Saturday College Football Nebraska @ Michigan Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Week 11 NCAA Football Spreads and Odds

Week 11 Free College Football Picks and Spreads: Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Michigan Wolverines 2011 NCAA Football Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on ESPN Saturday 11/19/11: A crucial battle in the Big Ten Leaders Division will take place Saturday afternoon when the 16th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-2) travel to Ann Arbor to face the 18th-ranked Michigan Wolverines (8-2). Nebraska was in the driver’s seat to reach the Big Ten Championship Game until an inexplicable loss to Northwestern. Now, the Cornhuskers have to win Saturday and hope Michigan State falters along the way. Meanwhile, the Wolverines need to win out and have the Spartans drop a couple of games in order to have a shot at the conference crown. Playing at home, Michigan is a 3 ½-point favorite.

In many ways, these two teams are mirror images of each other. Both offenses are powered by run-first quarterbacks and solid defenses. In a matchup of strength against strength, a low-scoring game could be in the works. Both defenses should be well prepared just from facing their own offenses in practice throughout the year. Normally, the option-based attack for both sides is able to surprise and confuse defenses. That won’t be the case Saturday when both units will be very familiar with the offensive system they are facing.

The quarterback that can take control of the game will give his team the upper hand. Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez and Michigan’s Denard Robinson both have the ability to put points on the board every time they touch the ball. Robinson has a slightly more explosive runner to date, piling up about 100 more yards and three more scores. The two are almost even when it comes to passing stats, although Martinez has thrown six fewer interceptions. In a game that could be decided by field position, Robinson’s carelessness with the football could come back to haunt the Wolverines.

For Nebraska, the X-factor could be running back Rex Burkhead. While Robinson is the Wolverines’ leading rusher, Burkhead holds the honor for the Cornhuskers. He has more than 1,000 yards and has scored 14 times, giving Martinez an adequate counterpart on offense. The Michigan offense lives and dies with Robinson, Nebraska can turn to Burkhead if Martinez is having an off day.

While the Wolverines may not have much depth on offense, they do have one of the top defensive units in the nation. Granted, the Cornhuskers are solid in their own right, but at 15.5 points per game, Michigan has a top-five defense nationally. In a game where both teams field a top-15 rushing attack, the Wolverines edge defensively could end up being the deciding factor.

In the end, this game will likely boil down to which quarterback can make the most big plays while avoiding the crucial mistakes. Although Robinson has struggled with interceptions at times, he has been the bigger playmaker with the ball in his hands. He has 25 total touchdowns compared to 19 from Martinez. Playing in Ann Arbor will be factor as well because the “Big House” remains one of the toughest places to play. The Cornhuskers failed miserably in their first road test in the Big Ten, getting destroyed in Wisconsin. The Wolverines don’t have an offense capable of piling up as many points as the Badgers, but Robinson can make enough plays to help the Wolverines come away with a win.

Prediction: Michigan Wolverines (-3 ½) Cover the Spread

Free College Football Picks and NCAAF Predictions: Michigan -3.5 to cover the spread

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