Michigan @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2011 ) Minnesota 0, Michigan 58

The quarterbacks will be at center stage when Minnesota hosts Michigan on Saturday for the Little Brown Jug in a key Big Ten game for the Wolverines. While Michigan's Denard Robinson winds down his stellar career, Golden Gophers freshman Philip Nelson hopes he launched a successful one with a 44-28 victory over Purdue last week in his second start. Michigan, which lost Robinson to an arm injury en route to a 23-9 setback at Nebraska last week, is expected to have its star back in the lineup. The Wolverines are tied with the Cornhuskers atop the Legends Division, and cannot afford another stumble with home games against Northwestern and Iowa, and a visit to Ohio State remaining.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Michigan -12.5

ABOUT MICHIGAN (5-3, 3-1 Big Ten): Coach Brady Hoke said Robinson will play Saturday after injuring a nerve in his throwing arm and leaving the Nebraska game in the second quarter. Just in case, though, backup Russell Bellomy and wide receiver Devin Gardner were to take additional snaps in practice this week. Bellomy was 3-of-16 for 38 yards with three interceptions against Nebraska. Robinson may not need his arm much against Minnesota, which is 84th in the country in run defense (178.0 yards per game). And with Michigan No. 27 on the ground (206.6), Wolverines running back Fitzgerald Toussaint could take some pressure off Robinson with a breakout game.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (5-3, 1-3): The future is bright for the Golden Gophers as Nelson threw three touchdown passes and was 15-of-22 for 246 yards against Purdue. He had two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first start - a 38-13 loss at Wisconsin on Oct. 20. Nelson has already bonded with wide receiver A.J. Barker, who caught two touchdown passes last week and one against the Badgers. Nelson will be tested by a defense that ranks No. 1 nationally against the pass, No. 9 overall in yardage, and No. 14 in points allowed at 17.3 per game. The Golden Gophers need one win to become bowl eligible for the first time in three years and if they don't pull the upset Saturday, they'll have a better chance next week at struggling Illinois.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan, which defeated Michigan State 12-10 on Oct. 20, hasn't scored a touchdown since the fourth quarter of its 45-0 victory over Illinois on Oct. 13.

2. Minnesota senior KR Troy Stoudermire is 229 yards shy of the NCAA record for kickoff return yards. Houston's Tyron Carrier recorded 3,517 yards from 2008-11.

3. Michigan leads the series 71-24-3, and has won four straight, including a 58-0 victory last season. The Wolverines have won 20 of the last 21 meetings and 37 of the last 40, and haven't lost at Minnesota since 1977 - a span of 14 games.

PREDICTION: Michigan 24, Minnesota 19