Week 13 Big Ten: Indiana at Ohio State

Indiana (3-7) at Ohio State (9-1) Nov. 22, 12:00, BTN 

Here’s The Deal: Is there any way possible for the Big Ten’s worst team to shock the world by beating the Big Ten’s best? Indiana hasn’t been the same team since losing QB Nate Sudfeld, turning truly one-dimensional and without the results, losing five straight and having yet to win a Big Ten game after getting blasted by Rutgers 45-23. The Hoosiers have one of the nation’s best backs in Tevin Coleman, and the defense hasn’t been totally miserable, but that hasn’t been enough. Considering the experience and the hope coming into the year, it’s been a wildly disappointing season, but one win to screw up the Buckeyes would change all of that. 

Ohio State is on a roll, and now it’s about style points. It was last week against Minnesota, too, but TCU’s tough outing against Kansas looked miserable compared to OSU’s 31-24 win in the cold and snow in Minneapolis. The offense is among the most efficient and effective in college football, and the defense is starting to find its groove, even after having a few problems against Michigan State two weeks ago and dealing with the Gopher ground game last week. Fighting for a possible playoff spot, the Buckeyes can’t afford a slip – and by a slip, that means anything less than blowout win over the dying Hoosiers. 

0-20-1 in the last 21 outings against the Buckeyes, IU last won in 1988 in a 41-7 blowout after winning 31-10 in 1987. Before that, the previous Hoosier win was in 1951 – as part of the Western Conference. 

Why Indiana Might Win: It’s possible to run on the Buckeyes. Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford and Minnesota’s David Cobb were able to run without a problem against a run D that’s allowed six touchdown over the last two games and whose stats are inflated by playing bad rushing teams. Navy started out the year with 370 yards on the ground, but after that it was a parade of mediocre ground attacks until the trip to East Lansing. IU can’t do anything but run the ball, so it’s going to be Tevin Coleman, Tevin Coleman and more Tevin Coleman. IU should be able to run for 200 yards, but … 

Why Ohio State Might Win: The Hoosier passing attack isn’t just bad; it’s next-level awful. IU threw for a grand total of 103 yards over the three game stretch before coming up with 179 against Rutgers last week. IU has only completed more than half of its throws once in the last five games with two touchdown passes and six interceptions in the span. The Buckeyes will be able to turn everyone loss to try to slow down Coleman, and while that’s easier said than done, they have the talent on the defensive front to actually do it. 

Who To Watch Out For: While J.T. Barrett is getting all the credit and attention for cranking up the Ohio State offense – and rightly so – the receiving corps is providing plenty of help. Michael Thomas has emerged as the team’s leading receiver, steadily rolling right along making 35 grabs for 583 yards and eight scores with a touchdown in each of his last three games. While he hasn’t had a blowup game quite yet, he’s been solid. 

What’s Going To Happen: Ohio State will start out a little clunky after a few emotional games in a row to deal with, and then the machine will get rolling and there won’t be anything Indiana can do to stop it. The Buckeyes should coast in the second half. 
Prediction: Ohio State 52 … Indiana 17 
Line: Ohio State -34.5 o/u: 65.5 
Must Watch Factor: 5: HBO’s State of Play – 1: Euros of Hollywood … 2