Indiana Hoosiers Futures Odds
Transfers Hope to Make Impact for Worst Defense in Big Ten
Indiana Still Has Questions at the Quarterback Position Heading Into the 2023 Season
After winning the first three games of the 2022 season, things unraveled for Indiana with only one win in the final nine games of the season. Those struggles are reflected in the Indiana Hoosiers future odds as Indiana is tied for the longest odds to win the Big Ten title.
Indiana (+20000) ranks sixth out of six NCAAF teams in the odds to win the Big Ten East Division title.
Indiana finished 12th out of 14 Big Ten teams in total offense a season ago and was last in total defense, surrendering 449 yards per game. In conference play, Indiana allowed 458 yards and 34.4 points per contest so there is plenty of work to do.
Indiana has never appeared in the Big Ten championship game and the Hoosiers are rather unlikely to change that during the 2023 season.
A quick look at the NCAAF scores shows that Indiana lost six games by at least 14 points a season ago.
Indiana covered against the college football predictions just four times in 2022.
New Faces Look to Add Some Punch
Indiana brought in more transfers than any other Big Ten team with 14 of the 23 incoming transfers coming on the defensive side of the ball. Sixteen of the transfers came from Power-5 conference teams.
Texas A&M defensive lineman Marcus Burris, Oregon edge rusher Anthony Jones, Texas Tech defensive lineman Philip Blidi and Jamier Johnson are among the players who could contribute immediately. Leading tackler Aaron Casey leads the list of returnees on defense.
The hope is that the transfers will breathe some life into a pass rush that recorded only 25 sacks in 18 conference games over the last two seasons.
Indiana saw nine NCAAF players transfer to Power-5 conference teams and that included quarterback Jack Tuttle and tight end AJ Barner landing at Michigan.
Either Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson or redshirt freshman Brendan Sorsby will be the starting quarterback.
Cam Camper, who had 46 catches in 2022 despite missing five games, will be the favorite target of whoever the starting quarterback might be.
Indiana needs to improve on its 3.36 yards per carry and those struggles running the ball plays a factor in the Indiana Hoosiers future odds.
National Championship Odds: Not Going to Happen
Indiana’s goals should be a winning record in conference play and a NCAAF bowl appearance. A quick look at the Indiana Hoosiers future odds has Indiana coming in at +50000 in the national championship odds and 58 teams from the Power-5 conferences are ahead of the Hoosiers in the national title odds.
Conference Odds: Hoosiers Look to Be Competitive
The numbers from the 2022 season were not pretty as Indiana allowed more touchdowns and points to be scored than any other Big Ten team. Indiana was also last in pass defense and allowed the second-most plays from scrimmage of at least 40 yards among Big Ten teams.
There’s a lot of work to be done for Indiana to push for a winning season in the Big Ten. It didn’t help to see former Indiana quarterback Michael Penix tearing things up after transferring to Washington.
When looking at the college football schedule, Indiana was a double-digit underdog in seven games during the 2022 season. Until the Hoosiers prove that they are a much better team, it figures to be more of the same for the Hoosiers in 2023.
Indiana was picked to finish last among the Big Ten East Division in the Big Ten’s preseason poll.
Regular Season Wins: Ready to Take Small Steps
Indiana finished with four wins in the regular season and three of those against Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The odds are priced at -145 for Indiana to go over 3.5 wins during the regular season and +115 to go over that total.
Indiana is diving right into the season with a matchup against national title contender Ohio State on Sept. 2 before playing non-conference matchups against Indiana State, Louisville and Akron. If Indiana can come away with at least two wins in those four games, perhaps a four-win season is a possibility.
Playing road games against Michigan and Penn State won’t be easy, but it is part of life in the Big Ten East Division as the division features Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State who are ranked second, third and seventh in the preseason Associated Press poll.
To Make The Playoffs: Ready to Go Bowling?
Indiana hasn’t won a bowl game since topping Baylor 24-0 in the 1991 Copper Bowl. The Hoosiers have played in just five bowl games since the 1994 season so the hope is that will change even if the expectations outside of Bloomington are pretty low coming into the 2023 season.
The best-case scenario might be for Indiana to have a chance to become bowl eligible going into the final two games of the regular season when the Hoosiers face Michigan State and Purdue. Indiana defeated Michigan State in 2022 and was competitive in the regular-season finale against Purdue.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
