The Northwestern Wildcats and Indiana Hoosiers will face off on the turf at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and FS1 will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Northwestern Wildcats vs. Indiana Hoosiers
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Indiana has been projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 12 points. If they want to play the moneyline, gamblers would currently have to spend $500 in order to win $100 back on the Hoosiers (-500). The Wildcats are getting +350 moneyline odds. There will probably be multiple good live betting opportunities while this matchup’s taking place, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 46.5 points.
With the line opening at -12 and the total initially set at 47, oddsmakers have shifted this game’s outlook a bit.
The Wildcats are down 3.0 units so far in 2019 and 2-5 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 2-5.
The Hoosiers have gained 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-3 ATS and own an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Wildcats have gone only 1-6 straight up (SU), including 0-5 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Hoosiers are 6-2 SU overall and 3-2 SU in conference play.
Northwestern enters this one on a three-game winning streak while Indiana has dropped each of its last five. The Wildcats dropped one to Iowa 20-0 in a blowout where Aidan Smith completed just 18 passes on 32 attempts for 138 yards and one interception. Isaiah Bowser (36 yards on 14 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Smith (-5 yards on 11 carries) spearheaded the ground attack in the loss. Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman (four receptions, 41 yards) and Jace James (three catches, 21 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Indiana just earned a 38-31 win over Nebraska. The Hoosiers defense let the Cornhuskers run for 220 yards on 50 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Wan’Dale Robinson torched the defense, recording 83 rushing yards and a score on 22 attempts, along with 71 yards and a score on six catches for Nebraska. For Indiana, Peyton Ramsey completed 27-of-40 passes for 351 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Stevie Scott III (68 yards on 16 rush attempts, one TD) led the ground game in the win while Whop Philyor (14 receptions, 178 yards) and Ty Fryfogle (four catches, 75 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps.
Northwestern has run the ball on 57.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Indiana has a rush percentage of 46.8 percent. The Wildcats have rushed for 140.4 yards per game (including 122.8 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have six scores via handoffs this year. The Hoosiers are putting up 137.8 rushing yards per game (132.4 in conference) and have 13 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Hoosiers may hold an advantage in all aspects of the ground game. Their backfield has generated 4.1 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.9 to opponents. The Wildcats have tallied 3.4 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.2 to opponents.
The Wildcats offense has logged 126 yards per game in the air overall (120 per game against conference opposition) and has two passing scores so far. The Hoosiers have produced 312.8 pass yards per game (297 against Big 10 foes) and have 19 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Northwestern has allowed 159.4 rush yards and 180 pass yards per game. The Indiana defense has allowed 184.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 139.8 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Wildcats have given up an ANY/A of 6.41 to opposing QBs, while the Hoosiers are yielding an ANY/A of 5.96.
Offensively, Smith has amassed 411 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 52 percent of his 95 attempts with one scores through the air and five interceptions. He’s got a 1.57 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 1.10 over the last two outings.
For the home team, Peyton Ramsey has completed 86-of-120 passes for 1,001 yards, seven TDs and three INTs. Ramsey’s ANY/A sits at 7.56 for the season and 7.87 over his last two games.
These two Big 10 foes did not get a chance to play each other in 2018.
Northwestern Wildcats at Indiana Hoosiers NCAA Prediction
SU Winner: Indiana, ATS Winner: Indiana, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- Indiana has lost three fumbles this season while Northwestern has lost four.
- The Indiana defense has notched 18 sacks on the year while Northwestern has 13.
- Northwestern, as a team, has averaged 3.1 yards per carry over its past three outings and 2.7 over its last two.
- Indiana has averaged 5.4 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.6 over its past two.
