It’s the best time of year — college football is beginning — and Indiana sits atop the Big Ten standings that may or may not be in alphabetical order at this point. At a time when visions of 1967 and 1945 are still alive and well, at least for us dreamers, we go game by game and predict the score of each contest on the 2018 slate.
What could possibly go wrong?
INDIANA 24 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 20 (1-0)
An effective passing game and takeaways help the Hoosiers survive on the road.
INDIANA 27 VIRGINIA 17 (2-0)
The Cavaliers don’t have the offensive firepower to compete in this one as the Hoosiers take their home opener in front of a great crowd at the newly enclosed Memorial Stadium.
INDIANA 38 BALL STATE 28 (3-0)
This is an experienced and talented Ball State team, but the Hoosiers do enough to pull it out and finish the pre-conference portion of the schedule with a perfect mark.
MICHIGAN STATE 27 INDIANA 20 (3-1)
The Hoosiers put up a valiant effort but once again come up short as the Big Ten East realities start to set in.
INDIANA 21 RUTGERS 20 (4-1)
In a vastly different game than last year’s 41-0 rout, the Hoosiers do just enough on the road to pull even in the Big Ten.
OHIO STATE 45 INDIANA 17 (4-2)
The Buckeyes are too much on their home field as the inexperienced IU defense gets exposed.
IOWA 27 INDIANA 24 (4-3)
The Hoosiers find themselves on their first losing streak after a heartbreaking home loss.
PENN STATE 34 INDIANA 20 (4-4)
IU competes but the Nittany Lions prove to be too much behind Trace McSorley.
MINNESOTA 23 INDIANA 17 (4-5)
An off day on offense on the road has the Hoosiers under .500 as the season hangs in the balance.
INDIANA 27 MARYLAND 24 (5-5)
In a make or break game the Hoosiers find a way and get back to .500 at home.
MICHIGAN 31 INDIANA 14 (5-6)
The Hoosiers come up short in another difficult Big Ten East road contest. It will be another win the Bucket or go home scenario.
INDIANA 37 PURDUE 27 (6-6)
The offense shows up in a big way in the Old Oaken Bucket Game as the Hoosiers clinch bowl eligibility for the third time in four seasons.
BIG TEN WEST
The West is really balanced in spots 2 through 6. Wisconsin on top and Illinois on the bottom seems clear, as for the rest — it’s anyone’s guess.
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- Northwestern
- Purdue
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
- Illinois
BIG TEN EAST
It’s the usual four suspects at the top of the East, and there are coherent arguments to put any of them on top. Ultimately the conference schedule tips the balance.
- Ohio State
- Michigan State
- Michigan
- Penn State
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Rutgers
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