Unbeaten Indiana prepares for undefeated Ohio State

The crowd around a Hoosier basketball game rivals any rabid fan base in the nation. There may even have homefield advantage on Saturday! And maybe a couple more in November, too. “It’s nuts. But we’re not going to change it. It’s the world we live in”. This streak includes his three consecutive 200 yard performances in last year’s post season and the streak began last year against Indiana. They are going up against Indiana running back Jordan Howard, who leads the conference in rushing yards and has carried the Indiana offense on his back thus far.

Howard is a castoff from the now-defunct UAB football program, and finds himself as the nation’s leading rusher. Tevin Coleman ran well, and the Hoosiers were in the fight for three quarters until the game blew open. The Bucks looked electric in their season-opener against Virginia Tech, but Urban Meyer’s squad has struggled to live up to the preseason hype since their Labor Day victory over the Hokies. He’s also physical at the point of attack, and will be tough to move at the second level.

If the passing game fails, the Hoosiers can go to Jordan Howard on the ground.

THE RED SEA: Ohio State tends to draw the biggest crowds in Bloomington and it’s no secret why: Reasonably-priced tickets are available and Columbus is just a 3 1/2-hour drive away.

Ohio State has been excellent at run stopping this season. The Buckeyes net almost nine more yards on average per punt, a discrepancy the Hoosiers can’t allow to happen. Cardale Jones has completed 57 percent of his passes for 622 yards and four touchdowns, and has rushed for 147 yards.

The main beneficiary of those explosive plays has been junior receiver Ricky Jones. In receiving, Simmie Cobbs had 75 yards and one touchdown in seven receptions while Ricky Jones added 43 yards and one touchdown in two catches. It’s not as though Indiana is just throwing deep to him, either. Jones could easily have over 350 passing yards and Thomas or Marshall are the most likely to see those targets. However, Indiana hasn’t played against a defense this season that has rivaled the “Silver Bullets”. “(Hybrid) Dontre Wilson deserves more touches. The Hoosiers are particularly ghastly through the air, ranking 94th in Passing IsoPPP. “We’ll see when I’m a senior”. Usually that means Indiana’s Memorial Stadium becomes a pseudo-home game for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State needed a play, and Jalin Marshall wasn’t about to leave things to chance. Ohio State won the game 38-12. The first won’t be coming on Saturday, either. One recruit high on their list in their quest to reload their dynasty?

Next Week: The Hoosiers travel to Penn State. He’s facing a much better team than the likes of Wake Forest and Western Kentucky this week, and it will be a real test of what the quarterback can do with his arm. I think Indiana will have trouble getting stops and Ohio State won’t….

Last season, Ohio State routed Wisconsin 59-0 in the title game and went on to win the College Football Playoff championship. Have a problem generating big plays?

It’s people like this who keep me in the pressbox – the opinions may not be much better, but at least it’s a little quiter. Having trouble protecting your quarterback? After four nonconference games to start the 2015 season, the “Silver Bullets” have played more consistently than the Ohio State offense.

Odds-makers believe Indiana is a long shot. Now, he’ll take the Buckeyes on the road to face the Hoosiers in a hard match which will have everyone and their mother watching. That feels about right, given what we know about these two teams. And an Ohio State win this weekend looks like: 49-24.