Michigan Football: Nebraska at Michigan — Preview
Posted at 4:00pm — 11/8/2013
Michigan Football: Nebraska at Michigan — Preview
Freddy and Jason Meet Again
The Cornhusker at Michigan Match-up
Ugly is in the Eye of the Beholder
Two teams teetering toward the totter side meet when Michigan hosts Nebraska on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Michigan hit 134 year lows in the game last Saturday against Michigan State, looking like an NAIA team going against a Division One team. Nebraska threw the Hail Mary prayer against Northwestern and Our Lady of Good Fortune answered the call. Bo Pelini knows the luck that was involved, confessed to the good fortune, and is not going to give back the win.
Nov 2, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Damon Knox (93) tries to tackle Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner (98) during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium. Spartans beat the Wolverines 29-6. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY SportsIt has been a brutally tough season for both of these traditional powerhouses. Both sides of the ball, for both teams, have struggled. Things have appeared to be all over the place for both teams. And both head coaches have a new favorite word: consistency, which neither team has provided in any sufficient amount.
So, it looks like a potential Freddy versus Jason match-up. But as the title indicates, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Games like this are most difficult to predict because anything can happen. A beautiful, close game may evolve. A blow out of ugly, program shaking proportions could happen. Or both teams could stink the field up and one will win by luck or attrition.
Neither defense has lived up to expectations, not even close. Nebraska’s defense has struggled for years. Michigan’s defense was expected to improve, but not yet must be the obvious verdict.
Oct 26, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Ameer Abdullah (8) rushes with the ball in the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers won 34-23. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY SportsMichigan must guard against the edge against the fine running back, Ameer Abdullah. He can hit the edge fast and hard. The edge must be set and long gains must be avoided. If Abdullah can move the chains, the Husker strategy will be simple. The passing game depends on who is behind center. Martinez, if he does play, can get to the edge instantly. Watch the Michigan State game from last year and a viewer will see that he could get outside the Spartan defense by hitting the edge without the delay of read option.
Nebraska should have trouble stopping Michigan as well, assuming the Wolverines come to play. Nebraska’s win last week provides at least some motivation and emphasis to play hard. Michigan is at home and needs to make at least some type of improvement statement. It is November and time is running out.
Well, Freddy and Jason will go at it and we will all see.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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