BottomLine

So busy commenting that I forgot to put in a prediction.  

Heard on the radio today that the Smellermakers rank 330th in inside defense. Woodson game plans to take advantage by starting Ballo, Reneau and Dallas.
Plan works! We make 29 two point field goals. Unfortunately, Pork Chop has the answer as Dallas’ career IU game of 2 points and 1 rebound can’t negate the 18 threes from PU.
Final score—
Blazin Fletcher Smiths 75
Stuck in the 80’s plodding Hoosiers-72

When I turned the game off in disgust the 72-70 score was still on the screen.   Thanks for the correction.  I feel sooooooooo much better.   Now I don't even have the consolation of a good story.

This season has turned out to be as sad as the football season was happy.
This season is a testament to the fact that players are in the portal for a reason.  In most cases they were not that good in the first place.  There are exceptions but the portal is a hazardous way to build a roster.
Perhaps Woody has finally reached the realization that the best TEAM that he can put on the floor is not necessarily the most talented.  Then on the other hand playing as a teammate is a talent in itself that we often overlook.
IU played well enough at Purdue to win the game and only lost it in the final seconds when Leal fouled out and was replaced by Rice, who promptly decided to go one on one and play hero ball instead of passing the ball to Ballo for a flush.
We usually play terrible in Madison but we can win this. It will depend on our defense because we are only a low 70 point team offensively at present.
 
Indiana     71
Wiaconsin     80 

It depends what he did last night

If that's the standard we may have a bunch of 'step-aways', myself included now and then!    :)

Not going to win this thing this year anyway, so what difference does it make?  Going with my heart and a little bit of my head.
Forecast for tomorrow in South Bend.  High of 34 and low of 22.  Since kickoff is after dark I'll guess the temp in mid to high 20's and falling.  Not good for passers or receivers.  Also forecast for light snow and winds between 11 and 14 mph.  Should help a team that can't pass very well (ND).
Home field advantage to ND.  Well, duh.
Strength of schedule and stats favor Indiana.  ND based on latest top 25, ND has not played ONE ranked team this year.  Only loss was to a MAC team at home when they fell behind and had to throw the ball.  How in the world did they deserve a home game?  Beats me.
IU's best chance is to get an early lead and force ND to play come from behind.  If our balance attack and passing game are working we walk away with this one.  It could actually be a blowout game either way or a rock fight.  IU need to play well and avoid mistakes.  Interception near the goal line and muffed snap to the kicker made the OSU game look a lot worse than it really was.
BottomLine:
Hoosiers      4 TD = 28    +    1 FG= 3        Total 31
ND                  3 TD = 21   +     2 FG = 6       Total 27 

Point differential vs opponents. IU + 29
Home Field. ND + 7
Toughness of schedule ND + 0. IU + 0
Refs. ND + 10
Execution  IU + 3
Intangibles  ND +3
Coaching. IU + 6
Indiana. 38.    Notre Dame 20

Gut check time!  Don't like that this is on the road, actually IUs first road game of the year.  Don't like that it is almost always a rock fight out there.  But, nobody cares what I like or don't like.
Nebraska is probably a small favorite here, but I'm starting to see some improvement from the Hoosiers, and I think we might be able to get over the hump here.  I'm still in the glass is half full mode.  Last bucket wins.
Indiana     76
Nebraska  75

Until we pick a big to start and go 4 out and quit playing Goode and Mgbako together we're going to look like s7it even if we do win. We have zero movement on offense and the big combinations can't defend. 

Norman Dale?

My late grandmother graduated from UNCG, please be kind.
How this works!!!
Each game I will create a Prediction League thread for the upcoming game.
It's a simple concept:
Each game you start with 100 points (only if a prediction is made, otherwise 0 points for the game)
+25 PTs if you guess the winner
-25 PTs if you pick the loser
+10 PTs if guess IU score correctly
+10 PTs if guess Opponent score correct
-The # of points different between the actual and predicted score of IU (over/under doesn't matter)
-The # of points different between the actual and predicted score of opponent (over/under doesn't matter)
*** Reminder if you post a prediction and want to change it, please just POST a NEW Prediction, do not edit a prior post as I may miss those edits.
The person with the most points (MINUS 2 LOWEST GAMES) at the end of the season wins

I had a coach once that told our team about a substitute for a starter on the other team, "There is a reason that he wasn't the starter to begin with."  Yeah I get it.  We are starting our second string quarterback.  However, in this case I say,  so what.  The rest of the starters, that have been pounding the snot out of everyone are still intact.  I'm not expecting much of a drop off, if at all.  We were mostly going to pound the ball on the ground either way.
As to Washington, they have lost to Washington State, Rutgers, and Iowa.  We would beat all three of those teams.  IU scoring and defense for the year is 341-96.  Washington is 169-119.  Put another way we have scored 172 more points than Washington and we have given up 23 fewer points.  Our margin of victory this year is 245 and Washington's is 50.  They can't score enough points to run with the BIG DOG in this game.
Finally Alaska Hoosier says we are going to beat the Huskies 42-21 and I believe him.  Though I picked my score before I checked what everyone else was doing, I think that is a 42-21 brilliant pick and sounds just right..
Hoosiers       6 TDs   =    42
Washighton  3 TDs   =    21

Because I'm that guy, here are the stats I totaled for the scrimmage.  Will need to hit threes at a better rate but was good to see us at least shooting them more.

    FG FGA 3PT 3PTA FT FTA F R A ST BS TO PTS 1 Rice 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 5 2 Cupps 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 Leal 1 3 0 2 0 0 2 5 2 0 0 1 2 5 Reneau 2 4 0 0 2 2 0 4 3 0 0 1 6 8 Tucker 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 9 Carlyle 1 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 Goode 2 9 2 6 0 0 1 5 1 1 0 1 6 11 Ballo 5 7 0 0 1 1 1 5 0 1 1 0 11 12 Hatton 3 6 0 0 2 2 2 4 1 0 0 1 8 21 Mgbako 4 9 2 5 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 12   TOTALS 23 53 5 19 7 7 6 30 10 2 1 5 58  

Yes. I remember that year very well. Does have kinda the same feel. I listened to every game on the radio and watched the Rose Bowl game. I had great hopes for the next season until some social issues derailed the year. But the Rose Bowl year was special.

Hate to pop your balloon but I'm sitting right there behind you in 3rd, only 2 points down.  You hear the foot steps?  Been a long climb from 38th but I'm back and set to do battle.  Have a restful week and don't think of me for a second.  Enjoy your lead while you can.  

Hate to pop your balloon but I'm sitting right there behind you in 3rd, only 2 points down.  You hear the foot steps?  Been a long climb from 38th but I'm back and set to do battle.  Have a restful week and don't think of me for a second.  Enjoy your lead while you can.  

Always go with your first pick and don’t rethink yourself!  ****!

YIKES!!!!!!!!!   Napleshoosier did you really trade a 131 score and first place overall for a 107?  Large slapping sound of hand hitting forehead!  Get well card in the mail.  I thought only I could do something like that.

Think of yourself as the solid foundation that we all build upon.

Trojans are USC.  UCLA would be the Bruins

Trojans are USC.  UCLA would be the Bruins

Think of yourself as the solid foundation that we all build upon.

Lookin' good here in last place! I guess i'm consistent.

The portal is primarily made up of two types of players.  1) disgruntled guys looking for playing time and 2) dudes looking to move up a level.  Add a few who’s coaches got fired.    
 
Very few are studs, and if they are they are looking to go to a winning team i.e.; Dickenson.  
It’s going to be an uphill battle for mediocre mike.