Preview: Michigan vs. Nebraska
RUSH OFFENSE vs. NEBRASKA RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #4 in rushing with 250 yards per game. They’re slightly lower at #8 with 5.65 yards per carry. Running back Blake Corum has 1,187 yards on 199 attempts and has scored 16 total touchdowns. Backup Donovan Edwards has 41 carries for 324 yards over the past three weeks, including two 100-yard games. Last week’s performance was particularly impressive considering left tackle Ryan Hayes missed the game, left guard Trevor Keegan was hurt for part of the contest, and right tackle Trente Jones has been out for the past several weeks. Michigan’s dominance of Rutgers took place minus three starters up front. Nebraska, meanwhile, is #107 in rushing defense (182.9 yards allowed/game) and allows 4.51 yards per carry, which is #99. They have done better in recent weeks by tamping down explosive running games of Illinois and Minnesota (neither team has topped 4.0 yards/carry), but Minnesota was missing its starting quarterback, which allowed the Cornhuskers to focus on running back Mo Ibrahim. Junior middle linebacker Luke Reimer (6’1″, 225) leads the team with 67 tackles, but the second leading tackler, safety Myles Farmer, will miss the game due to disciplinary issues. Sophomore safety Marques Buford, Jr. (5’11”, 190) has 62 tackles and sophomore nickel Isaac Gifford (6’1″, 200) has 52, meaning three of the top four tacklers are in the secondary. Junior edge Garrett Nelson (6’4″, 245) is the most dangerous edge defender on the team with 45 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Advantage: Michigan
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