I wonder if the Buckeye players feel this way.
4-0. No. 1 in the nation. And yet I polled some
Ohio State fans on how they feel about the season so far. Here are the results.
But nothing gets the blood boiling and the nerve ends
tingling like . . . Indiana? The Hoosiers are 12-70-5 against the
Buckeyes. That’s a .167 winning percentage. The Buckeyes have won
20 straight with IU’s last win being 1988. Sure, there have been some
closer games, like last year’s 42-27 or 2012’s 52-49. But a closer
look reveals that last year we turned a 14-20 deficit into a 42-20 lead in
about a quarter. The game in Bloomington we actually led 52-34 with two
minutes left. So, even the close games aren’t that close.
Could this Indiana be different? They are a
top the B1G in Total Offense and Scoring Offense. And they are on a
5-game win streak. This is the first time since 1942 that both Ohio State
and Indiana have been undefeated entering the game.
But, Indiana is also dead last in Total Defense and 12th
in the conference in Scoring Defense. You can really slice through them
via the air, so it is imperative that Cardale have a decent game. BTW,
the Hoosiers are 0-15 against No. 1 teams including 0-5 v. the Bucks when we
are top ranked.
One important fact to note from the IU Athletic
office: • IU’s staff and players will “go pink” in support of breast
cancer awareness.
Vegas has us as a 21 point favorite with the over/under at
67. The Buckeyes are 1-3 ATS and 1-3 on the over, usually not coming
close. Indiana is the opposite 3-1 ATS and 4-0 on the over. A
lovely day in the mid-50s with occasional rain is in the forecast. IU was
2-10 ATS off a S/U win, but after 3 straight they are now 5-10. Coach
Kevin Wilson is 6-6 ATS as a home dog, which doesn’t help me at all. The
only stat that really jumps out at me is that IU has covered in the last 4
meetings with the Buckeyes. That stat, along with IU being 3-0
after a S/U, and 3-1 ATS this year, and the Buckeyes poor performances seems to
be pointing toward taking the Hoosiers and the points.
I think getting out of Columbus gets the Buckeyes more
focused and they will be sharper. I think our defense controls IU and
they will allow us to make big plays. Weather won’t be a big
deal. Zeke will. Give the points, take the under.
Schaef Says: Ohio State 44, Indiana 17.
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