The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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conference championship Dec. 1 in Indianapolis, but it is far from de- termined that the Wolverines will finish runner-up to Nebraska. Both teams entered November with 3-1 records in conference play and had four contests remaining, though the Cornhuskers face foes with a com- bined conference record of just 8-9 while the Maize and Blue square off with a group holding an 11-7 mark. Still, Michigan has no intention of conceding the Legends Division. "We can't focus on the standings and where everyone else is; we can only focus on ourselves right now," senior defensive end Craig Roh said 48 hours after the loss to Nebraska. "Our concentration is winning this week against Minnesota and then the next three games after that. "I don't think anyone in our locker ichigan no longer con- trols its own fate in the race to win the Legends Division and play for the room is doubtful. All we can do right now is win these four games. That's all the power we have." Here is a comprehensive look at where each team in the Legends Di- vision stands as of the end of Octo- ber, its future schedule, and a pro- jected finish. Michigan (3-1) 7. Remaining schedule: at Minnesota, vs. Northwestern, vs. Iowa, at Ohio State. Big Ten record of November foes: 11- Projected wins: Minnesota, North- western, Iowa. Projected loss: Ohio State. Projected record: 6-2. Summary: The Wolverines don't necessarily have to win out to earn a berth in the Big Ten title game, but it Nebraska grabbed this interception over junior wideout Devin Gardner, and a win over Michigan, but a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game was still up in the air. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL DOWN TO THE WIRE M With Four November Games On The Docket, Michigan Remains In The Hunt For Big Ten Title Game Berth BY MICHAEL SPATH would certainly help if the Maize and Blue could go 4-0, including a win in Columbus Nov. 24. Michigan can't count on Nebraska, which holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, losing twice more, but it is likely the Huskers, a flawed team that really wasn't two touchdowns better than Michigan, will lose at least once more, putting the Wolverines back in control of their own fate. In fact, expect U-M to go into its season finale with a sce- nario in which a win over OSU earns a berth in the conference champion- ship and a loss ends any hope. Michigan was seemingly putting it together defensively and on special teams, and had discovered a winning formula offensively before senior quarterback Denard Robinson went down with an injury in Lincoln. He was expected to return immediately, and the coaches have faith he'll be healthy enough to play the rest of the year. If he can, U-M knocks off the Gophers, Wildcats and Hawk- eyes and sets up that 'win-and-in' scenario when it takes on rival Ohio State. Nebraska (3-1) Remaining schedule: at Michigan State, vs. Penn State, vs. Minnesota, at Iowa. Big Ten record of November foes: 8-9. Projected wins: Penn State, Minne- sota, Iowa. Projected loss: Michigan State. Projected record: 6-2. Summary: Nebraska has faced the not likely. This much is certain for Michigan — the Wolverines need Nebraska to lose at least one of its final four for the Maize and Blue to have any chance of representing the Legends Division in Indianapolis. The Cornhuskers are playing with confidence after knocking off U-M, but their defense remains average, and their offense could struggle against both the Spartans and Nit- tany Lions. Northwestern (3-2) Remaining schedule: Bye, at Michi- gan, at Michigan State, vs. Illinois. Big Ten record of November foes: 7-10. Projected wins: Michigan State, Il- Expect Nebraska to drop one of its final four games, most likely to a rejuvenated MSU team Nov. 3, while the matchup with the Golden Go- phers is an underrated upset oppor- tunity. Still, NU has shown enough championship resolve to go 3-1, and by virtue of its victory over the Wol- verines (and Wildcats) play for the Big Ten title. Big Ten's most difficult slate for the second consecutive season, but the Cornhuskers managed to win three of their first four, rallying for come- backs against Wisconsin and North- western, and beating Michigan in a must-win for both teams. But their path to the championship game does not get any easier, with trips to Michigan State and Iowa, a home game against Penn State and a home contest against burgeoning Minne- sota. NU could lose any of the four, or two, or even three, though that's linois. Projected loss: Michigan. Projected record: 5-3. Summary: When the regular season comes to an end Nov. 24, Northwest- ern will look back at two losses it led comfortably in the second half and bemoan what could have been. NU was up 28-17 on Penn State enter- ing the fourth quarter of their Oct. 6 matchup, but surrendered 22 unan- swered points in a 39-28 loss. Then two weeks later, the Wildcats blew a 28-16 lead in the fourth quarter of a 29-28 defeat to Nebraska. Had Northwestern won one of those two, especially against the Cornhuskers, it would be a more le- gitimate contender for the Legends Division entering the stretch run, and could have thrown the race into chaos with three teams — Michigan and Nebraska the others — poten- tially finishing 6-2 and each holding NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 21