Michigan Wolverines vs. Indiana Hoosiers Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 9th 2024

Preview and Prediction

At the start of the season, it was widely expected that the Big Ten matchup between Michigan and Indiana on Saturday in Bloomington, Ind., would feature a Top 10 team from the first College Football Playoff rankings facing an unranked opponent.

However, few could have predicted that the reigning national champions, the Wolverines, would be the unranked team while the Hoosiers would be in contention for a playoff spot.

This is the current situation as Indiana (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) prepares to face the unranked Wolverines (5-4, 3-3) as a two-touchdown favorite, looking to continue their impressive push for a conference title and a spot in the CFP.

The Hoosiers are ranked No. 8 in the first CFP rankings, which were released on Tuesday, but head coach Curt Cignetti is not letting that distract his team.

"The only thing that matters is the result on game day. To achieve that, we need to stay focused on the main goal and block out any distractions or outside noise. Our focus should be on playing our best on Saturday and giving ourselves the best chance to get a win," he said.

Indiana is currently 9-0 for the first time in program history and is aiming for their first 10-win season. They will also be seeking just their second victory over Michigan since 1987, with their last win coming during the shortened 2020 season (38-21 in Bloomington).

Cignetti acknowledges the strengths of the Wolverines, stating, "They have a strong defense and special teams. Offensively, they may not score a lot of points, but they have the ability to run the ball and have talented players. They are a team with a rich history and a lot of pride coming into our stadium."

In their last game against Michigan State, Indiana found themselves trailing for the first time this season when the Spartans took a 10-0 lead.

However, the Hoosiers responded with 47 unanswered points to secure a comfortable win. They were also boosted by the return of starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who missed the previous game against Washington due to a right thumb injury. Rourke threw for 263 yards and four touchdowns in his return.

Rourke, who has thrown for 2,204 yards and 19 touchdowns with only three interceptions, will be the main focus of Michigan's defense, which has not been as strong as expected.

The Wolverines have lost three of their last four games after starting the season with a 4-1 record. In their most recent game, they gave up 470 total yards, including 176 rushing yards, in a 38-17 loss to No. 1 ranked Oregon at home.

Michigan's offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore had high praise for Indiana, saying, "They are a disciplined, fast, and physical team. Offensively, they do a great job of spreading out the defense and keeping things simple for their players. Defensively, they play as a cohesive unit and try to force their opponents into making mistakes."

In the game against Oregon, Michigan was without their two starting cornerbacks, including top NFL Draft prospect Will Johnson and Jyaire Hill.

Moore has stated that Hill is likely to play in the upcoming game, while Johnson's status is still uncertain.

PREDICTION

Michigan Wolverines

17

31

Indiana Hoosiers

Michigan Wolverines vs. Indiana Hoosiers Recap OCT 8TH 2022