The Indiana Hoosiers have largely become known as the loveable losers of the Big Ten over the course of the last several years. They vastly overachieved last season in winning six games and reaching a bowl game, but Kevin Wilson is still under the gun to continue to improve this franchise. Anything less than another trip to a bowl game is likely going to see him shown the door.
Indiana Hoosiers Regular Season Win Total Odds at BookMaker.eu
Indiana Over 6 Wins ( +180 )
Indiana Under 6 Wins ( -260 )
Nate Sudfeld really was a difference maker for this team. He threw for 3,573 yards and 27 TDs, and he really kept this team in games last year with his heroics. He's gone now though, and there isn't an obvious incumbent to replace him. Richard Lagrow and Danny Cameron are the likely suspects, though neither one is anywhere near as proven as Sudfeld. The offensive line is awfully experienced for the Hoosiers though, and that could end up being a great equalizer.
The defense though, is a different story. Indiana is going to switch to a 4-2-5 defensive look with new defensive coordinator Tom Allen. That might ultimately help a secondary which ranked No. 127 in the nation at 313.8 yards per game allowed, but the talent just isn't there on this unit as we see it. Jonathan Crawford picked off four passes to lead the team last year, and the lack of forced turnovers really put the offense behind the 8-ball for sure.
2016 Indiana Hoosiers Football Schedule
September 1 – at Florida Atlantic
September 10 – vs. Ball State
September 24 – vs. Wake Forest
October 1 – vs. Michigan State
October 8 – at Ohio State
October 15 – vs. Nebraska
October 22 – at Northwestern
October 29 – vs. Maryland
November 5 – at Rutgers
November 12 – vs. Penn State
November 19 – at Michigan
November 26 – vs. Purdue
The schedule for the Hoosiers definitely has some potential to it. They'll be favored in each of their first three games against FIU, Ball State and Wake Forest, and they've got games at the end of the year against Maryland and Rutgers which will likely be wins as well. The question is whether there are games which can be had in the middle.
One would like to think that the start of October is going to be a nightmare for IU. Michigan State, Ohio State and Nebraska are probably all sure losses. Getting to bowl eligibility though, will require winning some games against teams like Penn State and Purdue.
QUICK PICK
The Hoosiers are being overstated here by the oddsmakers. We aren't 100 percent certain they're going to win their first game of the year on the road against FIU, and they could easily lose at Northwestern and at home against Penn State as well. Even if everything else goes according to plan, there's not a great hope to get to seven wins.
The loss of Sudfeld can't be underestimated. If the Hoosiers really had an heir apparent, we would be believers. But Wilson believes in an up-tempo offense. That might end up working well when you've got a quarterback who can score on a high percentage of his drives, but when you're counting on an unproven commodity, you just don't know what you're going to get.
The best Indiana does is 6-6 as we see it. If that's the case, the team will end up in a second straight bowl game, and Wilson will end up being safe. Anything less than that though, and bettors are going to end up cashing under tickets, and the Hoosiers are going to be on the search for a new head coach.
College Football Odds: Indiana Hoosiers Under 6 Wins
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