Indiana Football: Hoosiers win total set for 2019

The win total has been set for the Indiana Football program for the 2019 season and for most fans, it may be exactly what you expect.

The Indiana football program looks to have a breakthrough season after finishing 5-7 in each of the last two years, and this offseason has a different feel to it.

With the top recruiting class in program history arriving on campus this summer, the Hoosiers have a great mix of youth and experience, and talent, something they haven’t had a lot of in a while.

Indiana was last in a bowl game in 2016, and are looking to get back to that mark this season after falling one game short in the two prior.

FanDuel released their win totals for the 2019 seasons this week and currently have the Hoosiers sitting at six wins. As it stands, that would get them in a bowl, albeit not a great one.

Some fans may be happy with that number while others are probably upset, but you have to remember Indiana’s conference record over the past two seasons. Going 4-14, 2-7 each year, in Big Ten play in the last two seasons, the Hoosiers need to fix their inability to win conference games, but more importantly close out conference games. With 12 blown fourth quarter leads for Indiana since 2012, the finishing ability needs to be there this season.

Assuming Indiana goes 3-0 in the non-conference, as they should since ESPN listed their non-conf record as the second easiest in the FBS, that leaves the Hoosiers needing just three wins in Big Ten play to reach that lucky number six.

With conference home games of Ohio State, Rutgers, Northwestern, and Michigan, the Hoosiers need at least a split of those games if they want to reach that total. While they do play Maryland on the road, a very winnable game, they also play Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and finally Purdue away from home. While we know the Purdue game is always a toss up regardless of the record, Indiana has lost the past two meetings with their in-state rivals. That leaves Indiana needing to win against one of three of best teams in the conference if they fall to Maryland.

Although I am cautiously optimistic about this year’s team, their schedule doesn’t necessarily play into their hands. I think FanDuel nailed it with their prediction of six wins and think it will be one heck of a season if the Hoosiers get more than six wins.