The Indiana Hoosiers will travel to Michigan Stadium on Saturday evening to take on the ninth-ranked Michigan Wolverines in a Big Ten Conference matchup. This season, the Hoosiers are 2-6 (0-5) and are coming off a 38-35 road loss against the Maryland Terrapins.
Freshman quarterback Donaven McCulley had his best game as he went 14-of-25 for 242 yards with two touchdowns. So far, the Wolverines are 7-1 (4-1) and are coming off a 37-33 road loss against the eighth-ranked Michigan State Spartans. Junior quarterback Cade McNamara went 28-of-44 for 383 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Michigan Preview: Creative Header
The Michigan Wolverines love to get their running game going early with sophomore running back Blake Corum. He has 129 rushing attempts for 774 yards (6.0 yards per run) with ten rushing touchdowns and 20 receptions for 137 yards (6.8 yards per catch) with a receiving touchdown. In his last game against the Spartans, Corum had 13 rushes for 45 yards (3.5 yards per carrying) and a pair of receptions for 12 yards (6.0 yards per catch). If the Wolverines can get him more involved, it will be a great sign.
The Michigan Wolverines have been an excellent defensive team as they are allowing 17.1 points per game. In their previous game against the Spartans, they gave up 37 points on 395 total yards of offense (196 passing, 199 rushings). The Spartans struggled to convert as they went 4-of-13 on third-down attempts and converted both four down tries. If the defense can force field goals instead of touchdowns, they will easily win here.
Indiana Preview: Seniority Matters
The Indiana Hoosiers love to throw the football to their senior tight-end Peyton Hendershot this season. He has 35 receptions for 447 yards (12.8 yards per catch) with four touchdowns. In his previous game against the Maryland Terrapins, he has six catches for 106 yards (17.7 yards per reception) with a pair of touchdowns. It will be a great shot to pull off the upset if he can figure out how to repeat this performance.
The Indiana Hoosiers have been struggling as they are giving up 31.6 points per game. In their last game against the Maryland Terrapins, they allowed 38 points on 498 total yards of offense (419 passing, 79 rushings). The Terrapins went 7-of-15 on third down and failed to convert their only fourth-down attempt. Maryland did not run the ball well as they finished with 1.7 yards per carrying. If the defense can get some stops, they will be in a great spot.
Who to Bet on Hoosiers at Wolverines
According to the top sportsbooks, multiple touchdowns are separating these two programs, making sense when diving into the numbers. Indiana is 2-6 against the spread, while Michigan is 6-2 against the spread this year. In the four-game losing streak for the Hoosiers, they are averaging 16.3 points, while the Wolverines are scoring 34 points per game in that same span. Michigan also has a rushing game averaging 240 yards per game and having a more diverse offense will help them keep the opposing defense on their toes. Plus, Indiana’s quarterback situation is a question mark as Michael Penix Jr is healing from a shoulder injury. Go with Michigan to cover at home.
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