Minnesota hosts Indiana on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. The Hoosiers are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Minnesota vs. Indiana odds, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 54. These teams are a combined 1-8 in the Big Ten, plagued by inconsistent play. But SportsLine expert Emory Hunt has realized a key reason to back one side against the spread. Before you make any Indiana vs. Minnesota picks, you’ll want to see what he has to say.
Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007. The former running back joined SportsLine in 2016 and has provided his followers with winning seasons in college and pro football. That’s been especially true when picking Hoosiers games, winning his last four spread picks involving the team.
That includes taking Iowa (-5.5) against Indiana in a 42-16 win two weeks ago, and going with Virginia (+6.5) in a 20-16 Indiana victory earlier this season. Anyone who followed his advice booked easy winners.
Now, he has turned his attention to Friday’s prime-time battle between these up-and-down clubs.
Hunt knows Indiana opened the season 3-0, including a win over ACC contender Virginia, but fortunes flip-flopped once the Big Ten portion of the schedule got going. Two weeks ago, IU bottomed out, losing 42-16 to Iowa, but the Hoosiers rebounded last week, falling just short in a 33-28 loss to No. 17 Penn State. Indiana out-gained the Nittany Lions 554-417.
The offense is young and perhaps poised for a breakout game. Sophomore QB Peyton Ramsey is averaging 276 yards. He has spread the ball around well, with seven receivers grabbing at least 20 receptions and six compiling at least 200 yards. RB Stevie Scott ran for 138 yards and two TDs against Penn State. Among true freshmen, he ranks first nationally in carries (141), second in yards (695) and fourth in TDs (6).
But just because the Hoosiers can move the ball doesn’t mean they’ll stay within the spread on Friday.
Hunt also knows Minnesota opened the season with three non-conference wins, but since then has gone 0-4 in the Big Ten, including a brutal 53-28 loss at previously winless Nebraska last Saturday.
The offense has rebounded after losing star RB Rodney Smith for the season in Week 2. Freshman Mohamed Ibrahim showcase his potential when he ran for 157 yards and two TDs against Ohio State. He’s averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Minnesota starting QB Zack Annexstad was injured against Nebraska, and his status for Friday night is undisclosed. In his stead, Tanner Morgan threw for 214 yards on 11-of-16 passing against the Huskers. Whoever the QB is, he’ll face a Hoosiers defense that ranks 70th against the run and 74th against the pass.
We can tell you Hunt is leaning over, but he has unearthed the critical x-factor that causes one side of the spread to hit hard. He’s only sharing what it is, and who to back, at SportsLine.
Who covers in Indiana vs. Minnesota? And what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on Friday, from an accomplished handicapper who is 4-0 in picks involving the Hoosiers.
Source: Read Full Article