Nebraska @ Michigan preview

THE STORY: With two games left on each team’s schedule, No. 16 Nebraska and No. 18 Michigan are primed for what is essentially an elimination game in the Big Ten Legends Division.

The Cornhuskers and Wolverines each sit one game behind No. 12 Michigan State, which faces lowly Indiana on Saturday. If the Spartans win, Michigan will be eliminated from the race while Nebraska can stay alive by winning in Ann Arbor.

A Michigan State loss would put the winner into a tie for a chance to play in the inaugural Big Ten championship game, with Nebraska benefiting the most from such a scenario since it owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Spartans.

One week after defeating Penn State, 17-14, amid the controversy that led to the firing of legendary Nittany Lion coach Joe Paterno, the Huskers will face a more conventional pressure – playing in front of the largest football venue in the country at Michigan Stadium.

Nebraska’s biggest challenge will likely be limiting the damage the Wolverines’ rushing attack can do against its marginal run defense, which is ranked eighth in the conference. Michigan ran for 223 yards in last week’s 31-14 win at Illinois.

Michigan leads the all-time series, 3-2-1, but will be facing Nebraska in the regular season for the first time since 1962.

TV: ESPN LINE: Michigan – 3

ABOUT NEBRASKA (8-2, 4-2 BIG TEN): RB Rex Burkhead is the first Nebraska running back since 2001 to top 1,000 yards rushing in 10 or fewer games. His 16 touchdowns leave him one short of becoming the seventh player in school history to score at least 17 in a single season.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (8-2, 4-2 BIG TEN): QB Denard Robinson left the Illinois game after spraining his right wrist in third quarter, but is expected to play. Although he is second in the conference in total offense, Robinson leads the conference with 13 interceptions, including at least one in five straight games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan and Nebraska are two of only eight programs with 800 all-time wins. The Wolverines rank first (892) while the Huskers are fourth (845).

2. Nebraska has the opportunity to win three games against ranked teams over a four-game stretch for the first time since 1999.

3. Michigan has lost five straight home games against ranked opponents by an average of 16.6 points.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 31, Michigan 27. This game should be decided by which dual-threat quarterback – Robinson and the Huskers’ Taylor Martinez – can be the most efficient passer. In what should be a highly-entertaining, back-and-forth affair, Nebraska escapes in a thriller.