In a blink of an eye, the 2019-20 college football season is one-third over while the NFL season has reached its quarter pole. For the weekend beginning Sept. 28, Indiana football odds expect some in-state teams to start on the next segment of their seasons with a win.
Notre Dame, Purdue, and the Indianapolis Colts are all home favorites this week. Indiana, however, is a road dog.
Background on this week’s Indiana football odds
The 1-2 Boilermakers begin their conference season on Saturday against Minnesota. The biggest storyline leading into the game is the health of quarterback Elijah Sindelar.
Without him two weeks ago, Purdue put up a mere 13 points and barely managed 200 yards of total offense. If Sindelar can’t go, the Boilermakers will need their defense to do better than their last outing as well.
The last outing was a respectable one for the 2-1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Notre Dame defense held No. 3 Georgia to just 23 points, but couldn’t overcome two interceptions to stay undefeated.
The Hoosiers did last week what the Irish will be looking to do this week; get over a loss. Indiana drubbed UConn 38-3, although the Hoosiers lost left tackle Coy Cronk for the season in the process.
The 2-1 Colts will also look to carry momentum from last week into the present despite an injury. The status of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is unknown right now, somewhat dampening Indianapolis’ spirits after a solid win over the Atlanta Falcons in its home opener.
Despite the Hoosiers’ recovery last week, sportsbooks in Indiana expect Indiana to fall to 0-2 in Big Ten play on Saturday.
Breaking down this week’s Indiana football odds
Indiana Hoosiers travel to take on Michigan State’s accomplished run defense this week, painting a bleak picture for quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Because of that, Indiana is a two-touchdown underdog at sportsbooks like FanDuel and William Hill.
Rivers has a moneyline of +575 on the Hoosiers pulling off the upset. The action is pretty similar in the opposite direction on Notre Dame.
The 10th-ranked Irish host No. 18 Virginia this week and are 12-point favorites at Caesars. That spread may be a little generous, however. The 4-0 Cavaliers are tied with Notre Dame in points allowed per game but only allow opponents 264 yards of total offense per contest on average.
Because of Sindelar’s questionable status, sportsbooks are reluctant to have much vigor on Purdue. Most books swing between favoring the Boilermakers by a mere point or 1.5 points, and the moneylines aren’t enticing either.
If Sindelar can go, however, the spread again may be too conservative. Minnesota comes into the contest ranked 104th in the nation in terms of average yards allowed, and Purdue receiver Rondale Moore has yet to have a real breakout game.
Speaking of receivers, if Hilton has to miss a game, this might be the most convenient week. The Oakland Raiders come in 24th against the pass so far.
This might be the week to take advantage of some lingering doubt about Jacoby Brissett. William Hill has a prop bet that pays out +400 if the Colts score four touchdowns on Sunday. BetRivers will pay out +210 to bettors who take the alternate spread of -13.5 betting on the Indianapolis Colts this week.
For bettors interested in teams in surrounding states, there are some opportunities to be had, as well.
Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio college team lines
Illinois and Louisville are idle this week, but the other relevant Power 5 football teams will be in action Saturday.
Northwestern takes its place as the underdog of the week, approaching its Big Ten opener at Wisconsin as a 23.5-point underdog on BetRivers. That same book has a moneyline of +1500 on the Wildcats.
The team that Wisconsin dispensed with last week, the Michigan Wolverines, is heavily favored to rebound. Many of the books consider Rutgers such a non-threat that they don’t even have any action available on Michigan this week.
The Wolverines’ nemesis, Ohio State, is a similar favorite to nab a conference victory. The Buckeyes are 18-point favorites to win at Nebraska on Saturday, according to Caesars.
On the flip side of Indiana at Michigan State, there aren’t many options for positive odds on the Spartans. Even taking the under on the point total of 44 won’t pay out at most books.
A more attractive bet this week is the Kentucky Wildcats. FanDuel has them a 2.5-point favorite to get a road win over South Carolina, but a moneyline of +120.
Lines on NFL teams surrounding the Hoosier State
Speaking of betting on the NFL, FanDuel pays out +100 if you take the under on a total of 53.5 for the Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions game. Detroit is a six-point underdog.
The Chicago Bears host the Minnesota Vikings, and most books expect them to get the division victory, albeit by a small margin. If you’re willing to parlay the Bears to win and either the over or the under on the point total of 38, BetRivers will give you +220 odds on that.
The Cincinnati Bengals visit Pittsburgh on Monday night, as a four-point underdog on William Hill. The moneyline there is +175.
It could be a great weekend for sports bettors in Indiana if the Hoosiers pull off an upset. If the games go according to the chalk, however, the Boilermakers, Colts, and Irish will be happy.
