Indiana Hoosiers vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Picks and Predictions October 19th 2024

Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN, will be the site for this week eight matchup between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Indiana Hoosiers. The game is set for 12:00 ET, with FOX handling the broadcast. The Hoosiers are the -6.5-point favorites at home, and the over/under line is currently at 50.5 points. Indiana comes in with a 6-0 record, while Nebraska is 5-1 on the season.

Nebraska vs. Indiana Key Information

Nebraska enters Week 8 with a 5-1 record, ranked 43rd in our power rankings. They have a 94% chance of becoming bowl-eligible but only a 0.1% shot at winning the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers are 3-0 at home and 1-0 on the road this season.

Nebraska’s ATS record stands at 3-0-1, and they’ve been favored in four of their six games. Their average scoring margin is +16.7 points per game, and they’ve gone 3-0-1 against the spread as the favorite.

The over/under line for this week is 50.5 points. Nebraska’s games have averaged 39.3 points, with an average line of 46.5 points. Their over/under record is 0-4, with their games falling short by an average of 6.7 points.

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Nebraska’s offense is averaging 28 points per game, placing them 50th in the nation as they head into week 8. In our offensive power rankings, they are 49th. Quarterback Dylan Raiola has thrown for 1,345 yards, and the team ranks 33rd in passing completions per game, averaging 20.3. Overall, they are 57th in passing yards per game, with 242.5.

Raiola has nine touchdowns and three interceptions, with a passer rating of 101. Nebraska’s rushing game is averaging 138.3 yards per game. Dante Dowdell leads the team with 334 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Isaiah Neyor is the top receiver with 291 yards and four touchdowns.

Nebraska’s defense has been impressive this season, ranking 5th nationally by allowing just 11.3 points per game. They are also 8th in the country against the run, giving up only 85.8 rushing yards per game. In their last game, they held Rutgers to 7 points and allowed just 103 passing yards, while forcing one interception.

Opponents are averaging 188.3 passing yards per game against Nebraska, completing 59.9% of their passes. Nebraska’s defense has faced an average of 30.5 rushing attempts per game, which ranks 22nd fewest in the nation.

Indiana enters Week 8 with a perfect 6-0 record, sitting at 15th in our power rankings. They are projected to be bowl-eligible and have a 9.7% chance of winning the Big Ten. The Hoosiers also have the 9th best odds of making the CFB playoff, with a 47.3% chance according to our projections.

So far, Indiana is 4-1 against the spread, with a +32.7 average scoring margin. They’ve been favored in five of their six games, going 4-1 ATS as the favorite.

Indiana games have averaged 62.3 points, with an average over/under line of 48 points. This week’s line is set at 50.5 points, with Indiana’s over/under record at 4-1 this season.

Indiana’s offense has been one of the best in college football heading into week 8, ranking second in our offensive power rankings and scoring 47.5 points per game. Kurtis Rourke has thrown for 1,752 yards and has a passer rating of 133. Indiana is 11th in passing yards per game nationally, and Rourke has completed 73.8% of his passes, leading to 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Overall, Indiana ranks third in the nation in completion percentage and passer rating. They are also seventh in third-down conversions, converting 54% of their attempts. On the ground, they average 205 rushing yards per game. Justice Ellison leads the rushing attack with 409 yards, six touchdowns, and an average of 6 yards per carry. Elijah Sarratt has 513 receiving yards on 29 catches.

Indiana’s defense has been strong this season, ranking 9th nationally by allowing just 14.8 points per game. They’ve given up only 84.2 rushing yards per game, the 7th-lowest in the country, on 27.7 attempts per game, which ranks 10th fewest.

In their recent game against Northwestern, Indiana allowed 24 points but held the Wildcats to just 10 first downs and 83 rushing yards on 31 attempts. Northwestern threw for 203 yards but didn’t score any passing touchdowns.

Nebraska comes into this game as the +6.5 point underdogs on the road vs. Indiana. We have Nebraska winning this game 27-24, so we would recommend taking Nebraska to cover the spread.

With the over/under line sitting at 50.5 points, our projection of 51 total points suggests that taking the over is the best play.

Fresh off a Bye, No. 16 Indiana Faces Stern Test in Nebraska

No. 16 Indiana, the first team to clinch bowl eligibility this season, is ready to take the next step toward fulfilling its coach’s bold prediction. After a well-timed bye week, the Hoosiers return to action Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, Ind., where they will face Nebraska in a pivotal Big Ten Conference clash.

The Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) have been dominant through the first half of the season, winning every game by at least 14 points. But their true test may be just beginning, as they eye a potential 9-0 start before facing conference heavyweights Michigan and Ohio State.

Cignetti’s Bold Prediction

Indiana’s head coach Curt Cignetti made waves shortly after accepting the job when he made a bold statement about his team’s future. Appearing on Big Ten Network ahead of the conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium, Cignetti confidently stated, “I figured I had to make this trip up here since we’ll be playing in this game next year.”

At the time, many doubted the audacity of the statement. Now, after a blistering 6-0 start, the Hoosiers have positioned themselves to make that prediction a reality. The path forward remains challenging, but Indiana has proven to be one of the most balanced and dynamic teams in the nation.

“This is culture and mindset,” Cignetti said following Indiana’s 41-24 victory over Northwestern on Oct. 5. “These are guys that came from championship programs that have now won 20 of their last 21 games. And a lot of other transfers that come from good programs. And the guys that stayed had a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.”

Indiana’s High-Powered Offense

A key factor in Indiana’s success has been its prolific offense. The Hoosiers rank second in the nation in scoring, averaging 47.5 points per game, and they are fourth in total yardage, putting up an impressive 515.7 yards per contest.

At the helm of the offense is Kurtis Rourke, a transfer from Ohio who has been outstanding in his first season with Indiana. Rourke has completed nearly 74 percent of his passes while boasting a stellar 14-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His ability to spread the ball to a variety of playmakers has been a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Rourke’s strong play has allowed Indiana to overwhelm opponents, but the Hoosiers’ defense has been equally formidable. Indiana’s defense is allowing fewer than 15 points per game and has recorded 19 sacks in six games. Only two of their opponents have managed to surpass 100 rushing yards, highlighting the dominance of the Hoosiers’ front seven.

Nebraska’s Defensive Challenge

Meanwhile, Nebraska (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) is also coming off a bye week, having last played in a 14-7 victory over Rutgers on Oct. 5. While the Cornhuskers’ offense struggled in that game, amassing just 261 total yards and allowing four sacks, their defense has been stout all season.

Nebraska’s defense is arguably the best unit Indiana has faced this year. The Cornhuskers are allowing just 11.3 points per game and have been relentless in the pass rush, recording 20 sacks. They’ve also been opportunistic, scoring twice on interception returns.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule knows the challenge that Indiana presents, but he believes his team is up to the task. “Probably a top 10 team that we’re facing,” Rhule said of Indiana, “but they are not getting the credit in the rankings because they started unranked.”

Raiola’s Development and Nebraska’s Opportunities

Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola has shown flashes of potential for Nebraska, completing nearly 67 percent of his passes. However, Raiola is coming off a less-than-stellar performance in the win over Rutgers, completing just 13 of 27 passes for 134 yards and an interception.

For Nebraska, Saturday’s game—and a looming matchup with Ohio State next week—provides a golden opportunity to return to the national spotlight. Rhule’s squad fell out of the rankings after a 31-24 overtime loss to Illinois in late September, but a win over an undefeated Indiana team would go a long way in restoring Nebraska’s relevance in the Big Ten race.

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The Cornhuskers will rely on their defense to keep Indiana’s high-powered offense in check. If they can pressure Rourke and force turnovers, Nebraska could keep the game within reach.

Key Matchups and What to Watch

• Kurtis Rourke vs. Nebraska’s pass rush: Rourke has been outstanding this season, but he will face his toughest test yet against a Nebraska defense that has been ferocious in pressuring quarterbacks. With 20 sacks already, the Cornhuskers will look to disrupt Rourke’s rhythm and force him into mistakes.
• Dylan Raiola vs. Indiana’s secondary: Raiola’s development has been a work in progress, and he struggled mightily against Rutgers. He will need to be more efficient and avoid turnovers if Nebraska hopes to keep pace with Indiana’s offense.
• Indiana’s defensive front vs. Nebraska’s running game: Indiana has been strong against the run all season, and they will look to shut down Nebraska’s ground attack. If the Cornhuskers are forced to rely solely on Raiola’s arm, Indiana’s pass rush could feast.

What’s at Stake

A win for Indiana would not only keep their undefeated season alive but also continue to validate Cignetti’s bold championship prediction. A 7-0 start would keep them in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten and set up the possibility of a dream season in Bloomington.

For Nebraska, this game represents a chance to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the Big Ten. With a tough road ahead, including next week’s matchup against Ohio State, a win on Saturday could propel the Cornhuskers back into the rankings and solidify their status as a legitimate contender in the conference.

As both teams emerge from their bye weeks, the stage is set for an exciting showdown in Bloomington. Indiana will look to keep its dream season rolling, while Nebraska aims to spoil the party and make a statement of its own in the Big Ten.