Mizzou vs Indiana NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
Indiana will aim to keep their momentum up after winning its last outing, a 42-10 result against Bowling Green on September 14.
Missouri (2-0) vs. Indiana (2-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013
Time: 8 p.m. EST
Venue: Memorial Stadium
City: Bloomington
O/U Odds: 70 1/2
Spread: Missouri -2
The Hoosiers have really started to turn things around with Kevin Wilson at the helm, and now will face their toughest challenge the year at home against a Missouri Tigers team that arrives at Memorial Stadium with a perfect record after beating Toledo 38-23, last weekend at home.
Mizzou had a week off to prepare for Indiana’s up-tempo offense, which ranks No. 6 in the country, averaging 50 PPG.
It will be team’s biggest challenge thus far, especially guarding against a Hoosiers aerial attack, which is averaging 339 yards per game.
Freshman quarterback Nate Sudfeld throttled the Falcons defense in his team’s most recent action, throwing for 335 yards and two scores.
The ground game for Indiana is also solid, as the Hoosiers picked up 266 yards on the ground versus Bowling Green.
However, the defense has had its share of problems, giving up 28.7 per game. The Falcons rolled up 400 yards against the Hoosiers last weekend. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Not good news if you’re facing a Tigers’ offense that is also lighting up the scoreboard, as Missouri is averaging 48 points per game this season, ranking the Tigers No. 10 in the nation in scoring offense.
Quarterback James Franklin has remained healthy, becoming the Tigers main offensive weapon i 2013. The senior threw for 212 yards and a touchdown against the Rockets, while also rushing for 77 yards on the day.
Meanwhile defensively, Missouri is much better than the Hoosiers, giving up an average of just 18.5 points per game.
Indiana leads the series 6-2-2, but the teams have not met since 1992.
Matt’s Prediction
Both offenses are fairly balanced, though the Tigers tend to be a better running team while the Hoosiers lean heavily on the arm of Sudfeld.
The Tigers are much better defensively too, but with an offense like the Hoosiers have, they can afford to be giving up a few more points than other teams. But not too many, as playing catch up against Missouri will not likely play to their favor.
Indiana will get theirs, but in the end I expect Missouri’s talent to come out on top as the Tigers spoil the party on Saturday, winning this one by a touchdown.
Missouri 45, Indiana 38
