A big-time heavyweight fight is on deck for Saturday afternoon in Bloomington. The 5th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers welcome the 4th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes to town for what will arguably be the biggest game in the history of Memorial Stadium.
Ohio State is slightly favored, but this contest is about as evenly-matched as it gets. If the Hoosiers are going to find the win column and extend their winning streak to 23 games, all three phases have to be firing on all cylinders.
Here are four bold predictions for Indiana that would make Ohio State's trip to Bloomington a miserable one.
1. The Hoosiers run for 200+ yards
Getting the running game going will be a key point of emphasis for the Hoosiers. Indiana is at its best when the run game is working, and it's imperative that both Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. get going after an abysmal showing at Nebraska in Week 6. Against the Huskers, Richard managed just 10 yards on eight carries while Beebe ran for 31 yards on nine attempts.
Indiana is averaging 221.3 rushing yards per game this season, but this will be its toughest test yet. If the Hoosiers clear the 200-yard mark on the ground, they'll be in good shape.
2. Indiana sacks Julian Sayin 4+ times
The Ohio State offensive line is dealing with several key injuries. A total of three starters were missing last week against Maryland, as RG Austin Siereveld, LG Luke Montgomery, and RT Phillip Daniels have all dealt with separate injuries over the past week.
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With so many question marks up front, getting pressure on Buckeye QB Julian Sayin is of the utmost importance for the Hoosiers. Sayin isn't very mobile, and Indiana has plenty of talent and depth on the defensive front. Sacking Sayin 4+ times would bode very well for Indiana.
3. Charlie Becker goes for 150 yards and a touchdown
Charlie Becker had his quietest game of the season last week at Nebraska. He hauled in 3 catches for 52 yards, and didn't score a touchdown for just the second time this season. Becker is Hoover's favorite target, as he leads the team with 30 catches for 529 yards and 8 touchdowns. Nick Marsh figures to draw plenty of attention, which could open the door for Becker to have a bounce back performance.
In last year's Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State, Becker totaled a season-high 6 catches for 126 yards. If Becker improves on those numbers, watch out.
4. Josh Hoover's turnover-free streak continues
When Josh Hoover transferred from TCU to Indiana, a lot was made about his interception problem with the Horned Frogs. Hoover led the Big 12 with 13 picks last season, but has turned things around in a major way over his first six games at IU. Hoover has yet to throw an interception on 129 pass attempts, and had added 17 touchdowns while completing 68.2% of his passes.
Forcing Hoover into his first interception is top of mind for the Buckeyes, but Hoover has shown he has what it takes to keep the ball out of harm's way. The Ohio State defense hasn't been overly opportunistic when it comes to interceptions, as the Buckeyes have just four picks through six games. If Hoover continues his interception-less streak on Saturday, it will undoubtedly boost Indiana's chances of finding the win column.
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