Indiana Football: Staff Predictions – Iowa
By Kyle Grand
In the lead up to Indiana vs. Iowa, the Hoosier State of Mind staff answered some questions about the game and offered their predictions.
Question: Name one Hoosier who’s flown under the radar this year and deserves more credit
Kyle Grand: As I wrote earlier this week, it’s the offensive line. These guys have produced week in and week out and are the main reason why Indiana has been able to put up such gaudy rushing numbers. Iowa will be the unit’s toughest test thus far.
Jessica Hunt: Tevin Coleman has been receiving much praise for his rushing prowess this season and rightfully so; Coleman has rushed for eight touchdowns and 841 net yards for an average of 168.2 yards per game. Somewhat unfortunately, Coleman’s prolific season has overshadowed D’Angelo Roberts’ performance thus far, which also deserves a fair amount of applause. Roberts has contributed 359 yards on the ground and five touchdowns in five games this season, averaging 71.8 yards per game. These numbers leave Roberts just off the list for the top ten rushers (when measuring total yards rushing) in the conference, yet Roberts is the Hoosiers’ second rushing option and still has more touchdowns than six of the backs in the aforementioned list.
Will Logan: T.J. Simmons. I mean really, what’s the deal? Is it because he’s from Florida and not a native Hoosier like Latham and Antonio Allen? I don’t know. The true sophomore is leading the team in tackles from his inside linebacker spot. He really looks like a B1G linebacker (which IU hasn’t always had) at 6’0″ 230, and he just gets after it every single week. Just watching the team play, you can see that Simmons has a level of energy and tenacity that the rest of the defense feeds off. In my book, he’s the best player on the entire unit.
Q: Matchup that will determine the outcome of the game
Grand: Indiana’s rushing attack vs. Iowa’s run defense. The Hoosiers have yet to see a defense like Iowa’s. Plain and simple, the Hawkeyes do not let you beat them on the ground. Indiana’s offense thrives when it gets the ground game going. This sets up play-action passing aka Shane Wynn wide open for easy touchdowns. Whoever wins the battle in the trenches likely wins the game.
Hunt: Iowa comes into this game as 4th in the conference in total defense and scoring defense and 3rd in the conference in rushing defense. The Hawkeyes allow just 310.4 yards total yards, 17.2 points, and 93.2 rushing yards per game. The Iowa defensive lineman play a significant role in the Hawkeyes’ play and Indiana running backs Roberts and Coleman will have to find a means to break tackles in order to best the 93.2 yards Iowa allows.
Logan: Ferentz v. Wilson. As I detailed in the game preview, Ferentz plays a defensive style that dares opponents to go for the big play. If opposing coaches can stay patient and take what is given to them, they’ll be fine. That’s why Iowa’s defense is like a trap. They know opponents aren’t patient and Wilson, God bless is heart, is probably the least patient coach in the B1G. Wilson can’t let his ego get in the way on Saturday.
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Prediction
Grand: Indiana 24, Iowa 26. I want to believe IU can go in and establish the run and get the Iowa defense on its heels, but man, Iowa’s D has been pretty solid this season. Hoosiers go down in a close one.
Hunt: 27-23 Iowa, take the under and give the points.
Logan: Indiana 31 Iowa 24. Iowa hasn’t scored more than 24 points against any FBS opponent this year. Indiana’s offense looked “back” last week. Let’s go.