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Indiana Football: Three predictions in matchup vs. Rutgers

By Trevor Gersmehl

Oct 24, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers raise their helmets after the game at Memorial Stadium. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 36 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers raise their helmets after the game at Memorial Stadium. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 36 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indiana Football takes on a 1-0 Rutgers squad tomorrow.

The Hoosiers will be looking to go into their week three matchup with Michigan as a 2-0 team, but Rutgers stands in their way. Here are three predictions for Saturday’s game against the Scarlet Knights.

Hoosiers amass 450 total yards

Michigan State played Rutgers in week one of Big Ten Football and managed to gain 369 yards despite turning the ball over seven times. Given the Spartans’ success when not beating themselves up with turnovers, Indiana can expect to torch this Rutgers defense.

This will likely turn into a one-sided shootout, with Michael Penix Jr. putting up major numbers through the air. He struggled against Penn State but got the job done when he needed to in the closing moments of the game. If there was ever an opportunity to get on track, it is in this game.

Whop Philyor has 150+ yards

Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed had a monster game against Rutgers in the first week, catching 11 balls for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Reed is 6’0″ 185 lbs, and Whop Philyor is 5’11” 180 lbs. If Rutgers had that much trouble defending Reed, they will have an even harder time guarding a receiver like Philyor.

In fact, Philyor had the most yardage in his entire career in 2019’s game against Rutgers.  He posted 10 receptions for 182 yards in that game, and he could have a very similar type of day this year.

IU wins handily

It’s hard to sugar-coat things when talking about Rutgers. They may be 1-0, but they were projected to finish at the bottom of the conference by almost every source. Michigan State and Rutgers are probably the two worst teams in the Big Ten, and the Spartans moved the ball with relative ease in game one.

Rutgers caused several of the turnovers against Michigan State, but they were also handed some freebies. I chalk it up more to the Spartans’ carelessness than Rutgers’ ability to create plays on the defensive end.

Indiana Football versus Rutgers: know your opponent. dark. Next

The Scarlet Knights are probably feeling fairly confident after week one, and it will be important for the Hoosiers to come out of the gates hot. Hope and confidence are what empowers underdog teams, and Tom Allen needs to prepare his team to eliminate those mental factors before bad things start to happen.

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