the suspended Sherrone Moore.
The Wolverines are no stranger to loud and rowdy crowds this season, as they lost on the road to Oklahoma on September 6th, but even in a loss, it was a crucial step for the development of their young, five star true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Although Underwood struggled against the Sooners, completing just 37.5% of his passes for 142 yards, a large part of that was due to the gameplan the Wolverines were trying to implement.
The Wolverines tried to make Underwood a pocket passer, taking away the best trait from the young quarterback, his legs.
When Underwood is outside the pocket, he can make throws and that is going to have to be a key focus for first year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay and that offensive staff.
Key #1: Stop the run:
One of the Huskers biggest concerns this weekend is going to be slowing down this Michigan ground attack, which is led by junior Justice Haynes and sophomore Jordan Marshall.
With Haynes averaging 7.9 yards per carry and the Wolverines as a team averaging 6.1 per carry, the blackshirts 80th ranked run defense will have to scheme up a gameplan to try and slow down the Wolverines and the Huskers have the talent to do so.
Defensive coordinator John Butler should have enough trust in his secondary to play man across the field, allowing the opportunity to drop safety DeShon Singleton and utilize cornerback Andrew Marshall in run defense, a good trait from the junior corner.
Expect Underwood to play a key role offensively with his legs, it was implemented last week for the Wolverines against Central Michigan and Underwood thrived, rushing for 114 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.
Key #2: Dylan Raiola:
If Nebraska wants to snap their losing streak against ranked opponents (0-27 since 2016), then Dylan Raiola is going to have to play his best game yet as a Husker.
Raiola isn’t being respected on a national level like he should, he’s thrown for 829 yards to go along with an 8:0 touchdown/interception ratio, but that is being heavily overshadowed by the level of opponents that the Huskers have faced in recent weeks.
With weapons like Dane Key, Nyziah Hunter and Jacory Barney Jr on the outside for offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, expect the Huskers to rely heavily on Raiola to make big throws on big downs to keep the chains moving for this Husker offense.
Nebraska really likes their matchup at receiver against the Wolverines secondary.
Key #3: The environment:
It is no secret that Memorial Stadium on Saturday will be one of the loudest places to play in all of college football, this fanbase has been waiting so long for a moment of joy, a big win and good national relevance and the crowd has the chance to make a big impact on this game.
We’ve all seen games where the crowd is so loud that it forces the offense into a shell of presnap penalties and miscommunication and if Husker fans had to choose a game to pour their heart and lungs into, this is the game.
It will be key for the Huskers to not come out flat in this game, establish some offensive momentum and make big plays on defense to keep this crowd loud.
It certainly helps to have the 1995 National Championship team being honored on Saturday.
Prediction:
This might just be the definition of a “coin-flip” type of game, the Wolverines are slight 1.5 point favorites, but this line could very well shift towards the Huskers favor by kickoff.
It’s time to see if the Huskers can play a full 60 minutes and come out victorious, which in return would be monumental for a program that is yearning for a revival.
I see this being a very tight game through all four quarters, which in some ways will benefit the Wolverines, especially if their offense is in a position where they can do what they want to do, which is run the football.
Everyone around this program and around the country knows how big a win would be for Nebraska, the players know it and coach Rhule knows it.
Everything Nebraska has been doing, whether it is on or off the field, has set them up to explode, they just need a big, ranked victory to make it happen and I think that us Husker fans are going to be very happy with the end result.
Nebraska: 27 Michigan 23