FACTS & STATS: Site: Michigan Stadium (109,901) — Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: IU 2-2, UM 3-2. Away Record: IU 1-2,
UM 0-3. Neutral Record: IU 0-0, UM 0-0. Conference Record: IU 0-3, UM 1-3.
Series Record: Michigan leads, 53-9.
GAME NOTES: The Michigan Wolverines will try to continue their recent
dominance over the Indiana Hoosiers when the teams meet up for a Big Ten
Conference matchup inside The Big House on Saturday afternoon.
Michigan has won the last 18 head-to-head meetings dating back to 1988, and
that includes last year’s 63-47 shootout. The Wolverines lead the all-time
series by a commanding 53-9 margin.
Michigan is coming off last weekend’s 35-11 setback at intrastate rival and
eight-ranked Michigan State. It was the fourth loss in a span of five games
for the Maize and Blue as their season continues to spiral out of control.
However, they are a perfect 3-0 in Homecoming games under head coach Brady
Hoke.
Indiana had a bye last weekend, one week after those same Spartans came into
Bloomington and spoiled the Hoosiers’ Homecoming with a 56-17 rout. IU has
dropped three of its last four, and remains winless in conference play.
Despite their recent struggles, the Hoosiers still boast one of college
football’s most dangerous running backs in Tevin Coleman, and Michigan’s
defense must always be cognizant of him. Coleman leads the nation in rushing
yards per game (170.3) and yards per carry (8.8), as well as yards from
scrimmage (190.3). If he continues his current pace, the junior will eclipse
2,000 yards on the ground and also break Mike Rozier’s FBS record of 7.81 ypc
set in his Heisman Trophy-winning campaign back in 1983.
Although Coleman owns the longest streak in both the nation and IU history
with nine straight 100-yard games, he saw his school-record 15-game scoring
streak snapped against MSU. Still, he finished with an impressive 132 yards on
15 carries (8.8 ypc), the first opposing back to top the century mark against
the Spartans’ seventh-ranked run defense this season.
On the other side of the ball, the Hoosiers rank 100th in the FBS in total
defense (452.0) and 105th in points allowed (34.9). In their last two losses,
they have yielded a combined 101 points. Against MSU two weeks ago, the
Hoosiers gave up 19 plays of 10 or more yards as they were gashed for 330
yards and five TDs on the ground, and another 332 and three scores through the
air.
Michigan continues to have all kinds of trouble moving the ball on offense.
The Wolverines are 110th in the nation in scoring offense (20.4) and 115th in
yards from scrimmage (320.8). Last week’s loss was the fifth time in eight
games this season they were held below 20 points. Devin Gardner was once again
ineffective in the passing game as he completed only 15-of-30 attempts for 125
yards and two interceptions. Of course, he did not get much help from the
ground game, which churned out a combined 61 yards on 26 carries (2.3 ypc).
Wolverines linebackers Jake Ryan and Joe Bolden shared game-high honors with
12 tackles each, followed by safety Jarrod Wilson with 11. Despite their
overall struggles throughout the season, the Wolverines own the nation’s 14th-
ranked defense in terms of total yards allowed (319.1), as well as the No. 16
run defense (109.3). However, MSU’s Jeremy Langford carved them up for 177
yards and three TDs on 35 carries, while Connor Cook picked apart the
secondary for 227 yards and a score on only 12 completions.
Coleman is the only running back in the country to rush for 100 yards in each
game this season, although it is worth noting the Hoosiers had only 11 yards
passing against Michigan State. But if the Wolverines’ normally stout run
defense was unable to contain Langford, it is tough to imagine them keeping
Coleman under the century mark.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Indiana 31, Michigan 22
