Courtesy of AmericasBookie.com
No. 9 Indiana has been the hottest team in Division I football in 2020. Nobody thought that the Hoosiers would be undefeated at this point in the year, but they’re sitting at 4-0.
This Saturday will be their toughest test so far when they travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a game with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State is 3-0 and currently the No. 3-ranked team in the nation.
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Ohio State is a 20.5-point favorite with a moneyline of -1200. Indiana’s moneyline is +750 with the over/under for the contest being set at 65 at top online sportsbooks.
Don’t Count Out the Hoosiers
Indiana’s two marquee wins have been over Penn State and Michigan this season. The Hoosiers were the first team to beat Penn State, and they knocked off Michigan as an underdog as well.
Those programs aren’t having their typical winning seasons. Despite this, these are still huge confidence boosters for the Hoosiers.
Indiana has been led all year by its defense. The unit is giving up under 20 points per game while leading the Big Ten in sacks with 12.
Offensively, the Hoosiers love to throw the ball. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is leading the conference in passing yards with 1,070. Indiana also has the conference’s leading receiver in Ty Fryfogle, who has accounted for 424 yards with four touchdowns.
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Trap Game for the Buckeyes?
Ohio State is coming off a bye week. Its last scheduled contest against Maryland was cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak with the Terrapins.
The Buckeyes haven’t been in a tough game all year. They beat Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers by an average of 23 points.
The Buckeyes offense clicks when Justin Fields is throwing the football. Fields has an 86.7% completion rate. He has thrown for 908 yards with 11 touchdowns and has yet to throw an interception.
Defensively, the Buckeyes are giving up 356 yards per game. Don’t be fooled by this figure. Their offense is so efficient that opposing teams get a lot of possessions over the course of 60 minutes.
The Pick
Ohio State is better than Indiana in every facet of the game. I can’t lie about that fact, but Indiana has one advantage over the Buckeyes that has been forgotten.
The Hoosiers are one of the most confident teams in the country. In college football, confidence is a very dangerous thing to have on your side.
Indiana believes that it can walk into the Horseshoe and beat the Buckeyes. That’s half the battle in itself. The Hoosiers’ defense is statistically better than Ohio State, and they share two common opponents so far.
For Indiana to have success, it is going to need to get pressure on Fields. If Fields is comfortable, it could be a long afternoon for Indiana.
I think No. 3 Ohio State as a 20.5-point favorite over No. 9 Indiana is slightly disrespectful. I guarantee Indiana feels the exact same way. I don’t believe the Hoosiers are going to win the football game, but they have the ability to keep it close.
AmericasBookie Pick: I like Indiana at +20.5 and over 65 points.
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