No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes at Indiana Hoosiers: Preview, prediction, TV info
(Video courtesy IUAthletics)
No. 8 Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at Indiana (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Kickoff: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
Spread: Ohio State by 17
Watchability: Indiana proved last week it can move the ball. The Hoosiers had 317 yards of offense in a 31-27 loss to Michigan State. Indiana led for most of the game and had a chance to win late in the fourth quarter. Ohio State is coming off a 63-38 rout of Nebraska but has struggled at times against spread offenses.
Shining stars: Ohio State: QB Braxton Miller has passed for 1,060 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. He's rushed for a team-high 763 yards with eight touchdowns. Miller is one of the best open-field runners in the country, but coach Urban Meyer likely will try to minimize the number of hits he takes against Indiana. Indiana: RB Stephen Houston has scored a touchdown in each of the Hoosiers' games this season as he has rushed for 277 yards with four touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 117 yards and a score. Houston is becoming a bigger part of the team's offense, so look for him to get the ball on swing passes against the Buckeyes.
Who could steal the show: Ohio State: DB Bradley Roby could be the top cover corner in the conference by the end of the season. Roby has 32 tackles, 11 passes defended, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He will get chances to make plays in space against the Indiana spread offense. Indiana: DL Adam Replogle anchors the defense. The senior has a team-high 36 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks. He will have a tall task controlling the line of scrimmage and must control the pocket to limit Miller's rushing lanes.
Magic number for Ohio State: 16. Consecutive wins in the series by the Buckeyes, including a 34-20 victory last season. Indiana hasn't won since 1988 (41-7).
Magic number for Indiana: 17. Scoring drives that have taken 3 minutes of fewer for Indiana this season. The Hoosiers are averaging a play every 21.1 seconds.
The game comes down to: Can Indiana keep up? The Hoosiers aren't as fast, as talented or deep. But coach Kevin Wilson demonstrated an ability to craft a creative game plan against an elite Michigan State defense and he is constantly trying to put the ball in the hands of its top playmakers. Expect lots of screens, swing passes and quick-hitters in Bloomington.
Eye on College Football's take: Ohio State at Indiana: Indiana looked very impressive against Michigan STate for a half, but once MSU stopped committing penalties in the second half, things changed. Ohio State and Braxton Miller shouldn't have much trouble here. -- Tom Fornelli
Prediction: Ohio State 49, Indiana 28
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big Ten bloggers Dave Carey and Mike Singer, follow @CBSSportsBigTen.
