Written by BTN.com staffNo. 21 Nebraska tied the score at seven after Taylor Martinez found Ameer Abdullah open for a two-yard touchdown pass to end a five-play, 75-yard drive. The Cornhuskers’ drive was highlighted by Martinez’s 59-yard run.
Nebraska has the ball at its own 21-yard line to begin the second quarter.
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Read more from BTN.com’s Tom Dienhart on this game:
Player on the spot: Michigan State RB Le’Veon Bell. He has seen his production wane the last two weeks, running for 68 yards at Michigan and 77 at Wisconsin. In fact, Bell has rushed for over 100 yards just twice in the last five games. He needs a big game to keep a surging Cornhusker defense off balance and open room for a pedestrian Spartan passing game.
Key matchup: Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez vs. Michigan State linebackers. Martinez paces the Big Ten in passing efficiency, throwing a Big Ten-high 16 touchdown passes while notching 1,781 yards passing. Martinez also ranks 12th in the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 57.6 yards per game. He hit 7-of-13 passes for 80 yards with a touchdown and interception and ran 12 times for 23 yards last year vs. MSU. Spartan linebackers Max Bullough, Denicos Allen and Taiwan Jones need to contain Martinez in the run game while getting after him as pass rushers when they aren’t dropping into coverage.
Key number: 96th, Michigan State’s offensive rank in the nation, averaging 360.3 ypg. Conversely, Nebraska’s attack is 15th in the nation (489.1 ypg).
Key note: Michigan State has allowed just one 100-yard rusher this season.
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#Spartans
@TheRealBigMac56 Matthew MacKenzie, Charlevoix, Michigan
Met some really cool kids at state camp! Hope we cross paths later in life! #greatkids #spartans
@ZachRPayne Zach Payne, Spokane WA
De la Salle basketball getting a shout out on Open Court on NBATV #spartans
@davewayne09 David Wayne Nystrom, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
Picking Krug for Boston and Keith for Chicago. #bucciovertimechallenge #Spartans #GoGreen #StanleyCupFinal
@jesswallx95 Jess Wall, Swoyersville, PA
so happy that the football clothing order came in today 🙌😊 #sohappy #newclothes #spartans
#Huskers
@_missmolls_ Molly Lighthart
Umm Indiana, you might want to think about where you are next time you decide to use "Go Big Red!" this is omaha,NEBRASKA. #GBR #CWS2013
@hutchins_luke23 Luke Hutchins
CJ tryna tell me be bleeds blue. Come on now bro that just isn't true #GBR @CJFr1tz
@lrepp33 Lamont Epp, the heartland
Taylor Martinez & Nebraska #Huskers had 1,040 offensive snaps in '12, 1 of 22 teams to have 1,000+; four & five years ago, only 5 teams did.
@Nebraskaccg Ready Red, Nebraska
The #Nebraska Celebrity Charity Challenge 8/17/13 @ The Pershing Center n Lincoln NE Featuring #Huskers legends, #NBA players n other more
@turyasz Tim Uryasz, - Northwest Arkansas -
Would LOVE to see the Nebraska Cornhuskers schedule a home and away football game with the Arkansas Razorbacks. #Huskers #Razorbacks
