The Indiana Hoosiers are off to a 4-0 start after breezing through the non-conference slate and picking up a hard-fought win over Northwestern last week. The Wildcats gave the Hoosiers all they could handle, but Curt Cignetti's team was able to dig deep and come up with timely plays down the stretch to seal the win.
All four of Indiana's game this season have come at home. That changes in Week 5, as the Hoosiers will travel to Piscataway to take on Rutgers on Saturday night. Here is all the crucial game information you need to know before the Hoosiers take the field at SHI Stadium.
How to watch Indiana vs. Rutgers
Kick-off between the Hoosiers and Scarlet Knights is set for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network, and will feature a television broadcast crew consisting of Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Cole Cubelic (analyst).
Indiana vs. Rutgers betting odds
Indiana enters this Week 5 matchup ranked as the No. 6 team in the country via the AP Top-25 Poll. Owning a record of 1-3, Rutgers is unranked. Given the vast disparity between the expectations of these two teams, it's not surprising to see Indiana favored by a wide margin.
As of this publishing, the Hoosiers are favored by 24.5 points over the Scarlet Knights via DraftKings Sportsbook. The Hoosiers have yet to cover the spread this season, while Rutgers is just 1-3 against the number. The total, or over/under, is listed at 56.5. Here is a closer look at the Indiana vs Rutgers betting odds:
Moneyline
Indiana (-2400)
Rutgers (+1200)
Spread
Indiana -24.5 (-105)
Rutgers +24.5 (-115)
Total
Over 56.6 (-105)
Under 56.5 (-115)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Indiana vs. Rutgers series history
This will be the first time Curt Cignetti faces Rutgers during his time at Indiana. The Hoosiers and Scarlet Knights met every year from 2014-23, with each team going 5-5 in those matchups. Rutgers have won the last three meetings, including a 31-14 win in the most recent matchup on Oct. 21, 2023.
Indiana Football injury report
Official Week 5 availability reports have yet to be released, but Curt Cignetti is hopeful that both RB Turbo Richard and LB Rolijah Hardy are able to return after going down with injuries against Northwestern.
RB Khobie Martin remains sidelined with a broken forearm, although he is expected to return at some point in the middle of the season. Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later.
WR Lebron Bond, CB Carson Williams, and CB AJ Harris all missed the Northwestern game, and their status for Saturday's matchup against Rutgers has yet to be revealed.
This section will be updated once official availability reports become available throughout the week.
Indiana vs. Rutgers players to watch
Indiana: RB Lee Beebe Jr.
Lee Beebe Jr. became Indiana's go-to running back against Northwestern with Khobie Martin unavailable and Turbo Richard going down with a lower body injury. Beebe made the most of his chances, as he racked up 203 rushing yards and an impressive 8.5 yards per carry. He ripped off several long runs in the second half, which included a 70-yarder late in the 4th quarter that setup a crucial Indiana touchdown to make it a 29-20 game. If Richard is out or limited in any way, Beebe will see plenty of carries once again. Even if Richard plays, Beebe should be heavily involved.
Rutgers: WR KJ Duff
Rutgers WR KJ Duff is the real deal. Duff has put up some monster numbers to begin the season, as he's collected 29 catches for 550 yards and 7 touchdowns through 4 games. His 550 receiving yards are the 4th-most in all of college football, and he is a big-play threat on every snap. Indiana's secondary must be ready to contain Duff's explosiveness on Saturday night.
Indiana vs. Rutgers score prediction
After a relatively drama-free non-conference slate, the Hoosiers got a wake-up call last week against Northwestern. Indiana underperformed to expectations, which led to a 6-point win as 21-point favorites. Perhaps that gets them going and leads to a better all-around performance against a lowly Rutgers team that is having a hard time this season. The Scarlet Knights have found some life since losing to UMass in the season opener, but the talent discrepency in this matchup is a big one. Look for Cignetti to have his team well-prepared and ready to take care of business in emphatic fashion. Indiana wins big, 51-21.
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