Post-Game Notebook: Nebraska - Destruction Central

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Post-Game Notebook: Nebraska

Preview: Michigan vs. Nebraska - Stop The Petteway

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Preview: Michigan vs. Nebraska

Post-Game Notebook: Michigan vs. Nebraska - Derrick Walton Gets Crazy Half Court Heave

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Post-Game Notebook: Michigan vs. Nebraska

Preview: Michigan vs. Nebraska - Can The Wolverines Stop Petteway

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Preview: Michigan vs. Nebraska

The Hypocrisy Of The Big Ten

A lot has been made of the Big Ten Championship game and its role for the conference both now and the future.  When Nebraska was originally added to the Big Ten and the conference applied for the right to host a conference championship game, it was supposed to be a positive for the conference.  Not only would it give the conference another high-profile game, but it was a great way to showcase the league's best teams in the last week before the bowl selections.

However, this concept has completely gone out the window during the past two seasons.  Everyone was aware that the conference championship game could give the Big Ten title to an undeserving team.  As much as people believe Wisconsin was the best team in the conference last season, MSU (7-1) not only had a better record than Wisconsin (6-2), but they also beat the Badgers in head-to-head play.  As much as it probably pains people to admit, MSU was probably more deserving than Wisconsin for the Big Ten title last season.  Unfortunately for the Spartans, the new conference championship game opted to award Wisconsin because they won the only game that mattered, the one in Indianapolis.

Week 3 Big Ten Update

I'm going to be starting a new recurring post on the blog updating the Big Ten on a regular basis.  Most fans are able to keep up with Michigan and maybe a couple of the other top teams like Indiana, Ohio State, and MSU, but a lot can get lost in between.  As a result, I'm going to post on a weekly basis (hopefully) to keep everyone updated on what's going on around the Big Ten.  Mainly, I'm going to address some of the main events, where the teams stand, and analyze what that means for the conference and Michigan.

I will start with the obvious, the rankings.  Not a lot changed in the most recent set of rankings.  The Big Ten currently has three teams in the Top 5, four in the Top 25, and two teams that are currently receiving votes (#26 & #27).  That is extremely impressive for one conference, especially at the top end.  So far, none of the ranked Big Ten teams has lost since the new set of rankings and only one of the teams receiving votes lost (Minnesota to Duke).  This basically means that the ranking position of the Big Ten teams will largely remain the same.  MSU and Wisconsin might be able to move up with some help, but most of the things will be the same, for now.

Compiled 2012-2013 Big Ten Predictions

Every season comes with a flurry of predictions and rankings and this year is no different.  Right now, the best conference in college basketball is the Big Ten and they have received their fair share of preseason rankings and hype.  Well, everybody wants to know the team that will reign victorious at the end of the season.  It's a difficult challenge, but I'm going to be attempting to predict the Big Ten.  I will undoubtedly be wrong by the end of the season, but here's my best guess:

 Nebraska Cornhuskers--(12th in B1G) This team is going to be horrible.  I'm sorry I have to say it, but it's going to be true.  Will they be horrible by national standards?  No, but they are going to be pummeled by the Big Ten.  The Cornhuskers finished in last place at the end of last year and they've taken significant steps backward from that team.  They not only lost their best players, but they also fired their head coach.  I wouldn't call this a trainwreck because Nebraska is still adjusting to the major challenge of Big Ten basketball, but this is not going to be a pretty year for Nebraska.

 Penn State Nittany Lions--(11th in B1G) This is a team that I think has a chance to develop into a semi decent squad in the coming years.  They are a long way from vying for a Big Ten title, but they have a few pieces to help them get back to respectability.  Point guard Tim Frazier will lead the way again and he should have another big year.  They have a few decent pieces and recruits that should help him out and I definitely like the coaching that has occurred with the Nittany Lions.  They are a team that keeps fighting until the finish and I think they might have a chance at being the Iowa of last season.  Still a doormat to most of the big teams, but they might get an upset here or there.

Recapping: Nebraska

It was another week of pure frustration for the Michigan offense as they failed yet again to score a touchdown against a mediocre defense.

The past two weeks have been almost identical stories. The offense does absolutely nothing, while the defense holds its ground and does a great job of keeping the Wolverines in the game. However, this week, the offense was without QB Denard Robinson for most of the game.

Robinson re-aggravated a nerve in his throwing arm and was unable to grip the ball. That left a heavy load on backup Russell Bellomy, who had not seen significant game time up to that point.

To say the least, Bellomy was unimpressive, and it was a clear reality check as to how much Denard Robinson mean to the Michigan offense.

Before being knocked out of the game, Robinson was 6/11 passing with 55 yards. Impressively, he took some shots down field and kept the safeties honest enough to open up his game on the ground. Robinson was taken out on a rush to the left side inside the 10 yard line. When he cut back, it didn't look like he was harder than usual, but he landed on the arm just right and aggravated that nerve.

Bellomy took over on first and goal but was unable to punch into the endzone. Nebraska's defense seized the opportunity to feast on the inexperienced redshirt freshman and did so all night.

He finished the night just 3/16 passing for 38 yards and 3 INTs, one of which being in the endzone. What I noticed about Bellomy was the lack of accuracy. When he sets his feet, he has the arm strength to throw the ball deep, but accuracy was a serious issue.

Fitzgerald Toussaint continued his campaign of being a non-factor against the Cornhusker defense with 38 yards on 15 carries. He's been getting his shots the last couple of weeks but can't cash them in. I was also surprised to not see Thomas Rawls. I don't want to speculate, but that was the second straight week without Rawls, and it was the second straight week without a touchdown.

Defensively, giving up 23 points to Nebraska is not a bad day. They picked off Martinez once and forced another turnover on a fumble.

The thing that continues to impress me with the defense is their ability to rise to the occasion. By that, I mean: when 3rd and short comes, you can count on a stop. You can expect a goal line stand. It's those plays that kept Michigan in the game, until late, once again.

The ability to get in the backfield has also impressed me. Jake Ryan and Craig Roh stand out the most to me. Both are extremely explosive and don't miss their tackles. Not to mention, the mere image of Jake Ryan has to give opponents nightmares.


Tyler's Prediction Record: 7-1. Yes, my first loss.

Preview And Prediction: Nebraska

No game to this point of the season has had as big of an impact as we are about to witness in Lincoln, Nebraska. This game has major bowl implications, as the winner puts itself in prime position to play for the Big Ten Championship and compete for a spot in the Rose Bowl.

The Cornhuskers have one loss in conference play right now and will be looking to add a blemish to Michigan's perfect conference mark.

Here are the keys to the game.

Michigan

The Wolverines are looking very strong heading into this key match up, especially on defense, allowing less than 10 points per game against conference foes. Taylor Martinez and company will bring a lot to the table to challenge that.

1. Score Early

Yes, last week was the biggest win of the season for Michigan. But it was all field goals, and that's not very mainstream for a team featuring a player like Denard Robinson. My suggestion: learn the hipster ways and go against the flow of last week.

Touchdowns!

Plural.

And they need to come early. Our Wolverines are a second half team, but that doesn't mean we need to consistently throw unhealthy amounts of stress on fans and coaches. Scoring early will take that weight off the chest and allow this offense to really open back up against a less-than-average Nebraska defense.

2. Focus On Martinez

First of all, this should be a key to the game for any team that has to line up on the other side of Taylor Martinez. Let's get that out of the way. Second of all, it will be especially important this week because RB Rex Burkhead is questionable right now. So you have to assume that, even if he sees time on the field, he won't be 100%.

Through the past couple of weeks, the Michigan defense has done an exceptional job of keying on the X-factor. Against Illinois, it was Nathan Scheelhaase. Last week against Michigan State, it was Le'Veon Bell. Now the threatening eyes of Jake Ryan and Jordan Kovacs need to turn their attention to Taylor Martinez.

Stop Martinez; stop Nebraska.

Nebraska

The Cornhuskers desperately need a win over Michigan in order to establish some confidence heading forward. If it were to all end today, Michigan would represent the Legends Division in Indianapolis, and Nebraska would wait at home to be selected by a bowl.

1. Limit Big Plays

When I say "big plays" I'm not necessarily talking about an 80-yard pass for a touchdown. I'm talking about the third down conversions and the sacks and big punt returns and so on. The plays that swing momentum before the score.

It's been a trademark of this football team under Brady Hoke to constantly come up with a timely anything that drastically changed the course of the game. For the Wolverines, those plays usually come on the defensive end, but we've seen it both ways.

If you allow the Wolverines to consistently make big plays, you take the crowd right out of the factor, and that's your first advantage as the home team!

2. Use Ameer Abdullah

I don't know about any of you, but I certainly wouldn't want to guide a one-headed monster against the Michigan defense. I'm trusting Bo Pelini feels the same way. That meaning -- use the weapons around Taylor Martinez to attack what is arguably the best defense in the Big Ten.

As I mentioned above, Rex Burkhead is questionable. Big hit for the Cornhuskers. But they have this one RB named Ameer Abdullah, and he's having a nice season for Nebraska. With 615 rushing yards, Abdullah leads the Cornhuskers in that category, and he needs to be an outlet for Martinez in this game.

Prediction

I was surprised to see Michigan labeled an underdog in this one. Fortunately, I'm a little more sane in my thinking. I'll take the Maize and Blue, 24-14. Remember, I'm perfect so far.

Week 9 Notes and Predictions

Wow, there's only 5 weeks left of regular season college football. It always seems like the season passes by so much faster than we all want it to. No. 20 Michigan is traveling to Lincoln, Nebraska for the first time since 1911 (They've played each other bowls, but not in Lincoln since then). What makes the game even more tricky is the fact that it's going to be a night game. I have no issue with it being at night and it wasn't possible to foresee, but the Tigers will be hosting the Giants in Game 3 of the World Series in Detroit. How am I supposed to watch both games at the same time? The Tigers are down 2-0, but still...the momentum can still swing in Detroit's favor.

Anyway, undefeated Ohio State and banged up Braxton Miller are going to State College to play the surprisingly decent Penn State. Indiana is going to Illinois in a match-up of the Leaders Division Toilet Bowl. Michigan State will try to right the ship against Wisconsin--which will be no easy task...Wisconsin's offense is on a roll again. All of the Big Ten teams are playing this week, but not all of the teams have had their bye week yet. Northwestern will have theirs next week, and then OSU and MSU will have theirs the week after that with two games to go. Onto what this week will bring us:

Nebraska Players To Watch

There are 5 games left in the 2012 regular season, and Michigan still controls their own destiny. They had a great win over Michigan State last week, but to continue further in their quest for the Big Ten title, they must not overlook Nebraska. Both teams enter the game with an overall record of 5-2, however the difference being is that Michigan is undefeated in the Big Ten, and Nebraska is not.

Michigan has a stretch of all Big Ten Legends opponents that began with Michigan State, and now they need to beat Nebraska to fully harness control of the division. Not only does Taylor Martinez possess the highest passer rating in the Big Ten, but Nebraska also leads in points per game, 4th in passing yards per game, 2nd in rushing yards, and first in sacks. Needless to say they're a prolific offense with an opportunistic defense, and they hope to avenge last years 45-17 loss in the Big House. Here's a few players to look out for:

Week 5 AP/Big Ten Rankings

Week 5 AP rankings are out, and it shows that yesterday was a big one in college football. Geno Smith and West Virginia survived a shootout against Baylor, racking up over 1,500 yards between the two teams. Smith passed for almost 700 yards and 8 TDs, practically vaulting himself into the front spot of the Heisman trophy race. Louisville survived in a torrential downpour against Southern Mississippi. LSU looked to be quite mortal against the Towson Tigers in a game that the score was a lot closer than just 38-22.

Ohio State shut down Michigan State's vaunted running game, and following the loss against Ohio State, State's defensive coordinator, Pat Narduzzi, made complaints concerning "doctored" game tape from Meyer. Northwestern improved to 5-0, while Minnesota came in undefeated and were exposed against Iowa. Purdue gave up a lot of points against Marshall while Illinois was blown out again versus Penn State, probably giving them the title of worst in the Big Ten next to Indiana. Nebraska had their biggest comeback ever against Wisconsin, setting Wisconsin back to 3-2 on the season. Here's the poll:

Week 5 Notes And Predictions

This Saturday marks the bye week for Michigan. Michigan will be the only Big Ten school on a bye this week as the rest open up the conference game schedule. College Gameday is making their stop this Saturday in East Lansing, where the Buckeyes are going to take on the Spartans at home. Obviously, that makes it the premiere Big Ten matchup of the week. That being said, don't overlook the Wisconsin-Nebraska game, which should be a close game between two teams, one on the way up in Nebraska, and the other one on the way down in Wisconsin. Both teams are currently 3-1 and looking for a signature win in conference play. Here's a taste of each game:

Week 4 Rankings--The Fall of the B1G Ten?

College football is an amazing sport. Where else can you find all these men playing a violent game on scholarships? Or even those players without free rides trying to make the team? They don't get paid for the millions of dollars of revenue they produce for their schools. They don't get paid money for merchandise that carries their name on it. Sure, the usual argument is that the scholarship alone is worth enough money for that player and the players say they can't hold jobs or have time for a job, much less order a pizza.

Yesterday showed us that even among scholarship players, blue chippers and huge programs alike....that even the mightiest can fall. It was widely joked about yesterday as to the state of the Big Ten, and rightfully so. Ohio State was sluggish against UAB and nearly completely overlooked them. It wasn't until the end of the 2nd half that the Buckeyes put some touchdowns on the board, and even then didn't score in the 3rd. The scary part is that while the Buckeyes are still undefeated, UAB came into the contest winless, and never backed down. Michigan State struggled mightily against Eastern until the 4th quarter where it appeared as though the Eagles threw in the towel on some assignments (also bad 3rd down playcalling sunk the offense) and Bell ended up having a career day with 253 rushing yards. Iowa lost to Central Michigan 32-31 with 3 seconds to go...on the leg of a non-scholarship walk-on 3rd string kicker. Kinnick Stadium won't be the same for a while. Louisiana Tech completely blew out Illinois on a turnover filled night.

Week 4 Game Notes With Reactions To Rich Rod's Michigan Comments

1. To state that Michigan needs this win over Notre Dame is an understatement, and for multiple reasons. First, Michigan needs to win to put themselves back into the top 15. Currently, there are no Big Ten teams ranked in the top 15 for the first time in 11 years, and OSU along with MSU were the last teams holding onto the distinction. Secondly, and most importantly, it would put Michigan in good position for a BCS bowl. They are obviously out of the national title picture, but the Rose Bowl/Big Ten Championship or another BCS bowl is still within their grasp. By beating Notre Dame, that'll strengthen their quality of opponent factor and push them back into the top 15, and maybe even the 11 or 12 spot. Can they move back into the top 10? Probably not after this week, but give it time and win out from here.

2. We all know by now about Shane Morris and his case of mononucleosis. One thing that wasn't touched on was the fact that if he is out for the whole season, then more than likely he will lose that coveted 5* ranking. When that happens, and it's happened before, then Michigan's recruiting rankings will go down in points as well. Even with the possibility of getting Laquon Treadwell  in Ann Arbor, I don't think Michigan will overtake USC now in terms of the number 1 spot in overall points. In the end, it's all semantics anyway.

Michigan and Big Ten Rankings Review--Week 3

The AP rankings of Week 3 are out. It was a hectic couple days of college football. USC lost to Stanford for the 4th straight year, leaving any chance of the national championship on the doorstep. That's not to say USC is a bad team; they're just not as invincible as the preseason analysts made them out to be over the summer. Florida State is looking like a powerhouse team again, reminiscent of the Seminole's teams from the 90s. Notre Dame thoroughly beat the Spartans, breaking their 14-game home winning streak. Even though the Tennessee Vols have improved, they showed they still have a long way to go in their loss against Florida. Wisconsin needed the whole game to put away Utah State, and of course Indiana lost to Ball State.

All in all it was a decent weekend for Big Ten teams, with only Indiana and Michigan State losing their respective games. Yet, Michigan blew out UMass 63-13, and still ended up dropping one spot in the polls. This is where the fallacy of the strength of schedule comes into play. Remember last week when then No. 6 FSU played Savannah St, were up 55-0 in the 3rd when lightning stopped the game? They were moved to the 5 spot after that. Up one spot after beating a team that is far behind even UMass, and they gained a spot. However, Michigan moved down a spot. Needless to say...I'm not happy. Here's the rest of the polls:

Michigan & Big Ten Rankings Review--Week 2--Always About The "W"

The new rankings are out, and there has been quite an upheaval after week 2. Arkansas plummeted out of the Top 25 completely after losing their starting quarterback, and then losing to Louisiana-Monroe. History says it's the second biggest drop next to Appalachian State beating Michigan. Wisconsin is out after losing a tough battle against Oregon St, which then prompted them to fire their offensive coordinator after only 2 games, and Montee Ball probably lost hope of being a Heisman finalist. Nebraska is out after a scorefest with UCLA. And painfully, Oklahoma St is out after losing badly to a RichRod coached Arizona, which after losing Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon, is understandable. So here's more tidbits on the new rankings:

AP Top 25
1) Alabama--The "33rd NFL team" holds onto this distinction for the 2nd straight week, and will be there for more 
2) USC--Even with Barkley throwing for 6 TDs, the defense still allowed 21 points from Syracuse. There are some major concerns for the former "best" team in America
3) LSU--Les Miles and Co. should have taken the 2nd spot after dismantling Washington 41-3
4) Oregon--The way Oregon runs the ball is sickeningly good. Won't be surprised if a Heisman finalist appears from this team. 
5) Oklahoma

Michigan & Big Ten Rankings Review--Week 1

Week 1 of 2012 is in the books. There were highlights and lowlights from pretty much every single game. The first week always takes longer, since it was spread out over the course of 5 days until the NFL regular season arrives. South Carolina was there in the beginning, winning a close one over Vanderbilt, and we ended with Virginia Tech winning in overtime against Georgia Tech.  Whoever said the first week everyone played cupcake teams? Even Texas State beating Houston somehow received national attention. Dennis Franchione somehow got a No.16 vote from a voter for that win. The new rankings were released this afternoon (typically on Sunday evening any other week) and I'm giving my two cents worth...if that's cheap enough.

1. Alabama--It's no surprise the Tide were bumped up to the No.1 spot. They completely handled Michigan from start to finish to win 41-14. Rolling up over 400 yds of offense, particularly on the ground, while shutting down Michigan's offense earns them this spot.
2. USC--USC lost the No.1 spot mostly due to they played Hawaii, not Michigan. Barkley looked every bit of a Heisman candidate and Lee caught 10 balls for almost 200 yards. Dominant yes, but not Alabama
3. LSU
4. Oregon
5. Oklahoma--completely overrated in this spot. They did not look clean and smooth and make several mental errors. Missed field goals by UTEP make the score look further out of reach than it really was.

Breaking Down Michigan's 2012 Big Ten Schedule

Every season has its twists and turns.  Whether its new players, coaches, or stadiums, there are always some interesting changes.  One thing that typically stays the same, however, is conference play.  Yes, there are always some variations, such as location and timing, but for the most part, the teams on the slate are pretty similar, if not identical on a yearly basis.  With the Big Ten's new format, things have become even more interesting.  Not just because there are now more teams competing for the conference championship, but also because of the new division layout and more complex scheduling.

The reason the division layout and scheduling have become so important is because of the way the Big Ten has divided the teams.  This may seem obvious, but it's important to note how this process has occurred and the impact of the change.  Since the Big Ten has attempted to divide the conference based on long-term winning percentage, it has effectively separated the good and the bad teams.  On average, there should be two really good teams, two average teams, and two bad teams in each division.  In the long run, this will probably be true, but that's not always how it works out, especially when we're analyzing just one year.

Previewing Big Ten Football: Nebraska

Nebraska football is back for its second season in the B1G Ten. Their first season was productive, yet largely disappointing and forgettable. Nebraska was supposed to show the same brand of football that we in the B1G Ten respect and are comfortable with. They came from the Big 12 where offenses reign, and defenses are porous across the league. For the most part, the offense played well last year, and the defense stuck in there, but both units faded in the end.



2011 Record: 9-4, 5-3 Big Ten

Returning Starters: Offense – 7, Defense – 7


Bo Pelini is back for his 5th season as head coach for the Cornhuskers. With a career record of 39-16, his win-loss percentage is nothing to sneeze at (.709). However, with Tom Osborne as his boss, there are questions if that's good enough. They started out well last season, going 4-0 in non-conference play before their first B1G Ten matchup vs. Wisconsin. They played well to begin with, then ended up being blown out 49-14 by the eventual conference champions. Surprising wins against OSU (largest comeback in school history) and MSU followed. Fit in a blowout by our Michigan Wolverines in there as well as a loss vs. South Carolina in the Capitol One Bowl and what does all that tell us? Nebraska seemed like a Jekyll and Hyde team. Seemingly gone is the dominating defense for which they have been know for in the past. Will Osborne use the hook on Pelini if things don't go perfect this season? We'll wait and see.