ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Nebraska was an 18.5-point underdog heading into Ann Arbor to take on Michigan in Scott Frost's first Big Ten game. But the way that the Cornhuskers lost to the Wolverines in a 56-10 rout was somehow even more demoralizing than people thought possible. Nebraska came in 0-2 on the season after a tough loss to Troy, and the team still looked flat, even with quarterback Adrian Martinez returning from injury after missing last week. The game started off well enough for Martinez. On third-and-9, he completed a 32-yard pass to Stanley Morgan to get the Huskers to Michigan's 42. It was all downhill from there. On the ensuing play, a tipped pass ended up intercepted by Josh Metellus. Karan Higdon ripped off 46 yards on his first carry of the game for Michigan before fullback Ben Mason plunged the ball into the end zone on his third attempt. On the ensuing Nebraska possession, Michigan forced what would be the first of many three-and-outs. Nebraska was called for kick-catch interference on the punt and Higdon took his first carry of the next possession 44 yards for a touchdown to put Michigan up 14-0. At the end of the first half, Mason had three rushing touchdowns and 18 yards. Nebraska had 17 yards total. Jim Harbaugh gave Frost no relief, calling timeouts at the end of the half to feed his backs a bit more. In the second half, Michigan took its foot off the gas a bit until Dylan McCaffrey came in, with a brief flash from a ridiculous 60-yard punt return by Donovan Peoples-Jones. Though he completed just 3-of-8 passes, McCaffrey had 86 yards, a touchdown and some on-the-money deep balls. Harbaugh clearly wanted McCaffrey to let loose in his appearance, and he looked extremely impressive on deep throws both down the sideline and in the middle of the field. Nebraska had a field goal and Wyatt Mazour was able to punch a run into the end zone in garbage time, but the team looked utterly deflated in the second half until the game went final at 56-10. Frost has no delusions about where the team stands. "I told them I honestly believe this is gonna be the bottom," Frost told reporters after the game. "We got beaten in every phase. We're really gonna find out who loves football and who loves each other, and who's gonna band together." When asked how he knew it was the bottom and the team would get better, Frost was blunt. He wants to rebuild the program from the ground up. "Because I know it's gonna happen," he said. "I've seen it happen before, it's gonna happen. The way we're gonna do things, there's a lot of things that need to get fixed. Our execution. Our strength and conditioning. Our nutrition. Our recruiting. Our walk-on program. There's a lot of things that we've talked about. Those things don't happen overnight." Frost also praised Harbaugh for the job he's done with Michigan. "I think it was pretty clear we're not ready to compete against a team like that. Coach Harbaugh has done a great job, he's been here long enough to get his guys and get it installed, but we're gonna keep fighting. And I know where it's gonna lead." Nebraska guard Jerald Foster is staunchly behind Frost. "We're behind our coach," Foster said to open his press conference after the game. "We're not gonna go any lower than this ... If you're in a swimming pool, this is the bottom of the pool. You finally touch your feet on the ground and when you're at that point you're able to push off. There's a lot that we're gonna have to do. Whatever we have to do to be a good football team and to compete with good football teams like Michigan, hats off to them for sticking with their gameplan and playing the game." Foster added when asked how he knew it couldn't get worse that "we have a coaching staff and players that aren't gonna allow it. That's it. Look me in the eyes and I hope you can see that I'm not gonna let it get worse than this." Frost was asked about losing players in the locker room, and he said that anyone that he wanted would share Foster's mindset. "The only ones we would lose [are] the ones we never really had," he said. "That's probably better in the long run. If there's guys that jump off ship we never really had them. The guys who we're gonna actually win with -- win championships -- would never do that. "Inevitably that's gonna happen, the wrong type of people are gonna jump off if they're not having the results they want, and that's healthy for our team." Even after the 0-2 start, things didn't look this bad for Nebraska. Michigan's defense smothered everything the Cornhuskers did. At one point in the fourth quarter, they had two rushing yards. They finished with 132 total yards on 54 plays -- 2.44 yards per play. Michigan made Nebraska look like it didn't belong in the Big Ten, much less the AP Top 25 poll. "I knew we had a lot of work to do," Frost said. "But we're not giving up, and we're gonna get this thing right. [Nebraska] brought us in here to get it right, we're gonna get it right. But we knew it was a big job, because there's so much that had to be fixed and changed ... Michigan's a top-25 team ... and we're not there yet."<doc-sep>There is actually not a lot of history between No. 18 Michigan and Nebraska despite the programs being two of the most storied in the history of college football. The two teams have only met nine times to this point with the series an even 4-4-1. This game will be the first time they've met since 2013; Nebraska won that matchup 17-13 and has won two of the three meetings between the schools since joining the Big Ten. Something should give Saturday when the Wolverines and Cornhuskers tangle, so let's take a look at what to expect from this early-afternoon showdown in Michigan. Viewing information Date: Saturday, Sept. 22 | Time: Noon ET Location: Michigan Stadium -- Ann Arbor, Michigan TV: FS1 | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) Storylines Michigan: There was a lot of doom and gloom surrounding Michigan after it lost its season opener to Notre Dame 24-17, but you haven't heard a lot about the Wolverines in recent weeks. I guess beating Western Michigan and SMU by a combined score of 94-23 quells some fears. Still, this game against Nebraska will be a better barometer for where the Wolverines stand in 2018 than either Western Michigan or SMU could be. Nebraska: The Scott Frost Era couldn't be off to much of a worse start than this one. First, the season opener against Akron was canceled because of weather, and then the Huskers lost a close one to Colorado. That in itself wasn't awful, but promising freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez suffered an injury against Colorado and wasn't available in last week's game against Troy. A game Nebraska lost to drop to 0-2 to start the season, and now they have to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor to avoid a 0-3 start. Game prediction, picks Adrian Martinez is currently being called a game-time decision by Nebraska, but I lean toward him playing, which will make a big difference for the Nebraska offense. Not quite enough to pick Nebraska to beat Michigan straight up, but enough to cover nearly a three-touchdown spread. Pick: Nebraska +18.5 Dennis Dodd Jerry Palm Tom Fornelli Chip Patterson Barton Simmons Barrett Sallee Ben Kercheval MICH -18.5 Michigan Michigan Nebraska Michigan Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska S/U Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan So what college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 4? And what title contender gets the scare of a lifetime? Visit SportsLine to see which teams are winning more than 50 percent of simulations, all from a proven computer model that has returned over $4,000 in profit over the past three seasons and was all over BYU's stunning upset of Wisconsin in Week 3.<doc-sep>Michigan and Nebraska are two of college football’s winningest programs and are set to meet on Saturday for the Big Ten opener for both teams. While the records and overall place in the 2018 college football season hierarchy are different for both programs, there is one big similarity. Both Nebraska and Michigan are led by former quarterbacks hoping to turn their alma mater into a national power once again. This matchup won’t answer every question facing these two programs, but a 1-0 start in Big Ten play would be a positive step forward. Nebraska is off to an 0-2 start under new coach Scott Frost, but there’s no reason for panic in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers’ opener against Akron was canceled due to weather and they lost in a 33-28 thriller versus Colorado in Week 2. Nebraska fell victim to an upset-minded Troy team in Week 3, losing 24-19 in Lincoln. Frost’s team has showed improvement in some areas, but an injury to quarterback Adrian Martinez hindered the offense late against Colorado and again versus Troy with the true freshman sidelined. Also, Nebraska has a minus-four turnover margin through two contests. Michigan opened the 2018 season looking to get back on track after a rebuilding year last fall. The Wolverines slipped to 8-5 and ended the season on a down note with a loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. However, offseason hopes of improvement on offense fizzled in the opener against Notre Dame, as Michigan fell 24-17 in South Bend. While the Wolverines are still figuring out the right mix on offense, there have been signs of progress over the last two weeks. Michigan pounded Western Michigan 49-3 in Week 2 and defeated SMU 45-20 last Saturday. The all-time series between Nebraska and Michigan is tied at 4-4-1. These two teams have played three times in Big Ten conference action, with the Cornhuskers owning a 2-1 edge in those contests. Nebraska at Michigan Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 22 at Noon ET TV Channel: FOX Sports 1 Spread: Michigan -17 Three Things to Watch 1. The Quarterbacks How Saturday’s matchup plays out is going to hinge heavily on this position for both teams. Nebraska starter Adrian Martinez is still recovering from the knee injury suffered against Colorado in Week 2 and could be a game-time decision for this week’s game at Michigan. Prior to the injury against Colorado, Martinez flashed the dual-threat talent Frost wants out of his quarterback. The true freshman completed 15 of 20 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown and added 117 yards and two scores on the ground. If Martinez can’t go, Andrew Bunch will get the nod. In last week’s loss to Troy, Bunch completed 19 of 27 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for five yards on 10 carries. However, Bunch also tossed two interceptions. After just three games this year, Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson has nearly equaled the touchdown total from Wolverine signal-callers in 2017. Last season, Michigan quarterbacks combined for just nine touchdowns. Through three contests, Patterson is completing 70.8 percent of his passes for 589 yards and six touchdowns. The junior seems to be getting more comfortable in Harbaugh’s offense with each snap and has only two interceptions through his first 65 attempts. Michigan’s offensive line remains a concern, but if Patterson has time, he’s capable of hitting all of the throws in this offense. And it certainly doesn’t hurt the junior is developing a nice rapport with Donovan Peoples-Jones (14 catches) at receiver. The biggest mystery surrounding this game is the status of Martinez. Will the true freshman start on Saturday? And if he does, how much will Martinez run after dealing with the knee injury for two weeks? On the other sideline, Patterson has been making strides over the last couple of contests. Will the junior take another big step forward in Week 4 versus the Cornhuskers? Related: Predictions for Every College Football Game in Week 4 2. Nebraska’s Defensive Line Against Michigan’s Offensive Line As mentioned in the previous section, Michigan’s offensive line remains the biggest concern for Harbaugh. This unit struggled in the opener against Notre Dame, and the jury is out on whether or not this group can consistently protect Patterson and open up holes in the ground game against some of the Big Ten’s better defenses. However, Saturday’s matchup against Nebraska should be a good litmus test for this unit. Nebraska’s defensive front has been active under new coordinator Erik Chinander. After managing 44 tackles for a loss in 12 contests in 2017, the Cornhuskers have racked up 19 tackles for a loss through two games in ’18. Linebackers Luke Gifford (five) and Tyrin Ferguson (three) lead the way in tackles for a loss, while Gifford and Freedom Akinmoladun are tied for the team lead with 2.5 sacks. Regardless of Martinez’s status, Nebraska is going to need a big performance from its defense. The Cornhuskers have to create some havoc around the line of scrimmage, put pressure on Patterson and force a couple of takeaways to hand short fields to the offense. How far has Michigan’s offensive line progressed? We should find out Saturday against Nebraska’s active front. 3. Ground Game Scott Frost and Jim Harbaugh are former quarterbacks, but don’t let that fool you into thinking the offensive gameplan is geared heavy on the pass. Instead, both teams want to establish the run and win the battle up front. Nebraska leads the Big Ten by averaging 51 rush attempts, while Michigan averages 36 carries a game (compared to 24 passes). The outlook for the Wolverines’ ground attack is not only clouded by the up-and-down play in the trenches so far, but the running back stable is dealing with injuries to Karan Higdon and Chris Evans. Higdon leads the team with 228 yards and two touchdowns but did not play against SMU last week. Evans rushed for 85 yards on 18 carries against the Mustangs but left due to injury. Tru Wilson and O’Maury Samuels are penciled in as the top options behind Evans and Higdon if needed. However, all signs point to both players being able to go on Saturday. Assuming Evans and Higdon are at full strength, they will face a good test against Nebraska’s front. The Cornhuskers are only allowing 2.7 yards a carry and 93.5 yards a game. On the other sideline, Nebraska’s ground attack faces a tough assignment against Michigan’s defense. The Wolverines’ front seven ranks among the best in college football, headlined by linemen Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich, along with linebackers Devin Bush and Khaleke Hudson (out first half due to targeting versus SMU). Michigan’s defense is allowing just 121.7 yards a game and 3.1 yards per rush. Can Nebraska find running lanes against this front seven? Much of the Cornhuskers’ ground game will hinge on whether or not Martinez can go under center. But even if Martinez is sidelined, the one-two punch of Greg Bell (168 yards) and Maurice Washington (126) will test the Michigan front seven. Final Analysis Both Michigan and Nebraska are trending in the right direction. However, one team (Michigan) is much closer to the top of the Big Ten right now. The Week 1 loss to Notre Dame was a setback for the Wolverines, but Harbaugh has this offense on track, and Patterson continues to build confidence. Michigan’s offensive line could have its issues once again, but Patterson’s mobility can alleviate some of those concerns against an active Nebraska front. The Cornhuskers are better than their 0-2 record would suggest but winning in Ann Arbor with or without Martinez is going to be a tough assignment. If Martinez plays, Nebraska is likely to keep this game much closer than our projected score. However, Michigan is better on defense and an improving offense will prove to be too much for the Cornhuskers. Prediction: Michigan 34, Nebraska 20<doc-sep>
That’s right, it’s been 329 days since Nebraska has won a football game (Oct. 28, 2017 against Purdue). Michigan will look to extend that streak at least another week Saturday at the Big House in the conference opener. Here’s what to watch for in the contest. Nebraska’s Quarterback Situation Cornhuskers’ starter Adrian Martinez missed the end of the team’s loss to Colorado and all of last week’s game against Troy, but is supposedly healthy enough to take the field against the Wolverines (or at least that’s what the Nebraska coaches are hoping for). The freshman is a significant upgrade over backup Andrew Bunch. Against Colorado, Martinez completed 15-of-20 passes for 187 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Bunch threw two picks against Troy. If Bunch is the starter, this game shouldn’t be close. If Martinez is the starter, the game will be closer than if Bunch starts, but still should result in a Michigan win. Bottom line is Nebraska is still a very bad team. The addition of Scott Frost as head coach, while exciting, hasn’t turned into immediate success like many expected. But coming off a 4-8 season, there simply isn’t a high enough talent level for Nebraska to be overly competitive this year (at least in the early going). Michigan Running Back Health Starting running back Karan Higdon missed last week’s game with an injury, and backup Chris Evans exited in the fourth quarter against SMU, prompting questions about whether or not either would be ready for the Nebraska game. Both are on track to play, but we don’t know whether or not they will be at full strength. The running game struggled to get going in the first three quarters against SMU, and if neither player is at 100 percent, it may be up to Tru Wilson to carry the load. He performed well at the end of last week’s game, but the Wolverines don’t have a lot of depth at running back. The offensive line will be tasked with opening up better running lanes than it did last week, and if the ground game can’t get going we could see Jim Harbaugh and company opt to air it out with quarterback Shea Patterson. Higdon and Evans are vital pieces of the offense and will play a large role in the success of the team down the line, so keeping each player fresh, mixing in Wilson and getting each guy out of the game in the fourth quarter if Michigan grabs a big enough lead will be important. Bounce Back Performance From Defense Michigan’s defense didn’t perform as well as we’ve all come to expect against the Mustangs a week ago. The 20 points allowed was higher than projected and it put the offense in a position where it needed to score a couple times late to really feel like the game had been put away. Nebraska’s offense should be an upgrade over SMU’s, but look for defensive coordinator Don Brown’s unit to rise to challenge and play a much better game, particularly in the secondary. Nebraska wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. is one of, if not the most talented receiver in the conference. He has 10 catches for 139 yards and a score through two games and will be a threat. Michigan will need to play a much cleaner game Saturday as well. It can’t repeat its 13 penalty performance from last week.