Michigan Football: 3 Reasons Wolverines will beat Nebraska
By Josh LaFond
After vaulting to #3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, will the Wolverines succumb to overconfidence, or will they take care of business against Nebraska?
Michigan football has managed to surpass already high expectations this season by starting out 9-0, rising to #3 in the college playoff rankings, and looking the part of a true national title contender.
Standing in their way this week? The 3-6 Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Despite the poor record, Nebraska looks much better under interim head coach Mickey Joseph who was a Husker legend as a player and returned this past offseason from LSU to join the coaching staff.
Joseph has been able to motivate these Huskers and get them to play with heart, with grit, and self-pride — something that Scott Frost never got out of his team as a whole.
With starting quarterback Casey Thompson injured, the reeling Huskers are turning to Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers — two backup quarterbacks who have had a hard time running the Nebraska offense in-game this season.
All of that being said, we are confident that Michigan football beats Nebraska this week. But what are our reasons for being so confident?
Let’s dive in.
Nebraska can’t stop the run
Let’s put this game in layman’s terms: Michigan football runs the ball at an elite level and Nebraska can’t stop the run to save their lives.
The Wolverines are ranked #4 overall nationally in rushing offense, averaging 5.65yds per carry, and 250yds per game. Nebraska on the other hand ranks 107th nationally in rushing defense, giving up 4.5yds per carry and 182.9yds per game.
Michigan should have no problem running on Nebraska, and we know what the Huskers will likely do because it’s what nearly every opponent this season has done: sell out to stop the run and make JJ McCarthy beat them through the air.
Bad news Nebraska fans: it doesn’t matter if the Huskers sell out to stop the run or not. Michigan will get its own when it comes to rushing, and if McCarthy needs to beat them through the air he’s more than capable of doing it.