Indiana Hoosiers vs Michigan State Game Preview and Prediction

The Indiana Hoosiers are coming off two big wins over Nebraska and Washington back to back weeks after hosting Big Noon Kickoff on Fox Sports and College Gameday on ESPN. The Hoosiers play Michigan State next and No. 13 Indiana has quarterback Kurtis Rourke back in the starting lineup.

Rourke injured his right thumb in a 56-7 win over Nebraska on Oct. 19. He had surgery on Oct. 21 and sat out this past weekend's 31-17 victory over Washington.

The senior quarterback is completing 74.6 percent of his passes for 1,941 yards, 15 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His top weapons Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. have combined for 1,043 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, while Myles Price has 25 total receptions.

The Indiana defense has also been electric for the Hoosiers having forced 14 turnovers, and starting the game against Washington with a pick six.

The keys for Indiana :

• Linebacker Aiden Fisher leads the Indiana Hoosiers with 75 tackles, Mikail Kamara has 7 sacks and Rolijah Hardy has 2 interceptions. The stars on defense will need to make big plays like they have all season to help IU's offense with field position and momentum.

• The Indiana Hoosiers ground game is averaging 200.6 yards per contest, and Justice Ellison leads the way with 637 yards and 9 touchdowns.

• The Indiana Hoosiers defense has been strong this season, with a plus-3 turnover margin, which is tied for 35th in the nation. Indiana is allowing 14.1 points and 269.5 yards per game, which are also both top three in the B1G conference. The Spartans offense will have trouble moving the rock versus IU all game.

The Michigan State Spartans have won 3 of their last 4 home games but are coming off a 40-16 loss to Iowa two weeks ago. The Spartans have struggled on offense all season. Here are some other stats for MSU:

• Scoring defense: 20.9 PPG (110th in the nation)
• Passing defense: 192 YPG
• Rushing defense: 131.1 YPG
• Total defense: 323.1 YPG
• Turnovers: 15
• Sacks allowed: 17

The keys for Michigan State :

• Freshman quarterback Aidan Chiles is completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,657 yards, 7 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Chiles will have to cut down on turnovers for them to even have a chance at upsetting Indiana.

• The Spartans are lacking overall speed but the duo of Nick Marsh and Montorie Foster Jr. have combined for 893 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, while Jack Velling has 27 receptions. They will have to feed Marsh and Foster Jr early and often to shake up the Hoosiers defense.

• Defensively, Michigan State is allowing 21.3 points and 315.9 yards per game. Jordan Turner leads the Michigan State Spartans with 48 tackles, Khris Bogle has 3 sacks and Charles Brantley has 3 interceptions. "Sparty" need stops to keep them hanging around and to keep the crowd in the game early.

Indiana vs Michigan State Game Information & Odds

• Date: Saturday, November 2nd
• Game Time: 3:30 PM EST
• Venue: Spartan Stadium
• How to Watch (TV): Peacock
• Indiana Record: 8-0
• Michigan State Record: 4-4

Indiana is favorite as of Friday morning (11/1). Indiana is a 7.5-point favorite against Michigan State, and the over under is 51.5 points, according to the FanDuel Sportsbook. Indiana is a minus-310 favorite on the money line, and Michigan State's money line odds are plus-245.

Prediction: Indiana over Michigan State (31-20)

With Kurtis Rourke back at quarterback and a Indiana defense that has gotten better week to week I expect a dog fight in this rivalry game but the Hoosiers will again come out on top and move to 9-0.

Rourke will be helped by the Indiana run game and their defense will create timely turnovers against Aidan Chiles and the Spartans offense. The Michigan State Spartans ground game is averaging 137 yards per contest, and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams leads the way with 459 yards and 2 touchdowns, he will be my x-factor for Michigan State but it won't be quite enough for the upset.

GO HOOSIERS!