EDITORIAL BY GRAYDON FOX

Overview:

On Saturday, October 6^th, the (4-1) Indiana Hoosiers will be on the road to take on the (5-0) Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Crowd:

The Crowd projects a final score of Ohio State 43.4 – Indiana 19.6 with an over/under of 61.9.

Lou Holtz and Mark May:

Lou is predicting a final score of Ohio State 41 – Indiana 14.

Mark is predicting a final score of Ohio State 48 – Indiana 17.

2018-19 Statistics (130 total teams):

Passing offense: Ohio State 346.6 YPG > Indiana 232.8 YPG

Rushing offense: Ohio State 210.4 YPG > Indiana 179.4 YPG

Scoring offense: Ohio State 49.0 PPG > Indiana 28.2 PPG

Scoring defense: Ohio State 18.8 PPG > Indiana 21.2 PPG

Passing defense: Indiana 163.6 YPG > Ohio State 202.2 YPG

Rushing defense: Ohio State 154.8 YPG > Indiana 158.2 PPG

Turnover Margin Per Game: Ohio State +1.0 > Indiana +0.6

Summary:

Indiana is (4-1) to start the season with wins over Florida International, Virginia, Ball State, and Rutgers.  They were defeated by #24 Michigan State 35-21 in week four.  The Hoosiers rank 81^st in points per game (33.8) and 41^st scoring defense (21.2 PPG).  Quarterback Peyton Ramsey is completing 71% of his passes for 1,039 yards with 8 touchdowns to 5 interceptions.  Ramsey is the team’s second leading rusher with 170 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Running back Stevie Scott has been a workhorse rushing for 464 yards (4.7 YPC) and 4 touchdowns.  Indiana is pretty strong defensively ranking 14^th against the pass (163.6 YPG).

Ohio State is (5-0) with victories over Oregon State, Rutgers, #15 TCU, Tulane, and #9 Penn State.  The Buckeyes rank 6^th in points per game (49.0) and 27^th in scoring defense (18.8 PPG).  Quarterback Dwyane Haskins has completed 70% of his passes for 1,464 yards with 19 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.  Haskins has the 8^th most passing yards of any quarterback.  The backfield duo of J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber Jr. have combined to rush for 730 yards and 6 touchdowns.  Ohio State has no shortage of playmakers as Parris Campbell, K.J. Hill, Austin Mack, and Terry McLaurin all have over 200 yards receiving.  The injury to All-American defensive end Nick Bosa hurts but luckily for the Buckeyes that is their deepest position group.

Bottom Line:

Penn State may have provided the blueprint to slowing down Ohio State by moving Haskins off his spot by blitzing all game.  Indiana doesn’t quite have the pass rushing personnel but they have been strong against the pass. I expect a heavy dose of J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber Jr. as they wear down Indiana and pull away in the second half.

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