Week 8 Predictions – 2026
Last Week: Ohio State won the game over Indiana 19-15, but lost their starting quarterback. A lot of calls not made by the officials against Indiana but the Buckeyes overcame that situation. Will the overcome losing Julian Sayin? For our staff predictions, all the upsets kept anyone from going 5-0 but Jason, Andy, Cory, Rick and Gregg all went 3-2. With our predictions fun at the half-way point, we have a 3-way tie on the leaderboard between Steven, Josh and Gregg with a seasonal mark of 24-11.
This Week’s Games: The Buckeyes will be resting this week and will have two weeks to determine how to handle the absence of Julian Sayin. And we are just two weeks away from the launch of the weekly playoff poll. For our games this week, we start with Houston at Utah. These two teams are part of the list of 7 teams in the Big 12 that have zero or one loss. …. Iowa still with only one loss on the season travels to Minnesota. Can the Gophers spoil the season for the Hawkeyes? …. Texas returns home but they will catch the Ole Miss Rebels whose offense has been on fire of late. Can Arch Manning get the Longhorns back to their winning ways? …. USC will play in Madison this week, trying to stay in the post season picture. Has Fickell done enough already to keep his job or does he need another signature win? …. Indiana and Michigan square off as the Wolverines break in a new QB. Which team gets the victory in this B1G match-up?
Buckeye Greats: As in the past, we will continue to include former Buckeye players in our prediction fun, and we are thrilled to have Vaughn Broadnax back with us as a regular participant for the 12th straight year.
Let’s have some fun! Here we go with our Week 8 Picks – Good Luck to All – Gregg
(14)Houston @ (10)Utah
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Utah over Houston 24-10
Andy Steger: These two teams are very similar on paper, except in one area of the field. Utah’s passing offense is ranked 33rd in the country and Houston has the 128th ranked pass defense. Salt Lake City is a hard place to play too due to the elevation. I don’t expect Houston to make it out of this one. Utah 27 Houston 21
Cory Steger: Utah is undefeated and No. 10 in the country, but the Utes have not played anybody yet. Houston beat Oklahoma State last week, and the Cougars have a dark-horse Heisman candidate at quarterback in Connor Weigman. Aside from being incredibly tough, Weigman has found a home in Houston. He’s got 26 total touchdowns this season against just two turnovers. Utah will put up a fight but expect Houston to leave with a good road victory. Houston 35, Utah 31
Dave Culver: Utah 32 Houston 28
Gregg Watson: Not sure how many years we have focused on teams from the state of Utah in our weekly picks, but it has been deserved. Even GameDay has been in Utah for two consecutive weeks. Utah and Houston are a combined 12-1 on the season so far but this will be the first week that the Utes have faced a team with a winning record. They have certainly started well in spite of losing their longtime coach Kyle Winningham to Michigan. The winner of this game stays in the hunt for the Big 12 title and a playoff spot. The loser will be likely looking for help to secure their post season fate. Houston is 1-10 in their last 11 games against teams ranked in the top ten, and I think they add another loss to that stat this week. Utah 34 Houston 24
Jason Harris: #14 Houston travels to Salt Lake City to face #10 Utah in a huge Big 12 matchup between two teams with legitimate conference championship and playoff hopes. The Cougars enter at 6-1 after a 35-32 victory over #18 Oklahoma State, while the undefeated Utes improved to 6-0 with a 27-24 road win over Colorado. Houston QB Conner Weigman is coming off the best performance of his career, throwing for 343 yards and five touchdowns against Oklahoma State. As one of the nation’s most productive passers, Weigman leads an explosive offense capable of challenging Utah’s defense. The Utes counter with QB Devon Dampier, whose dual-threat ability has helped lead an offense averaging nearly 40 points per game. Utah has also been outstanding defensively, particularly against the run, and will look to extend its 12-game winning streak in front of a home crowd.
The key matchup will be Houston’s high-powered offense against Utah’s physical defense. Weigman has been efficient throughout the season, but the Utes will look to pressure him and force mistakes while limiting the Cougars’ ability to establish the run. On the other side, Houston must find a way to contain Dampier, whose mobility can create problems for opposing defenses and open opportunities for Utah’s running game. The Cougars have already proven they can win against quality opponents, but playing in Salt Lake City against an undefeated Utah team presents their toughest challenge yet. Expect a competitive game featuring two capable offenses, with Utah’s defensive consistency and home-field advantage making the difference late. Prediction: Utah 31 Houston 27
Joe Hylton: Utes
John Seibert: This is probably the best game of the weekend. Totally didn’t have that on my bingo card for this week at the start of the season. With the game in Salt Lake City, I like the Utes to stay unbeaten. Utah 30 Houston 21
Josh Watson: Houston strengthened its position in the Big 12 race with a 35-32 victory over Oklahoma State. Conner Weigman completed 24 of 33 passes for 343 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Cougars to 505 total yards in one of the finest performances of his career. Houston has now won four consecutive games and enters Rice-Eccles Stadium at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play. The Cougars have built their offense around efficiency and sustained possessions. They entered last weekend leading the country with a 62.7 percent third-down conversion rate while averaging 230 rushing yards per game. That balance allows Houston to shorten games, keep its defense rested and prevent opposing offenses from establishing a consistent rhythm. Utah remains undefeated after surviving a 27-24 game at Colorado, but its résumé still lacks a signature victory. The Utes possess their customary advantages—physical line play, a disciplined defense and one of the most difficult home environments in college football. The late-night kickoff and altitude only add to the challenge Houston will face. The Cougars have the quarterback play and offensive balance to make this a four-quarter game, but Utah is more trustworthy defensively and should create enough pressure to prevent Weigman from repeating his five-touchdown performance. The Utes remain unbeaten, although Houston stays inside the number. Utah 30, Houston 27
Steven Smith: Utah is one of the last unbeaten in college football this season and Houston is right behind them at 6-1 after an opening weekend loss to Texas Tech. These teams are neck and neck, both in the top ten of total offense, and are pretty comparable on defense, with Utah holding a slight edge. It will be a great game to watch with two outstanding QBs, Houston’s Connor’s Weigman (1,771 yards/20 TDs/2INTs) and Utah’s Devon Dampier (1,412 yards/15 TDs/4INTs) battling it out. I like Utah’s run game, but Houston’s run defense is top 10 good. Heck, to me it’s a tossup. I’ll give the home field advantage bump to Utah. Utes 35-27.
Stefan Armintrout: I don’t know much about either of these teams. I can see this game going either way. But with having to pick a team, I’ll go with the Utes. They have been the more consistent team in previous years. I can see it being very close for almost the whole game, but Utah pulls ahead late and wins. The Utes win and remain unbeaten. (Utah, 24-16)
Final Score: Houston xx Utah xx
(15)Iowa @ Minnesota
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Iowa over Minnesota 28-13
Andy: Iowa’s rush offense vs Minnesota’s rush defense is probably the matchup to watch in this game. Iowa is averaging close to 195 yards on the ground per game with multiple rushers, while Minnesota is only giving up 104 rush yards per game. Ever since Iowa benched their starting quarterback Jeremy Heckilinski for Hank Brown the Iowa offense seems to be able to move down the field more efficiently than prior. Minnesota has snagged a few big wins this season in close wins, but I think Iowa wins a tough close game. Iowa 21 Minnesota 17
Cory: Minnesota had two impressive wins, including beating Michigan, before getting stomped by a bad Purdue team. The Golden Gophers are such a hard team to figure out, but at least they had a off week to prepare for their game this week with Iowa. The Hawkeyes rebound from their loss to Ohio State with a two-score win over Washington last week. Iowa has a better defense, and Minnesota’s inconsistency scares me so I’m picking the Hawkeyes in this one. Iowa 21, Minnesota 17
Dave: Iowa 32 Minnesota 21
Gregg: Hawkeyes go on the road for a solid challenge against a 4-2 Minnesota team. I think the Hawkeyes are the sleeper team in the conference this year. Everyone might be looking paste them but they have only loss and that is to the Buckeyes. I think they are still looking at playing for the B1G title and securing a spot in the playoffs. And it is all still in front of them. The Gophers have a solid team but don’t have enough beat the Hawkeyes. Look for Iowa to win this one grinding it out on the ground. Iowa 27 Minnesota 21
Jason: #15 Iowa travels to Minneapolis to face Minnesota in the annual battle for Floyd of Rosedale. The Hawkeyes enter at 5-1 after a convincing 41-24 road victory over Washington, while the Golden Gophers are 4-2 following a disappointing 41-13 loss to Purdue. Iowa has been particularly impressive defensively, allowing just 14.5 points per game while ranking among the nation’s best against the run. Offensively, RB Kamari Moulton has emerged as a major weapon, rushing for 208 yards and two touchdowns against Washington. The Hawkeyes will likely rely on their ground game and their elite D especially since QB Hank Brown remains unavailable. Minnesota counters with QB Drake Lindsey, who will need to bounce back after struggling against Purdue. The Gophers have shown they can compete with quality opponents, but they’ll need a much stronger offensive performance to challenge Iowa.
The key matchup will be Iowa’s dominant run defense against Minnesota’s offense, which has struggled to establish consistency on the ground. If the Hawkeyes can limit the Gophers’ rushing attack and force Lindsey into obvious passing situations, they should be able to control the tempo. Iowa also has the advantage of a more productive rushing offense, with Moulton capable of breaking long runs and keeping the defense on the field. Minnesota will benefit from playing at home, but Iowa has won five straight meetings in Minneapolis and has consistently handled the rivalry in recent years. Expect a physical, low-scoring contest in which the Hawkeyes control possession and capitalize on Minnesota’s offensive struggles. Prediction: Iowa 27 Minnesota 17
Joe-S-U: Fighting Ferentz’s
John: I like the Hawkeyes on the road in this one. The problem with the Gophers is I just don’t know which team is going to show up. Will it be the one that went to Seattle and got the win over UW, in a place that’s tough to win at for road teams, or the team that got embarrassed by an average at best Purdue last week. Iowa 24 Minnesota 17
Josh: The Floyd of Rosedale rivalry rarely produces beautiful football, but it usually delivers a physical and emotional afternoon. Iowa enters at 5-1 after a bye, while Minnesota is 4-2 and attempting to recover from a 41-13 loss at Purdue. Iowa showed encouraging offensive improvement in its 41-24 victory at Washington. Jeremy Hecklinski helped the Hawkeyes produce their most balanced performance against a Power Four opponent this season, although Hank Brown could return after using the bye week to recover from a shoulder injury. Regardless of who starts at quarterback, Iowa’s formula will remain centered on its running game, defense and field position. That presents a significant problem for Minnesota. The Gophers rank near the bottom of the country in rushing offense and now face an Iowa run defense ranked among the nation’s best. If Minnesota cannot stay ahead of the chains, Drake Lindsey will be forced to throw into predictable situations against a secondary capable of turning mistakes into points. Minnesota has already upset Washington and Michigan, so the Gophers have demonstrated that they can rise to the occasion. Their inconsistency makes them difficult to trust, however, and Iowa has dominated the recent history of this rivalry. The Hawkeyes have won 10 of the last 11 meetings and five consecutive games in Minneapolis. The Gophers keep the score close into the second half, but Iowa controls the line of scrimmage and takes Floyd back to Iowa City. Iowa 24, Minnesota 13
Steven: If you’re watching this game, you are either 1) an alumni or either school, 2) a media member, 3) a complete sicko. All kidding aside, Iowa has found an offense. They are currently 61st in the country in both yardage and scoring, which for a grind it out coach like Kirk Ferentz is pretty good. Minnesota seems to be dropping off. After posting 3 straight wins after an opening game loss to Mississippi State, they posted a clunker at Purdue 2 weeks ago letting Boilermaker RB Fame Ijeboi go off for 195 yards and 3 TDs. Can the Gophers row the boat and right the ship? I’m not sure. Being at home helps, but with the Hawkeye’s RB Kamari Moulton getting healthy and coming off his best performance of the year (208 yards and 2 TDs vs. Washington), the Gophers will have their hands full. Moulton goes off again and runs over Minnesota. Iowa 27-19.
Trout: The Hawkeyes will win this game. Minnesota has had some good moments this year, but they are not consistent. Iowa is not a great team, but they are solid on both sides of the ball. I can see the Gophers keeping close for a while, but then the Hawkeyes pull away towards the end. Iowa wins and keeps their playoff hopes alive. (Iowa, 27-17)
Final Score: Iowa xx Minnesota xx
(7)Ole Miss @ (18)Texas
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Ole Miss over Texas 31-24
Andy: The Key matchup in this game is Ole Miss pass offense which is ranked 12th in the country vs Texas 13th ranked pass defense. Texas has to find a way to pressure Ole Miss without completely selling out. The problem is Texas cannot run the football this season, they’re the 102nd worst rush offense in the country this season. Texas is not built to win games by way of shootout, I kind of see this one getting higher scoring than most others. With Arch Manning playing so bad lately I kind of think Ole Miss might sneak out of Austin Texas with a win. Ole Miss 34 Texas 27
Cory: The season is very rapidly going off the rails for the Texas Longhorns. Texas has lost two straight after losing at home to Florida last week, and Arch Manning continues to look worse and worse each week. Making things even worse is that Texas will be without star defensive end Collin Simmons, who is out with a leg injury. Ole Miss enters with a lot of momentum. After losing to Florida, the Rebels looked dominant in wins over Vanderbilt and Missouri. With how bad the Texas offense looks, and that the Rebels got their swag back, I see an Ole Miss victory over Texas. Ole Miss 28, Texas 24
Dave: Texas 24 Ole Miss 21
Gregg: Texas has lost two straight games 27-24 and Ole Miss has won their last two games by 60 total points. How can the Longhorns be favored to win this game? I don’t agree with Vegas on this one, taking the Rebels for the outright win. This will keep Ole Miss in the playoff hunt and eliminate Arch Manning and Bevo from the playoff discussion. Ole Miss 34 Texas 27
Jason: #7 Ole Miss travels to Austin to take on #18 Texas in a big time SEC matchup with major College Football Playoff implications. The Rebels enter at 5-1 after dominating #13 Missouri 31-3, while the Longhorns are 4-2 following consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida. Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss has helped lead an explosive offense capable of putting points on the board in a hurry, while RB Kewan Lacy has been a major contributor on the ground despite dealing with a shoulder injury. The Rebels’ defense also delivered an outstanding performance against Missouri, shutting down the Tigers after allowing an early field goal. Texas, meanwhile, desperately needs a bounce-back performance from QB Arch Manning, who has struggled with turnovers during the team’s recent losses. Manning has the talent to lead the Longhorns back into the playoff picture, but he’ll need better protection from his offensive line and more consistency from the supporting cast against a dangerous Ole Miss defense.
The key matchup will be Texas’ offensive line against an Ole Miss defense looking to pressure Manning and force him into mistakes. The Longhorns have struggled to protect their QB, and the Rebels will look to capitalize by creating negative plays and pressuring Manning. On the other side, Texas must find a way to slow Chambliss and contain Lacy if the Rebels’ starting RB is healthy enough to play. Playing at home gives the Longhorns a significant advantage, and their talent makes them dangerous despite the recent setbacks and they will be desperate after the back to back losses. However, Ole Miss appears to be playing with greater confidence and consistency, particularly after its dominant showing against Missouri. Expect Texas to make it a four quarter game and when talented teams are desperate, they usually come through especially at home. That will be the case here as Texas gets a big home win to begin to put the pieces of their season back together. Prediction: Texas 31 Ole Miss 24
Joe-S-U: Hook ‘Em Horns
John: With back-to-back losses, it feels a little like the shine is off the apple in Austin. It will help that this is a home game for UT, but so was last week’s debacle against Florida. Lose three straight, and the seat will start to get a little toasty under Sark, and Manning will probably be on the bench with one foot in the transfer portal. Mississippi 34 Texas 28
Josh: Few teams experienced a better Week 7 than Ole Miss. The Rebels dominated previously ranked Missouri 31-3, holding the Tigers to 1.5 yards per rushing attempt and keeping them out of the end zone. Trinidad Chambliss threw three first-half touchdown passes and added another score on the ground, while Kewan Lacy and Makhi Frazier both surpassed 100 rushing yards. Ole Miss has accumulated three ranked victories and appears to be improving under first-year head coach Pete Golding. Its only defeat came at Florida, and the Rebels have responded with convincing wins over Vanderbilt and Missouri. Texas is moving in the opposite direction. After beginning the season 4-0 and climbing to No. 1, the Longhorns have suffered consecutive 27-24 losses to Oklahoma and Florida. Texas managed only 272 total yards against the Gators, including 99 on the ground, while Arch Manning was sacked five times and lost a costly fumble. The oddsmakers continue to respect Texas because of its talent and home-field advantage, but the Longhorns have not earned the benefit of the doubt offensively. Ole Miss can attack Texas with a deeper running-back rotation, while Chambliss is playing with greater confidence than Manning. Texas will play with desperation, and the Longhorns’ defense should keep them within one possession. Ole Miss is currently the more complete and consistent team, however. The Rebels create a late turnover and leave Austin with their fourth ranked victory. Ole Miss 30, Texas 24
Steven: Texas is reeling after back to back 27-24 losses to Oklahoma and Florida, but yet they are still a betting favorite. I don’t get it. Ole Miss has a better roster and their star players, QB Trinidad Chambliss and RB Kewan Lacey are playing better than the Longhorns’ Arch Manning and Hollywood Smothers. This may be the start of the Sark era crumbling. Arch gets benched and more than likely a coordinator gets sacrificed after this one. HMMMM 27-24 seems strangely appropriate, but statistically astronomical so we’ll say Ole Miss 28-24.
Trout: It’s crazy to see how hard Texas has fallen. This team has lost any momentum they had after their comeback victory over the Buckeyes. Arch is not consistent and Sark seems in over his head. I think the Rebels take this one and put the final nail in the coffin for the Longhorns playoff hopes. The game will be close up until the end, but then Arch will make another back breaking mistake that’ll cost them the game. Ole Miss delivers Texas their third loss of the season. (Ole Miss, 35-28)
Final Score: Ole Miss xx Texas xx
(16)USC @ Wisconsin
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): Wisconsin over USC 27-21
Andy: This is a fascinating matchup. Both teams need momentum and a win in this game. USC’s pass offense is really good, they’re throwing for over 305 yards per game and Wisconsin’s strength on defense is their run defense. They’re only allowing 172 yards per game on average. I really like the physicality of the Wisconsin front seven, I think they’re going to shut down any run game USC tries and pressure Jayden Maiava. Will Maiava be able to expose the Badgers secondary as much as UCLA did? USC 27 Wisconsin 23
Cory: For all of the ranked teams that have been losing these last few weeks, one team has started to find its groove – USC. The Trojans earned a good road win at Penn State last week, and did so with a surprisingly good run defense that limited the Nittany Lions to just 2.2 yards per carry and a total of 68 rushing yards. We knew Wisconsin was not going to have a pretty offense this season, but seeing quarterback Colton Joseph complete just six passes last week hurt my eyeballs. I still am not sure how good USC is, but I know Wisconsin’s offense is not good enough to keep up in this game. USC 24, Wisconsin 20
Dave: USC 22 Wisconsin 18
Gregg: I would love to see Fickell win this one and will not be upset to miss this call but I think USC will do just enough to pull off the road win. The only way the Badgers win this one is if USC is looking ahead to their game against the Buckeyes next week. USC 24 Wisconsin 17
Jason: USC travels to Madison to face Wisconsin in a key Big Ten matchup between two teams looking to strengthen their CFP resumes. The #19 Trojans enter at 6-1 coming off a bye after a hard-fought 31-23 road victory over Penn State, while the Badgers are 4-2 after having their four-game winning streak end in a tough 17-7 defeat at UCLA. USC QB Jayden Maiava has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this season and leads an offense featuring explosive playmakers in the passing game, including WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. The Trojans have shown they can score against quality opponents, but their road test at Camp Randall Stadium will be challenging. Wisconsin counters with dual-threat QB Colton Joseph, who has contributed both through the air and on the ground, while the Badgers’ defense has played a major role in their turnaround. Wisconsin will look to control the tempo with its rushing attack and feed off the energy of its home crowd.
The key matchup will be USC’s passing attack against a Wisconsin defense that has played extremely well. Maiava’s ability to make plays downfield could give the Trojans an advantage, but Wisconsin will try to pressure him and force the visitors into difficult third-down situations. On the other side, Joseph’s mobility could be critical against a USC defense that must prevent him from extending plays and picking up yards with his legs. The Badgers defensive toughness and the home field will make this a 4 quarter game. Expect Wisconsin to keep things close behind its rushing attack and while the Trojans will find some offensive success, but a Wisconsin late score and the defense will hold off the visiting Trojans for a big win for Luke Fickell and the Badgers. Prediction: Wisconsin 28 USC 24
Joe-S-U: ‘SC
John: USC is somehow 6-1, but the only team they have played that really has a pulse is the 1 (being Oregon). While not a great team, this is not a bad Badgers team that SC faces, and I would expect them to be a little salty after the loss to UCLA. Then the Men of Troy get OSU and IU on back-to-back games. Madison can be a tough place for road teams. I’m going to go with UW in the mild upset. Wisconsin 27 USC 24
Josh: USC returns from its bye carrying a 6-1 record and consecutive quality victories over Washington and Penn State. Jayden Maiava threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-23 win at Beaver Stadium, and the Trojans have started to demonstrate that they can win outside Southern California. Wisconsin’s defense should provide another difficult test. The Badgers held undefeated UCLA to 17 points but produced almost nothing offensively in a 17-7 defeat. Wisconsin is allowing fewer than 20 points per game, yet its inability to consistently create explosive plays leaves almost no margin for defensive mistakes. Camp Randall Stadium at night will help the Badgers, especially if they can establish the run and prevent Maiava from finding an early rhythm. Wisconsin cannot allow USC to build a two-possession lead because its offense is not designed to chase points through the air. The Trojans’ speed at receiver and Maiava’s experience ultimately create the difference. Wisconsin’s defense keeps this competitive, but USC generates enough explosive plays to pull away in the fourth quarter. USC 27, Wisconsin 17
Steven: This will be a good game to watch, if only to get more familiar with USC’s defense, which the Bucks and Luke Fahey will meet next week. USC coach Lincoln Riley is an offensive magician, but he’s consistently had difficulty finding a defensive coordinator that can balance his team. That being said, the Trojans have improved significantly since the first two years of Riley’s tenure at USC, where the Trojans finished solidly near the bottom nationally in overall defense. This year they are giving up 350 yards and 25 points per game. Can the fighting Fickell’s bounce back from a lackluster performance last week against UCLA? I’m not sure. After the huge win in Happy Valley, the Badgers fell flat. I expect a better effort this week. Being at home, I’ll go with Wisconsin in a close one, 21-19.
Trout: It’s good to see that Fickell has his team playing better. But I don’t think they will have enough to keep up with the Trojans. USC is not a great team either. But they do have some offensive firepower. I just don’t think Wisconsin has the talent on offense to match them blow for blow. I think Wisconsin keeps it close for a while, but then USC pulls ahead and wins by a few scores. (USC, 38-21)
Final Score: USC xx Wisconsin xx
(6)Indiana @ Michigan
Vaughn Broadnax (OSU-FB 1980-83): IU over Michigan 31-16
Andy: I don’t think this is upset alert territory, but Indiana has to watch out. Michigan figured out how poorly they played with Bryce Underwood and they benched him. True freshman quarterback Tommy Carr only threw 7 pass attempts, but unlike Underwood he managed to not throw interceptions. Michigan has the #3 best overall defense in the country and last week they found their run game against Penn State rushing for over 6 yards per carry. If Michigan can play elite defense and run the football against Indiana it could be an upset, but truthfully I don’t see it. Cignetti is an excellent coach and his team is extremely physical. I think they’ll be super motivated to turn around and get a win following the loss to Ohio State. Indiana 24 Michigan 16
Cory: A few things should be apparent about the defending national champions after their loss last week to Ohio State. Those things include the following: Indiana still has one of the best defensive lines in the country, the Hoosiers have one of the best receiving duos in the country, and quarterback Josh Hoover is good, but not great. Hoover did not turn the ball over last week, but his struggles with accuracy, especially in the first half, should be concerning. The Hoosiers travel to Michigan this week, and the Wolverines finally made the decision to bench Bryce Underwood. He was replaced by true freshman Tommy Carr, who rallied the Wolverines past Penn State. Don’t be surprised if Underwood gets the start in this given that Indiana struggles to defend running quarterbacks. Expect an ugly, low-scoring game but Indiana should rally following a tough loss to the Buckeyes. Indiana 17, Michigan 14
Dave: IU 32 UM 12
Gregg: I think the only way the Hoosiers lose this game is if they are still in shock from the loss to Ohio State. Hoover has had a week to get back to 100%. Michigan does have one of the best teams in the country, but I cannot see Cignetti losing two in a row. By the middle of November, all the Wolverines will have to salvage their season would be a win over the Buckeyes. Indiana 20 Michigan 17
Jason: #6 Indiana travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan in a massive Big Ten game. The Hoosiers enter at 6-1 after a narrow 19-15 loss to #4 Ohio State, while the Wolverines are 4-2 following an impressive 23-20 comeback victory over Penn State. Indiana QB Josh Hoover has thrown for 1,660 yards this season and will look to get the passing game back on track after missing several opportunities against the Buckeyes. WRs Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh remain key playmakers, but Indiana will need more production from its rushing attack after struggling to generate explosive runs in recent games. Michigan, meanwhile, has shown improvement behind its ground game and a defense that has impressed with its speed, physicality and ability to pressure opposing QBs. The Wolverines’ QB situation remains a storyline heading into the matchup, with Tommy Carr leading the 2nd half rally over Penn State and likely cementing his role as QB1 over Bryce Underwood.
The key matchup will be Indiana’s offense against Michigan’s aggressive defense. The Hoosiers must establish the run to keep the Wolverines from focusing entirely on Hoover and the passing game. Michigan will also need to protect the football and take advantage of its opportunities against an Indiana defense that played well despite the loss to Ohio State. The Wolverines have historically dominated this series and will benefit from playing in front of a home crowd at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines boast the 2nd best defense Indiana has seen this year so if the struggles rushing the football continue as they did last week, Michigan can make it a 4 quarter game. Expect a physical contest in which Michigan keeps things close with its defense and rushing attack, but Indiana’s offensive talent and ability to make plays in critical moments should allow them to escape with a big road win. Prediction: Indiana 27 Michigan 20
Joe-S-U: Fighting Cignetti’s in a bloodbath
John: Wow, how the fortunes of these two schools have flipped. IU is actually a touchdown favorite in the Big House. The wild card is the QB switch by U of M to Lllllloyd Carr’s grandson. If he can provide a spark, Michigan might be able to keep it close. It really comes down to how does IU bounce back after the tough loss to OSU last week. That being the first loss at IU in the Cignetti era, there are no data points to go by, but I expect IU to be fine. Indiana 31 Michigan 13
Josh: Indiana must recover quickly after its 22-game winning streak ended in a 19-15 loss to Ohio State. The Hoosiers’ defense played well enough to win, but missed opportunities, two unsuccessful field-goal attempts and offensive inconsistency prevented them from completing the upset. Josh Hoover has played remarkably well overall, throwing 17 touchdown passes without an interception through Indiana’s first six games. Ohio State limited Indiana’s running game and forced Hoover into more difficult situations, however, and Michigan will attempt to follow that approach with another physical defensive front. Michigan improved to 4-2 by beating Penn State 21-18, ending a two-game losing streak. The Wolverines have not been explosive offensively, but their defense and running game give them a chance to turn this into the same kind of low-possession contest Indiana just played against Ohio State. The larger question is how Indiana responds emotionally. The Hoosiers invested heavily in the Ohio State game and now must travel to Michigan Stadium for an opponent capable of punishing a flat performance. Curt Cignetti’s team is too disciplined to unravel, but Michigan should be able to keep the score close throughout the afternoon. Indiana rebounds with a road victory, though the Wolverines stay within the spread. Indiana 23, Michigan 16
Steven: After the tough loss to Ohio State, Indiana at least gets a bit of a respite by heading up to the comfy confines of the Big House. It will be interesting to compare Michigan’s defensive effectiveness against the Hoosiers compared to Ohio State’s. If new Wolverine QB Tommy Carr can limit turnovers and engineer a drive or two, he could keep the game respectable. If not it’s going to be ugly. Ugly is a much more likely outcome. IU 34-10.
Trout: I think the Hoosiers win by a few scores. After the devastating loss they had against the Buckeyes, I can see them being angry and wanting to prove themselves. I do think Michigan will be better with Carr as the quarterback, but I don’t think it’ll be enough for them to keep up all four quarters. Indiana gets back in the win column with a convincing with against the team up north. (Indiana, 35-17)