Indiana Hoosiers at Virginia Cavaliers: Gamethread

The Hoosiers look to bounce back from an opening week loss and pick up a critical non-conference win on the road.

By Alex Robbins@awrobbins Sep 9, 2017, 2:30pm EDT

Watch the Picture

Who? Indiana Hoosiers (0-1, #48 S&P+) at Virginia Cavaliers (1-0, #72 S&P+)

When? Saturday, September 9, 3:30 PM

Channel? ESPNU

Vegas? INDIANA -4

S&P+ Projection? INDIANA 28 - Virginia 25

Listen to Fischer

Game Preview

From this week's Game Preview, Kyle Swick highlights three keys for today's game:

F E E D S I M M I E: With Virginia’s top corner out for the year and a true freshman in his place, Indiana would be wise to get him isolated on Simmie Cobbs as often as possible. Cobbs is coming off an 11-catch, 149 yards, one touchdown performance against Ohio State. If UVA brings a safety over top to help (much like Ohio State did in the second half), the Hoosiers will need the likes of Donovan Hale, Luke Timian, and Ian Thomas to come through in their one-on-one battles.

Establish the running game: Indiana’s running game was non-existent against Ohio State’s fearsome frontline, and if it’s MIA again this weekend, there’ll be some serious concerns about the unit. The offensive line clearly needs a boost, and that will hopefully come in the form of Brandon Knight’s return from injury. It was too difficult to get a read on the individual talent of the running backs against Ohio State as they were constantly trying to escape tacklers at the line of scrimmage. I would be stunned if Indiana’s opportunity rate was greater than 10%.

Create havoc: The Hoosiers defense performed admirably for nearly three quarters, but couldn’t get their mitts on the ball or rattle JT Barrett all that much. Indiana probably misses Marcus Oliver, who created a good bit of mayhem from his linebacker position next to Tegray Scales, but the entire secondary returns from last season, and they picked off 11 passes and got their hands on a ridiculous 48 more in 2016. More of that going forward, please.

This Week In CQ Tweets

nothing gets me more jacked for purdue football than Deep Vein Thrombosis pic.twitter.com/93qq4gFrhX
— CRIMSON QUARRY (@crimsonquarry) September 7, 2017

MONCO BRENDENHALL
— CRIMSON QUARRY (@crimsonquarry) September 7, 2017

Yeah, that's the good stuff.

kevin sumlin went to purdue
— CRIMSON QUARRY (@crimsonquarry) September 4, 2017

indiana basketball's constant paranoid need to upstage football at any juncture is the most exhausting, annoying bullshit. why
— CRIMSON QUARRY (@crimsonquarry) September 2, 2017