This was supposed to be the third straight easy, get all the seniors in for the fourth quarter, please oh please don't let anyone important get seriously injured, type of game. UMASS didn't cooperate, and Denard got hurt against Bowling Green, so let's hope the third time is the charm. After the events of the last two games, I will now place this game in the don't show MSU too much, don't get caught looking ahead to MSU, and seriously this time....don't let anyone important get injured, category. When a team has won 16 straight, the tendency is to look past the opposition, especially when you are playing a rival in 7 days. This shouldn't happen, but we all know it does.
LAST YEAR
I'd rather not talk about it, but I will anyway (quickly). IU led until Michigan scored on a TD pass from Forcier to Odoms with 2:29 left in the fourth quarter, and sealed it with a controversial interception by Donovan Warren, leading IU coach Bill Lynch to freak out. Michigan was favored by 19 points, but won 36-33. Guess who they played the following week? Yep, MSU. Trap game.....get yer trap game here!
WHO TO BE WORRIED ABOUT
IU ranks 14th nationally in passing yards/game and 10th in points/game. They only rank 96th in rushing yards/game, so their strength is obviously their passing attack.
QB Ben Chappell- Chappell is a pure pocket-passer who last year had a 17-15 TD-INT ratio. He is off to a pretty good start so far going 71-98 for 890 yds and a 9-0 TD?INT ratio. Of course they have played Towson, Western Kentucky, and the Akron Zips. Not really the greatest barometer to judge a defense.
WR Damarlo Belcher- Belcher was the Hoosier's 2nd best WR last year catching 61 passes for 770 yards and 5TD. He is a match-up nightmare standing 6'5'' and 215lbs. He is leading IU through 3 games with 21 catches totaling 284 yards and 2 scores.
TE Ted Bolser- Redshirt freshman Ted Bolser is not only the youngest person on earth that goes by "Ted", but has been a surprise receiving threat so far. He has only caught 9 balls fr 128 yards, but 4 of those catches ended in 6 points.
WR/KR/PR/CPA/FBI/BMOC Tandon Doss- This guy, in a word(or 3), does it all. Over 1000 total yards and 6 TDs last year. He is off to a slow start this year with 8 receptions for 102 yards and a TD, 3 carries for 17 yards and a score. He is the type of player that can score any time he touches the ball, so keeping it out of his hands will be key.
FUN FACTS
Indiana's football team has the brother of 2 UM players on it. IU Sophomore DL Larry Black is the brother of Michigan freshman DL Jibreel Black, and Hoosier punter Chris Hagerup is the brother of Michigan punter Will Hagerup.
PREDICTION
I hate these game. I know hate is a strong word, but I can't think of a stronger one. These are the games that have a 95% chance of having Michigan look bad. Unless they go out and win 50something to something under 14 points, people will have something to say. Can the Wolverines go out and win 55-10? Sure. Can they go out and win 36-33? Last year shows they can. Can they lose? I honestly think it would take the most unlikely sequence of events since Happy Gilmore sank his putt to beat Shooter McGavin. Injuries, turnovers, Rich Rodriguez trading jobs with Ron Zook for the afternoon, followed by the NCAA granting one final game of eligibility to Antwaan Randle El, James Hardy, Anthony Thompson, and Tracy Porter. I think this will be closer than it should be, but wouldn't be surprised by a blowout.
FINAL SCORE?
Michigan 38
Indiana 27
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