IU - 31

OR - 21

Hoosiers make a statement. 

I thought I was going out on a limb until I saw these two predictions. I’ll go 

IU 28

UO 21

24-21 Hooooooooosiers

Why not -- 30-27 IU.

Sorry to burst the bubble.  Wished I could see the victory.  Just don't.  

oregon 34

IU 24 

I don't think we're as good, yet, as our best from last year, despite nearly every pundit saying we are better. They just refuse to accept how good we were.

But I think we can be better. Are the year older Coop and Sarratt and E.J. more consistent or bulletproof and ready to hit plenty of big plays? Will Mendoza handle the heat and have a great game? Will the defense be able to do what they do against lesser teams, i.e. dominate, get a turnover? Can we run the ball? Can the coaches pull off a great plan and have us execute it? 

This might be the game we put it all together, even in the tough environment.

Hoosiers 34 - Oregon 30

I won't be surprised if we get out to a lead, but their depth and talent make a push for it at the end. We hold on! Six seconds at a time. (Or 2 seconds at a time if the Iowa officials are reffing this.)

Go Hoosiers!

,

@hoosiers94 I'm not picking because I don't want to pick against the Hoosiers, but I tend to think that gap in talent/size/depth and athleticism, coupled with their home field will probably be too great to overcome. Still, I think we're better at almost every position group vs last year, so I expect CCC has closed the talent gap a good deal vs these elite rosters. If we can run the ball and have a smartly aggressive gameplan and Mendoza most of the time has enough time to make his reads and find receivers (the only area I'd give Rourke an edge: so far he was better at working through his reads and finding the right option), then I think we'll be in the game. At that point, I still think we need a break with a special teams play or turnovers, but I think that's our recipe for a victory. They are young at QB and skill positions, so gives hope that we can confuse/rattle them. Regardless, when you look at the rosters/rankings on paper, we shouldn't be able to compete with a team like this, and yet I know if we keep CCC, we will at some point. Hope it's Saturday! Traveling to CA, but will be damn sure to find a TV for this one!

@openwheel I think we're better at almost every position group. I do think Rourke was better at getting through his reads and finding the best/right option, where sometimes I think Mendoza throws it to the first open receiver. But he's more mobile, better runner and better arm. Offensive line I think is better, receivers are older and I think better, but I also think they can improve even more if FM makes better reads and finds the best receiver, not the first one who's open. That's the main thing I'm looking for, have we closed the talent gap to the point that we can compete and a turnover or 2 or big plays could swing a game like this in our favor. I believe CCC will get us to where we can compete with the elites and hope it starts Saturday!

Until IU shows it knows how to do a silent snap count without the defense figuring out when the ball will be snapped, I don’t see the offense scoring enough to win, unless the defense becomes the 85 Bears on Saturday.

Oregon 28

Indiana 14

@iugradman Gotta believe that will be fixed... of course I'd have thought it would vs IA. Still, our staff is too good overall not to address something that all really good teams have to master.

I saw a football site discussing our game, then specifically talking about silent counts. Discussed the 'clap method'. I had wondered why we didn't, after seeing Vanderbilt at Alabama both calling out audibles (from right up at the line then dropping into shotgun) and then varying the barked out count but adding claps with it.

This site both guys in talking about various ways to silent count said 'I don't think clapping will work at Autzen' . I guess noise level.

They should make it legal for every player to have a headset. True silent count.

I choose to quit worrying about it. We will make plays. I just hope we mix it up on offense and have many well designed plays. And more, that our defense gets off well on their count.

I agree with the Oregon writers who've said we haven't matched up with elite talent when we've faced it.  The Iowa game was really tricky to assess, but we didn't look good.  Is that because of Iowa or because of us?  The answer, to me, is both and because of that I still have a hard time thinking we're ready to truly match up with the big boys.  I think this game's like 42-24 for the Ducks.

All signs point to a big loss unfortunately.

Oregon 38

Hoosiers 20

On the bright side the line is +7.5.  Bettors are more optimistic than most media and fans.