Game 5: #20 Nebraska at #13 Michigan

If you missed the introduction post about the Playoff, no problem! Read it here: http://short-sideoption.blogspot.com/2012/02/ok-cowboy-cardinal-and-duck-fans-this.html

Game 5 of the virtual College Football Playoff is coming up, but first here are the reality bites:

Temple has a rumored invite to the new MWC/CUSA merged super conference; but it sounds like Temple officials are still hopeful for a Big East invite.  Read about it here:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/temple/20120215_Temple_still_could_be_an_option_in_Big_East_expansion.html

4 TCU football players were arrested in Fort Worth as part of drug ring. What makes this worse is that one of those arrested, prominent linebacker Tanner Brock, is also the room mate of starting QB Casey Pachell.  Brock is also quoted as saying that he wasn’t worried because “there would be about 60 people being screwed.” This comes after Brock allegedly looked over the TCU roster and said that there were only about 20 players on it who could pass a drug test.  Trouble in Fort Worth.  Read about it here: http://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/7577881/tcu-horned-frogs-football-players-arrested-drug-sweep   

Now on to the playoff:

Game 5:  #20 Nebraska at #13 Michigan

December 17, 2011

Kickoff:  6:00 pm

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Weather: 31 degrees, clear, 3 mph wind

EA Sports Ratings:        Nebraska, Overall: A-, Offense: B+, Defense: A-

                                        Michigan, Overall: A-, Offense: A-, Defense: B+

This is a rematch from November 19^th, 2011 when Michigan routed Nebraska 45-17.  Rematches are inevitable in a playoff format, especially playoffs that include this many teams.  Nebraska’s defense has struggled in their first Big 10 season, but it didn’t get any easier when All-American tackle Jared Crick went out in game 2 with a torn pectoral.  Michigan has been a pleasant surprise to the Big 10 regaining some of that swagger from old.  Yes, rematches happen; but what better a rematch to watch than two storied programs like Nebraska and Michigan in a playoff setting.

1^st Quarter:

            -Nebraska takes the ball first and scores with a 28 yard TD pass from

             Taylor Martinez to Kenny Bell.                                                                                     (7-0 Nebraska)

            -The teams trade a few punts back and forth before Michigan gets on the

              board with a 26 yard TD pass from Denard Robinson to Roy Roundtree.              (7-7 Tied)

2^nd Quarter:

            -The defenses continue to have the advantage as the offenses both struggle

             to move the ball, Michigan breaks the tie with a 27 FG from Seth Broekhuizen      (10-7 Michigan)

            -Nebraska answers on the next possession with a 26 yard FG from Brett Maher.  (10-10 Tied)

            -The teams once again trade punts before Nebraska breaks the tie with a

 22 yard TD run from Rex Burkhead.                                                                         (17-10 Nebraska)

3^rd Quarter:

            -The defenses take control starting the second half, Michigan scores the only

 3^rd Qtr points with an 8 yard TD pass from Denard Robinson to Kevin Koger.      (17-17 Tied)

4^th Quarter:

            -Michigan starts the 4^th qtr capitalizing on a Taylor Martinez fumble with a

 33 yard TD pass from Denard Robinson to Roy Roundtree.                                 (24-17 Michigan)

            -The teams trade punts, then Michigan scores on a 7 yard TD pass from

             Denard Robinson to Junior Hemingway.                                                                   (31-17 Michigan)

            -Michigan takes advantage of a Rex Burkhead fumble and scores with a

             1 yard TD run from Vincent Smith.                                                                              (38-17 Michigan)

            -Nebraska scores on their last drive with a 3 yard TD pass from Taylor Martinez

             to Brandon Kinnie.                                                                                                        (38-24 Michigan)

Michigan Stats

Passing:           Denard Robinson, 23/35, 333 yards, 4 TD

Rushing:           Vincent Smith, 27 att, 128 yards, 1 TD

Receiving:        Darryl Stonum, 7 rec, 103 yards

                         Roy Roundtree, 6 rec, 120 yards, 2 TD

Defense:           1 sacks, 2 Fumble Recoveries

Total Offense:   493 yards

Passing:            333 yards

Rushing:            160 yards

Nebraska Stats

Passing:           Taylor Martinez, 23/34, 296 yards, 2 TD

Rushing:           Rex Burkhead, 29 att, 115 yards, 1 TD

Receiving:        Kenny Bell, 6 rec, 109 yards, 1 TD

                         Brandon Kinnie, 7 rec, 86 yards, 1 TD

Defense:           0 Sacks, 0 INTs

Total Offense:   465 yards

Passing:            316 yards

Rushing:            149 yards

Box Score

           

                                    1Q        2Q        3Q        4Q        T

Michigan                         7          3          7        21        38

Nebraska                        7       10          0          7         24

Next Game:  #19 Houston at #14 Oklahoma

I will post a new game every weekday before noon.

If you missed the introduction post about the Playoff, no problem! Read it here: http://short-sideoption.blogspot.com/2012/02/ok-cowboy-cardinal-and-duck-fans-this.html