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IU football game day: Indiana vs. Michigan primer and predictions

November 6, 2021 Mike Schumann IUFB 2

INDIANA (2-6, 0-5) vs. No. 9/10 MICHIGAN (7-1, 4-1)

  • Kickoff:  7:30 p.m. Eastern
  • Location:  Ann Arbor, Mich., Michigan Stadium (107,601; FieldTurf)
  • Television: FOX: Joe Davis (p-b-p) & Brock Huard (analyst)
  • Stream: FoxSports
  • Radio:  IU Football radio network
  • Odds:  Michigan is a 20-point favorite
  • Weather at kickoff:  42 degrees, clear, wind 5 mph, 2% chance of precipitation.
  • Series:  Michigan leads 59-10.  Indiana won the last meeting 38-21 in 2020.
  • The Coaches:

Tom Allen is 26-28 in his fifth season as Indiana head football coach.

Jim Harbaugh is 56-23 (.709) in his seventh season at Michigan. He owns a 114-50 (.695) overall record with
stints at Stanford (2007-10) and San Diego (2004-06). Harbaugh also coached the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14).

See Also:

TALE OF THE TAPE

THE COMPLETE BIG TEN WEEK 9 SLATE

Away Home Time Location Links
Penn State
Maryland
3:30 P.M.
 Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium  TV: FS1 Stats Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network Video
Michigan State
Purdue
3:30 P.M.
 West Lafayette, IN  TV: ABC Stats Radio: Purdue Sports Network Video
Iowa
Northwestern
7:00 P.M.
 Evanston, Ill. TV: Big Ten Network Stats Radio: WGN Radio AM-720
Illinois
Minnesota
12:00 P.M.
 Huntington Bank Stadium  TV: ESPN2 Stats Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM Video
Ohio State
Nebraska
12:00 P.M.
 Lincoln, Neb.  TV: FOX Stats Radio: Huskers Radio Network
Wisconsin
Rutgers
3:30 P.M.
 Piscataway, N.J.  TV: Big Ten Network Stats Radio: FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM & 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, Sirius 108, XM 196, Scarlet Knights App Video
Indiana
Michigan
7:30 P.M.
 Ann Arbor, Mich.  TV: Fox Stats Radio: IU Radio Network; XM 385, SXM App 975 Video

WHEN MICHIGAN HAS THE FOOTBALL

Michigan is a run first offense, with 62.33 percent of their plays coming on the ground.

They run because it works.  The Wolverines are No. 7 nationally with 239.9 yards per carry.

Two backs share the carries — Blake Corum (774 yards, 6 ypc, 10 TDs) and Hassan Haskins (661 yards, 4.8 ypc, 10 TDs).  Corum is the faster of the two while Haskins plays the bruiser role.

A couple Big Ten teams (Rutgers, Wisconsin) held the Wolverines under three yards per carry, however, so there is a blueprint and it has generally involved stacking the box.

Quarterback Cade McNamara has completed 120-of-190 passes (63.2 percent) for 1,498 yards, seven TDs and two INTs.  After no games of more than 255 yards, he threw for 388 and two scores last weekend against Michigan State.  Backup J.J. McCarthy will rotate in for a few snaps.

Michigan has six receivers with at least 12 receptions including Corum with 20 and tight end Erick All with 26.  Among the receivers, Cornelius Johnson leads the way with 23 catches for 348 yards and three touchdowns.

WHEN INDIANA HAS THE FOOTBALL

True freshman starting quarterback Donaven McCulley will have his hands full against a veteran defense that returned 17 of 22 players on its two-deep depth chart.  Michigan doesn’t make a lot of splash plays but they are experienced, stout and difficult to sustain drives against.

IU will hope to build on some of its own success on the ground that it found against Maryland when it amassed season highs with 204 yards and 4.86 yards per carry.  The Wolverines rank No. 36 nationally against the run but have allowed opponents to average over four yards a carry in five of the last six games.

With seven sacks apiece, David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson are both All-Big Ten caliber pass rushers, and they pose a major threat against Indiana’s tackles who have struggled to protect the quarterback.

Much like last season, Michigan’s vulnerability is with its cornerbacks.  McCulley has the arm to take shots downfield and he showed a willingness to take them against Maryland.  But to this point Indiana’s receivers haven’t been able to gain separation or come down with contested throws.  Michigan’s opponents have only completed 55.7 percent of their throws, and it would be a surprise if McCulley does much better.

PREDICTIONS

Indiana’s run defense gives them a chance to get stops, especially if Reese Taylor and Tiawan Mullen are back and able to hold the Wolverine passing game in check.

But asking a true freshman quarterback to go into the Big House and get a win in his second start is asking a lot.

TDH:  MICHIGAN 30 INDIANA 10

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:  Michigan 38  Indiana 16

ATHLON:  Michigan 35 Indiana 14

USA Today:  Michigan 34  Indiana 17

ESPN SP+ (Computer):  Michigan 35  Indiana 17

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