BottomLine

I'm 78-years-old and I've been an Indiana fan for my whole life. Graduated from IU in1969. Youngest daughter was graduating class of 2000. Grandson, a high school sophomore, weighs 265 and growing and and wants to play for the Hoosiers. For the last year and a half iu has been on a streak and I, along with everyone else, have been chearing them on. But secretly, in the back of my mind, I've been saying to myself that this can't continue. After all we are only Indiana and Indiana sucks at football. At some point the bubble is going to burst and we are going to sink back to our rightful level. That is what years and years of losing does to you mentally. But guess what. These young men that put on the cream and crimson on Saturday don't think this is a bubble. They believe in themselves and their coach. They believe they can beat anyone. The doubt isn't there in their minds, like us old codgers. While across America the experts are looking for the bubble to burst Saturday, I don't think the the players are buying into that thinking. We can lose this game. But we can also win it. If IU is hungary and our recievers can get open we will win this game. Indiana 5 TDs = 35 Total 35 Oregon 3 TDs = 21 1 FG = 3 Total 24

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around last Saturday's Illinois game. Are we that good? Were they that bad? Nobody saw that coming. Now most of the "experts" are predicting a relatively close game. It is like they don't that think IU is that good and Illinois was crushed because they are so bad and had it coming. I'm not buying that. Let's keep pouring it on. Indiana 6 TDs = 42 Total = 42 Iowa 3 TDs = 21 Total = 21

Illinois is #9 and Indiana is #17. If IU started the season rated where Illinois was and Illinois started where IU did, the ratings would be reversed for this game. That is how polls work. The polls started the season with an anti-Indiana bias. Looking at our record over the years we deserved the doubt. Indiana has outscored our opponents 156-23. Illinois has outscored its opponents 135-22. They played a bit tougher schedule. Both teams obviously can play defense. Home field and fans are worth a touchdown. Indiana 4 TDs = 28 1 FG = 3 Total = 31 Illinois 3 TDs = 21 1 FG = 3 Total = 24

This game is such a mismatch that it is off the betting boards in many places. Let'sjust hope we don't get anybody hurt. Hoosiers 8 TDs = 56 Sycamores 1 FG = 3

I figure the Hoosiers left at least 28 points on the field last Saturday. Coach Cig can't be happy about that and I look for improvement this week - or else! I have some feeling for the Owls since I grew up a Seymour Owl, but not much. Figure they should be good for about 6 points but I can't imagine them hitting two field goals. So I'm going to pick them for a TD. I hope fewer stops on the goal line and fewer dropped TD passes this week. Seven scores feels about right. I'll make that 5 TDs and a couple of FGs. Worried this could turn into the 2024 Western Illinois game. Hoosiers 5 TD = 35 2 FG =6 Total = 41 Owls 1 TD = 7 Total = 7

Congratulations to cbp4iu for being the first to hit the TRIFECTA (bonus for picking the winner , bonus for picking a score correctly, and bonus for being top dog for the week). Yes, I have a horseracing background.

Football or Basketball it doesn't make a difference. The first week is always my worst week. Because - who the hell knows what is going to happen. Nevertheless: Indiana 5 TDS = 35 1 FG = 3 TOTAL = 38 OD 2 TDS = 14 TOTAL = 14 (One TD late against the bench when the game is out of reach) And we don't cover and the coach is pissed.

INDIANA 75 OREGON 73

INDIANA 76 OSU 74

Oh, heck! Probably don't stand much chance of catching up this year anyway. If IU is going to make the NCAA field and win a game, they are going to need to beat a team like Oregon. Let's see how good we are. INDIANA 78 OREGON 73

I would do that too.

INDIANA 76 WASHINGTON 73

IU doesn't have a finisher. We lead going into the last three minutes we win. If we mush play catch-up we probably won't. INDIANA 78 PENN ST 72

When you lose a lot of close games it usually means that you don't have a reliable finisher. Purdue does - we don't. INDIANA 72 PURDUE 76

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.