Score Prediction: Hoosiers Look to Bounce Back Against Wolverines

Indiana's perfect season came to an end last weekend, but the Hoosiers have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of following their 19-15 loss to Ohio State. Curt Cignetti's squad went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country and was just one properly executed play away from potentially leaving the field with a victory.

Now comes another test.

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire," Cignetti said on Monday in reference to facing Ohio State and Michigan in back-to-back weeks.

How will Indiana respond to adversity for the first time this season?

The Hoosiers are 6-1 and remain firmly in the conversation as one of the Big Ten's best teams. Saturday's matchup against Michigan provides an opportunity to prove that the loss to Ohio State was nothing more than a temporary setback.

The Wolverines are coming off a win over Penn State, but they're also dealing with significant uncertainty at quarterback and have struggled to establish an offensive identity. Indiana should have several advantages in this matchup, particularly on defense.

Josh Hoover has been one of the biggest reasons for Indiana's success this season, and his ability to protect the football has been especially impressive. He has 18 touchdown passes and no interceptions through seven games. That's impressive for anyone, but it's especially noteworthy for Hoover since he arrived in Bloomington with a reputation as a turnover machine while at TCU.

Even against Ohio State, Hoover put his team in position to win. His fourth-down throw to Nick Marsh in the end zone could have been and should have been the defining moment of Indiana's season, but Marsh stepped out of bounds and the Hoosiers came up just short.

The important takeaway is that Hoover was capable of making that play against an elite opponent.

Michigan presents another difficult challenge, particularly with its experienced secondary and the defensive approach of coordinator Jay Hill. The Wolverines have enough talent on the back end to make throwing the football difficult, so Indiana will need to be patient and avoid forcing unnecessary opportunities.

Charlie Becker remains the biggest threat in the passing game, but Marsh is just as dangerous a weapon Michigan must respect. If Hoover can spread the football around and avoid turnovers, Indiana should eventually find opportunities for explosive plays.

The running game will also be critical.

Lee Beebe Jr. has already demonstrated his ability to carry the offense when needed, including his 203-yard performance against Northwestern. Turbo Richard is actually the lead dog in Indiana's backfield, so they have a one-two punch that rivals anyone in the nation.

Establishing that rushing threat should make Hoover's job considerably easier.

This is where the Hoosiers have their clearest advantage.

Michigan's offense has struggled for much of the season, and those issues ultimately resulted in Bryce Underwood being benched against Penn State. True freshman Tommy Carr took over in the second half, provided an immediate spark and helped the Wolverines escape with a 21-18 victory.

Now Carr is expected to make his first career start against an Indiana defense that ranks among the nation's best.

That's not exactly an ideal situation for Michigan.

The Hoosiers rank fourth nationally against the run, which should create significant problems for a Wolverines rushing attack that ranks just 85th. If Indiana can contain Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter and Carr on the ground, Michigan will be forced to rely heavily on its inexperienced quarterback.

That's precisely the scenario Cignetti and his defensive staff should want.

Indiana's defensive front has been outstanding, routinely creating problems for opposing offensive lines. Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones are incredibly smart and opportunistic and are both solid tacklers. They provide additional toughness and athleticism at linebacker.

The Hoosiers don't necessarily need to force Carr into mistakes immediately. Simply making Michigan play behind the chains and consistently face third-and-long situations should eventually produce opportunities for sacks and turnovers.

Indiana has the defensive personnel to dictate how this game is played.

The loss to Ohio State was disappointing, but Indiana showed it belongs on the same field as the nation's elite programs. That performance should give the Hoosiers confidence rather than create doubt.

Michigan is talented enough defensively to keep this from becoming a blowout, and Carr's mobility adds an element of unpredictability to the Wolverines' offense.

Still, Indiana is the more complete football team.

The Hoosiers should control the line of scrimmage defensively, limit Michigan's rushing production and gradually wear down the Wolverines with their offensive balance.

Expect Michigan to hang around early before Indiana takes control in the second half, giving Cignetti's team an important bounce-back victory.

Indiana 27, Michigan 17