The Wolverine Now

man, senior Brett Maher, handling both field goals and punts, Nebraska ranks among the Big Ten's best in both catego- ries. The Cornhuskers also sit fifth in kickoff returns (21.6-yard average) and third in punt returns (12.8-yard average), and Ne- braska is one of four teams in the league to return a punt for a score this season. Player To Watch — Senior placekicker Brett Maher: A favorite for the Lou Groza Offense Points Per Game First Downs Rushing Yards/Game Rushing Attempts Rushing Yards Passing Yards/Game Passing Attempts Average Yards Per Rush Passing Yards Third-Down Conversions Third-Down Conv. Percent Fourth-Down Conversions Fourth-Down Conv. Percent Average Yards Per Game Average Kickoff Return Average Punt Return Average Yards/Catch Total Yards SCOUTING NEBRASKA'S SPECIAL TEAMS Special Teams Overview — With one Award (nation's top kicker), Maher may not have enough field goal opportunities to impress voters — but he's accurate, con- necting on 9 of 13 (69.2 percent) this sea- son and 28 of 36 (77.8 percent) over the past two seasons, with longs of 51 yards this year and 54 yards for his career. Maher is also Nebraska's punter, and has averaged 43.7 yards on 87 punts from 2011-12. Key Matchup — After allowing more than 31 yards per kick return the first three INSIDE THE NUMBERS (2012 STATISTICS) U-M NU 47-95 41-91 49% 45% 3-4 2-3 1279 1634 182.7 233.4 163 190 15.0 12.9 2837 3587 405.3 512.4 22.4 21.6 13.4 12.8 75% 67% 1558 1953 222.6 279.0 281 328 5.5 6.0 30.7 41.6 132 176 Average Yards/Game Allowed Average Kickoff Return Allowed Average Punt Return Allowed Third-Down Conversions Third-Down Conv. Percent Fourth-Down Conversions Fourth-Down Conv. Percent Passing Yards Allowed/Game Opponent Passing Attempts Average Yards/Catch Allowed Total Yards Allowed Score By Quarters 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Total Avg. U-M NU 38 76 59 42 — 215 30.7 97 72 68 54 — 291 41.6 Class Breakdowns (2012 Two-Deep) .. Sr. U-M Offense .......................................................8 U-M Defense .......................................................5 U-M Specialists ..................................................1 U-M Totals .............................................14 23 10 10 NU Offense ..........................................................9 NU Defense ........................................................13 NU Specialists ....................................................3 Jr. So. Fr. 8 8 7 3 6 1 NU Totals ..............................................25 20 17 12 14 6 0 7 5 5 5 6 1 6 3 1 Rushing Yards Allowed/Game Opponent Rushing Attempts Average Yards/Rushing Attempt Passing Yards Allowed Points Allowed Per Game First Downs Allowed Rushing Yards Allowed Defense weeks, Nebraska changed its strategy, us- ing high-arcing, shorter kicks to allow its coverage team to swarm to the football. This has created decent field position for NU's opponents but has canceled the big- play potential. If the Huskers employ this approach, it might be interesting if U-M again uses Denard Robinson in a role on kickoffs in the middle ground between the return man and the first line of blockers. — Michael Spath 1001 1325 143.0 189.3 274 296 3.7 4.5 U-M NU 16.4 27.7 113 128 35-99 38-110 35% 35% 4-10 4-11 40% 36% 142.3 170.4 174 211 10.2 11.5 1997 2518 285.3 359.7 20.6 23.4 6.3 13.9 996 1193 Turnover Margin Gained Lost +/- U-M NU 11 9 14 18 Want More Michigan Stats And News? Visit Us Online On The Rivals.com Network at THEWOLVERINE.COM THE WOLVERINE • PAGE 3 -3 -9 Date Sept. 1 Sept. 8 2012 NEBRASKA SCHEDULE Opponent Sept. 15 Arkansas State Sept. 22 Idaho State Sept. 29 Wisconsin Oct. 6 Southern Miss at UCLA Nov. 10 Penn State Nov. 17 Minnesota Nov. 23 at Iowa Oct. 20 at Northwestern Oct. 27 Michigan Nov. 3 at Ohio State at Michigan State Time/Result W, 49-20 L, 36-30 W, 42-13 W, 73-7 W, 30-27 L, 63-38 W, 29-28 8 p.m. TBA TBA TBA Noon its opponents in the first quarter, but it's the second half that has come to the Cornhuskers' rescue in two of its last three victories. Overall, NU has outscored its foes 122-81 coming out of the locker room, rallying to wins over Wisconsin and Northwestern with 33 combined unanswered points to end those contests. Michigan must keep its foot on the gas pedal, and win the third and fourth quarters to best Nebraska. Stop settling for field goals: Facing the Big Ten's top scoring team, KEYS FOR MICHIGAN Don't let up: Nebraska holds a distinct 97-42 scoring advantage over Michigan cannot leave the red zone with just three points on the board like it has too often this year. U-M has converted 23 of 26 red-zone oppor- tunities, but has punched it in for only 14 touchdowns, leaving 36 poten- tial points off the board. The Maize and Blue failed to score a touchdown in any of their five red-zone chances against Notre Dame, and made just two field goals, in losing 13-6 to the Fighting Irish. This weekend's game should not be low scoring, but every point will still matter. Anything you can do, I can do better: Michigan's Denard Robinson and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez are two of the country's top dual-threat quarterbacks, with Robinson ranking 14th nationally in total offense with 309.1 yards per game and Martinez sitting 22nd with 288.3 yards per game. Martinez has been the better passer, but Robinson is the more dangerous runner. Though these two will never be on the field at the same time Saturday, the one that accounts for a greater number of yards, touchdowns and big plays will lead his team to victory. In a game of mano-a-mano, U-M needs its stud to prevail. Prediction: Michigan's defense is peaking at the right time because the Wolverines will face off with a Nebraska offensive attack that is the Big Ten's best and hasn't been slowed this year. The Wolverines' offense, meanwhile, is coming off a subpar performance, but it won't face another opponent like Michigan State. U-M needs to keep the Cornhuskers from reaching 30 points, and will, taking a stranglehold of the Legends Division race. Score: Michigan 34, Nebraska 24. — Michael Spath

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