The Michigan State Spartans:
The Michigan State Spartans are on a three-game losing streak, following their embarrassing loss to the UCLA Bruins 38-13. Jonathan Smith's defense is a disaster, giving up over 40 points a game and the offense led by second year starting quarterback Aidian Chiles is inconsistent to say the least and now are without 5 starters on that side of the ball.
The Indiana Hoosiers:
Indiana fans have had plenty to cheer for this season, as Curt Cignetti has led the Hoosiers to a 6-0 record in his second season after reaching the College Football Playoffs last year. Coming off their biggest win in school history at then No. 3 Oregon in Autzen Stadium in a 30-20 win Indiana now heads home for their homecoming game but they need to remain focus.
With consecutive wins over No. 9 Illinois, at Iowa and at No. 3 Oregon no doubt Indiana is feeling themsevles but that's where leadership and coaching come in and what better duo to have than Mendoza and Cignetti as leaders. Mix that with veterans D'Angelo Ponds, Mikail Kamara, Aiden Fisher and Louis Moore that's a recipe for success and why Indiana is now the third best team in the nation.
- Indiana has the top offense in the B1G with 488 yards/game and a Big Ten leading 46.5 points/game - Michigan State's offense is 10th in yards/game and 15th in scoring
- Indiana has the 3rd best Big Ten defense (giving up 270 yards/game) while Michigan State is 9th
- Team Sacks: IU 1st in Big Ten and tied 14th in Nation (at 3.0 sacks/game); MSU is 76th in Nation (1.88/game)
- Turnover Margin: IU +8 (2nd best in Big Ten and 14th in nation); MSU -7 (including QB Aidan Chiles with 7 TDs to 9 interceptions)
- 3rd Down Conversion Percent: IU 1st in Big Ten and 3rd in Nation (at 54%); MSU #46 in Nation (at 43%)
- Passing Yards/Completion: IU 1st in Big Ten and 7th in Nation (14.4 y/c); MSU #41 in Nation (12.93)
- Red Zone Offense: IU is 2nd in Big Ten and 13th in Nation scoring 93.6% of the time (with in amazing 39 TDs in 47 red zone possessions); MSU is last in Big Ten and 129th in Nation at 70%
Where to watch Indiana vs Michigan State live:
- No. 3 Indiana Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0) vs. Michigan State (3-3, 0-3)
- Fun Fact: Indiana's Homecoming game
- When: 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 18th
- Where: Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium (56,626) in Bloomington, IN.
- TV: Peacock
- Announcers: Dan Hicks (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (color), Zora Stephenson (sideline)
- Radio: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network, Sirius XM (channel 85)
- Radio Announcers: Don Fischer (play-by-play), Buck Suhr (analyst), John Herrick
Betting odds and line:
Indiana is a 27.5-point favorite, and the over/under is 52.5 points. Indiana is a -4500 favorite on the money line, while Michigan State's moneyline odds are +1600,
according to the FanDuel Sportsbook on Wednesday morning
Injury Report (Michigan State):
Out:
Jalen Thompson (DE)
Stanton Ramil (LT)
Ade Willie (nickelback)
Nikai Martinez (S)
Alante Brown (WR/kick returner)
Marcellius Pulliam (LB)
Brennan Parachek (TE)
Jayden Savoury (TE)
Questionable:
Kaden Schickel (LS)
Tarik Ahmetbasic (K)
Jace Clarizio (RB)
Injury Report (Indiana):
Out:
Bryson Baldwin Jr (DB)
Bryson Bonds (DB)
Lee Beebe Jr (RB)
Tyler Morris (WR)
News and Notes:
Michigan State leads the all-time series 50-19-2. Indiana won last year's game 47-10 in East Lansing, led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke who had four passing touchdowns, they shut down Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles returning safety Amare Ferrell had two key interceptions. The teams have alternated wins in the last five matchups dating back to 2020, but Michigan State went 10-1 against Indiana from 2007-19.
ESPN: Indiana has a 96.4% chance to defeat Michigan State on Saturday
According to The Weather Channel, it’s going to be 79 degrees and partly cloudy with a 59% chance of rain on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Bloomington.
Bill Bender of Sporting News said this about the upcoming homecoming match for the Hoosiers: "The Spartans shouldn't be this bad on the defensive side. Michigan State has allowed 40.3 points per game in Big Ten play. That included allowing an average of 264 rushing yards to USC and UCLA. Indiana leads the Big Ten at 241.7 rushing yards per game. The Hoosiers beat the Spartans 47-10 last season, and Indiana is 9-3 ATS as a home favorite under Curt Cignetti."
Game Prediction:
Michigan State does still has a ton of talent and a solid head coach and quarterback duo to be feisty and play a close game at Bloomington.
With all that being said let me end any speculation quickly, I am in no way shape or form picking Michigan State to win this game but it will be close for about 20 minutes into the game. Indiana is simply better in every single faucet of football from top to bottom and will start off a little sluggish bevcause of human nature but talent will rise to the top.
Indiana wins and takes over this game with turnovers of defense and getting back to basics running the football often on Saturday. Indiana wins over Sparty, 45-17.