For the second time this season, Michigan football will go on the road for a national TV game against a team desperate for a big win.
Oklahoma needed to beat Michigan. Brent Venables needed it to avoid being on the hot seat. As happy as Nebraska fans are about Matt Rhule's 3-0 start, that tune would change quickly if the Wolverines beat the Huskers on Saturday.
Michigan is the favorite. The environment will be challenging. Nebraska is a good team, too. The Huskers aren't Oklahoma, though, especially on the defensive line. They do have a potential superstar at quarterback, though.
Winning this game won't be easy. It will take disrupting Raiola, running the ball, and getting Bryce Underwood going in a way the Wolverines didn't against the Sooners. With all that in mind, here are three reasons why Michigan will get a massive road win on Saturday over Nebraska.
Nebraska's run defense
Through three games, Nebraska has struggled to stop the run. Cincinnati ran for over 200 yards, with quarterback Brendan Sorsby rushing for 96 yards on 13 attempts. The Bearcats had two running backs average more than five yards per attempt.
Each starting running back that has faced Nebraska this season has averaged more than five yards per rushing attempt. Nebraska is allowing four yards per rush attempt. The Huskers also surrender 136 yards per game.
Surely, their QB run defense will be better than Week 1. Many of those runs were about breaking contain (undesigned) which is what Bryce did last week. Most of his runs against Central Michigan were not called run plays.
Bryce needs to run the ball when it is designed and not designed. Justice Haynes, the leading rusher in the Big Ten, also needs to take advantage of an average run defense, as well as a defensive line that doesn't have a single player over 300 pounds.
Michigan football should have the edge on the ground. Expect extra offensive lineman, tight ends, and lots of Max Bredeson.