With the Indiana Hoosiers favored by 24.5 points and Rutgers struggling near the bottom of the FBS against the run (ranked No. 107 nationally), all signs point to a dominant evening on the ground for Lee Beebe Jr. Last week, in the second quarter, Turbo Richard left the game with an injury, opening the door for Beebe to become the every-down back. Beebe went on to carry the ball 24 times for 203 yards and a touchdown.

If Richard is out this weekend, Beebe Jr. should feast on a Rutgers defense that gives up more than five yards per carry and has allowed six rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs. If Richard can go, then expect both he and Beebe to be effective on the ground.

At 5-10, 215 pounds, Lee Beebe Jr. brings a physical, North-South running style that wears defenses down. Originally a walk-on at UAB before joining Indiana, Beebe plays with a relentless, hard-nosed mentality. 

Expect Indiana to lean heavily on the run to control the tempo and put this game out of reach early. Beebe will do the heavy lifting early in drives, softening the defense between the tackles. An effective run game should open things up for Josh Hoover to find Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh downfield like he's been doing all season.

Given Rutgers' run defense, this approach allows Indiana to dictate every phase of the game, giving Beebe a prime opportunity to hit high-yardage marks and comfortably cover the spread. Curt Cignetti never shows mercy, so if the running game is working and Indiana establishes an early lead, Rutgers' defense will face a long, grueling night trying to keep up.

Last week, needing so much out of Beebe was a surprise for the Hoosiers. This week, if Richard can't go, there will be a plan in place to keep Beebe fresh and healthy through out the game. Because of that, expect somewhere between 14 and 18 carries for 75-100 yards and one or two touchdowns. Beebe’s low center of gravity makes him Indiana’s go-to option inside the 5-yard line. Expect him to cap off at least one sustained drive in the red zone.

If Indiana figures out that Beebe can grind out yards early, expect him to get stronger as the game goes on allowing him to pile up some tough yards in the third and fourth quarters. By then, the Rutgers front will be outmatched by Indiana's pulling guards and second-level blocks.