Michigan Vs. Nebraska Preview
No. 17 Nebraska (8-2, 4-2 Big Ten) at No. 20 Michigan (8-2, 4-2), Noon (ESPN)
Line: Michigan by 3½.
Series Record: Michigan leads 3-2-1
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The winner will break a second-place tie in the Big Ten's Legends Division, which is led by Michigan State, and might have a chance to play in a BCS bowl. The Cornhuskers need to win twice and have the Spartans upset by Indiana or at Northwestern to have a shot at playing in the Big Ten championship game. The Wolverines must win twice and have their in-state rival lose two more games to earn a spot in the conference's first title game.
KEY MATCHUP
Michigan QB Denard Robinson vs. Nebraska's defense. The Cornhuskers have struggled against mobile quarterbacks and no one who takes snaps is more elusive than Robinson. He, however, has struggled to have consistent success this season under Brady Hoke after flourishing last year with Rich Rodriguez. Robinson has lost three fumbles and thrown two interceptions the past two games.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nebraska: RB Rex Burkhead. He is the first Nebraska running back to run for 1,000 yards in 10 games since 2001 when Dahrran Diedrick did it. Burkhead ran for 121 yards in last week's win at Penn State.
Michigan: RB Fitzgerald Toussaint. He set career highs with 27 rushing attempts for 192 yards in last week's win at Illinois, breaking his records in both categories for the second time in three weeks.
FACTS & FIGURES
Nebraska is playing its final road game before closing the regular season at home against Iowa. ... Michigan ends the regular season at the Big House against Nebraska and rival Ohio State. ... The Wolverines are the winningest program in college football, and the Cornhuskers rank fourth. ... Ex-Nebraska coach Bob Devaney, who grew up in Michigan and was a Michigan State assistant for Duffy Daugherty, got his first signature nearly five decades ago the last time the Cornhuskers played in Ann Arbor. ... Michigan beat the Cornhuskers in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl and lost to them in the 2005 Alamo Bowl.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
