IU football game day: Western Kentucky at Indiana primer and predictions

With the BTN Tailgate on campus, Indiana will host Western Kentucky in a non-conference tilt on Saturday.

The Hoosiers will look to eclipse their 2021 season win total just three weeks into the 2022 campaign.

But to do that, they’ll need to knock off an upstart bunch from Bowling Green, Ky. that presents major challenges on both sides of the football.

Here’s everything you need to know about IU’s third game of the season.

WESTERN KENTUCKY (2-0) at INDIANA (2-0)

Kickoff: Noon Eastern, Saturday
Location: Bloomington, Ind., Memorial Stadium (52,656; field turf)
Television: Big Ten Network — Lisa Byington (pbp), Anthony Herron (analyst), Krystle Rich (sideline)
Stream: Fox Sports
Radio: IU Football radio network
Odds: Indiana is a 6.5-point favorite
Weather at kickoff: 80 degrees, sunny, wind 8 mph, 0% chance of precipitation.
Series: Indiana leads 4-0 (IU won 33-31 in 2021)
The Coaches:

Tom Allen is in his sixth year as the head coach at IU. He holds a 28-32 record.

Tyson Helton was named Western Kentucky University’s 21st head football coach on November 27, 2018. The 2022 campaign is his fourth season at the helm of the Hilltopper program after producing a 23-16 mark and reaching three bowl games in his first three years.

IU Football Week Three Coverage:

INJURIES

Indiana is reasonably healthy going into week three beyond the loss of right tackle Matthew Bedford for the season with a torn ACL.

Defensive end James Head, Jr. could make his season debut on Saturday according to head coach Tom Allen.

Safety Jonathan Haynes is day-to-day.

TALE OF THE TAPE

2021 HIGHLIGHTS

THE COMPLETE BIG TEN WEEK THREE SLATE

Saturday, September 17, 2022 Football
Away	Home	Time	Location	Links
Southern Illinois	Northwestern	12:00 P.M.	Evanston, Ill.	TV: BTN Stats
Connecticut	Michigan	12:00 P.M.	Ann Arbor, Mich.	TV: ABC Stats Video
Purdue	Syracuse	12:00 P.M.	Syracuse, N.Y.	TV: ESPN2 Stats Radio: WAZY (96.5 FM) Video
Oklahoma	Nebraska	12:00 P.M.	Lincoln, Neb.	Stats Video
Western Kentucky	Indiana	12:00 P.M.	Bloomington, Ind.	TV: BTN Stats Radio: IU Radio Network
Rutgers	Temple	2:00 P.M.	Philadelphia, Pa.	TV: ESPN+ Stats Radio: WFAN 101.9-FM/660-AM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 392, Audacy app, Scarlet Knights app Video
New Mexico State	Wisconsin	3:30 P.M.	Madison, WI	TV: BTN Stats
Penn State	Auburn	3:30 P.M.	Auburn, Ala.	TV: CBS Stats Radio: Penn State Sports Network Video
Colorado	Minnesota	3:30 P.M.	Huntington Bank Stadium	TV: ESPN2 Stats Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM Video
Toledo	Ohio State	7:00 P.M.	Columbus, Ohio	TV: FOX
Nevada	Iowa	7:30 P.M.	Iowa City, Iowa	TV: Big Ten Network
SMU	Maryland	7:30 P.M.	College Park, MD	TV: FS1 Stats Video
Michigan State	Washington	7:30 P.M.	Seattle, WA	TV: ABC Radio: Spartan Media Network

WESTERN KENTUCKY NOTES AND LEADERS

In its first ever visit to Hawaii, WKU came out on top in dominant fashion by a score of 49-17. The defense forced six turnovers on the night, including two interceptions by Kaleb Oliver and pick six courtesy of Juwuan Jones. Offensively, quarterback Austin Reed led the way for the Tops by throwing for 271 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 43 yards and an additional score.

In the very first college football game of 2022, WKU defeated Austin Peay by a score of 38-27. Malachi Corley caught three touchdowns from quarterback Austin Reed while Daewood Davis caught the other. The Hilltopper defense recorded four takeaways for the game, including a pick six by defensive back Upton Stout.

This year’s WKU Football roster includes 40 total transfers, 20 incoming transfers for the 2022 season, and 17 transfers who previously played at Power 5 programs.

2022 RESULTS

WKU 38 Austin Peay 27

WKU 49 Hawaii 17

2022 STATISTICAL LEADERS

Austin Reed (QB) – 42-of-65, 551 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs
Davion Ervin-Poindexter (RB) – 24 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD
Kye Robichaux (RB) – 12 carries, 67 yard, 1 TD
Daewood Davis (WR) – 11 receptions, 202 yards, 1 TD
Malachi Corley (WR) – 9 receptions, 73 yards, 3 TD
JaQues Evans (LB) – 18 tackles, 3.5 sacks
Kaleb Oliver (DB) – 2 INT
Upton Stout (DB) – 2 INT

PREDICTIONS

Indiana’s inconsistent play to open the 2022 season has them out of favor with the computer models. But in an unusual divergence, oddsmakers like the Hoosiers by a healthy margin. What to do, what to do?

With good weather and matchups they can exploit, Indiana’s offense finally comes alive early and often, and does just enough to hold off the feisty Hilltoppers and their potent attack.

TDH: INDIANA 38 WESTERN KENTUCKY 34

CFN: Indiana 38 Western Kentucky 27

ESPN SP+ (Computer) Western Kentucky 31 Indiana 27

ESPN FPI: Indiana 45.2 percent chance to win

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