Michigan (3-3, 5-4) at #8 Indiana (6-0, 9-0) Game Week

[medinabuckeye1]

If there already was one, I didn't see it.  I apologize and please merge. 

This is NUTS!  Indiana is #8 in the CFP rankings, #8 in the AP, and #10 in the coaches poll.  With a win over the Wolverines, I could see them jumping as many as three spots in the rankings because the three teams ahead of them (TN, PSU, TX) each have a loss.  Indiana is held back by their SoS and their "brand".  A win over Michigan would help immensely with that because while Michigan is merely a .500 team, they are "Michigan" so it would be a brand name win. 

Another angle is that there is a decent chance that Indiana is playing for a CFP spot here.  After Michigan the Hoosiers visit Ohio State then host Purdue, that is it.  They should beat Purdue but I honestly don't see them making the playoffs at 10-2 so, as I see it, they have to either beat Michigan at home or win in Columbus.  The easier of the two is this weekend. 

History:
The Hoosiers are 10-62 (.139) all-time against the Wolverines.  They won a few years ago during Michigan's disastrous Covid year but that is their only win in the last 37 years.  The Hoosiers are 1-27 since beating Michigan in 1987.  Indiana's only sustained success against the Wolverines came from the mid-50's through the late 60's.  From 1954-1967 the Hoosiers were 4-4 against the Wolverines but I'm cherry-picking to come up with Indiana's best and they were still only .500 and the average score of those games was 13-24 in favor of Michigan.  This is because Indiana's wins were by 2, 4, 7, and 19 while Michigan's wins were by 14, 22, 23, and 30. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

IMHO their chances of making it at 10-2 heavily depend on HOW they lose, not necessarily that they have to win either game to have a chance.

Two fairly close losses against Michigan and OSU? Probably be safe in a 12-team playoff, although they'd probably be seeded as the 10+ team. Depending on who else is in the mix of course. 

Two blowout losses? Toast because they'd rightly be seen as pretenders. 

[ELA]

Indiana 37, Michigan 14

[medinabuckeye1]

IMHO their chances of making it at 10-2 heavily depend on HOW they lose, not necessarily that they have to win either game to have a chance.

Two fairly close losses against Michigan and OSU? Probably be safe in a 12-team playoff, although they'd probably be seeded as the 10+ team. Depending on who else is in the mix of course.

Two blowout losses? Toast because they'd rightly be seen as pretenders.

Fair point.  I hadn't really thought about that but yeah, if they lose in OT at home to Michigan then lose on a last second FG in Columbus I could definitely see them getting in a 10-2.  

Still, this game could EASILY be the difference between hosting a CFP game and having to go somewhere like Neyland to play a CFP game in front of a HOSTILE crowd.  That is a big deal too.  

[ELA]

Also depends on if we get an ACC bid stealer.  Much like NCAA basketball, after Clemson's loss last week, everyone else needs to be big Miami fans.  They seem pretty safe, so they can't lose to an SMU or Louisville in the ACC Championship

[MrNubbz]

History of Indiana's nickname

In 1833, an Ohio newspaper wrote, "Hooshier has been used in many of the Western States, for several years, to designate . . . an inhabitant of our sister state of Indiana." That indicates the term "Hoosier" may have originated outside the state of Indiana. How? There are numerous theories, but none have been proven. One of the most popular theories is that "Hoosier" derived from cabin owners asking travelers, "Who's here?" The word was also spelled "Hoosher" and "Hooshier" before "Hoosier" became the common spelling.

Eventually, the term became so popularized that it came to be the name for Indiana University's athletic teams. Even the exact origin of the Hoosiers nickname for Indiana athletics is shrouded in mystery. The university's website says it's "difficult to trace" when the school started using the term to describe its students and teams. "The first time that Indiana University claimed the term Hoosiers for themselves even in the context of other Indiana teams was during the 1923 football season, when the team nickname became the Scrapping Hoosiers," the university website says. Since the name was popularized in the 1800s, it's not tough to figure out why it became the official moniker of the school's athletic teams.


IMO Indiana wins a close one,Michigan is good enough up front to take them out of their rythm they've gotten into.Hoosiers haven't faced this stout of a line. Also it appears Warren is coming around and between Edwards and Mullings in the backfield and Loveland it should be enough to keep the Hoosiers honest. Maybe Morgan can come up with a few snags himself.But IU at home should win a close one - at least I hope it is

[utee94]

[medinabuckeye1]

Also depends on if we get an ACC bid stealer.  Much like NCAA basketball, after Clemson's loss last week, everyone else needs to be big Miami fans.  They seem pretty safe, so they can't lose to an SMU or Louisville in the ACC Championship

This is a good point as well.  In the CFP rankings Miami is #4 and the next highest ACC team is #13 SMU (they are in the ACC?).  

If Miami beats SMU, then the Hurricanes are in and that is that.  If SMU beats Miami they are both in and that knocks somebody out.  That somebody could be a 10-2 Indiana team EVEN if both IU losses are close.  

[LittlePig]

Indiana could lose to Michigan,  beat Ohio ST,  and then lose to Oregon in the CCG.  Finishes 11-2.  That would be good enough even with 2 losses.

I am taking a leap of faith here that somehow Indiana would win a tiebreaker for 2nd place with PSU because Indiana beat Ohio St  and PSU lost to OSU.