Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

2024 Indiana Hoosiers Football Predictions and Betting Odds

by Joey House - 8/13/2024

Indiana Hoosiers football predictions Kurtis Rourke

2023 record: 3-9 SU, 7-5 ATS

Offensive PPG: 22.2 (105th of 133)

Opponents PPG: 29.9 (101st of 133)

Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (Coached at James Madison last year)

Indiana 2024 Reg. Season Wins Over 5.5 -135/Under 5.5 +115

Big Ten Champ. Game Winner +6500

Win Nation Title +20000

Doc’s Sports offers college football expert picks for every game on our college football predictions page.

Indiana Hoosiers 2023 Recap

The Indiana Hoosiers football team faces a critical juncture as they head into the 2024 season. Despite the university's rich basketball heritage, the football program has struggled, finishing the 2023 season with a disappointing 3-9 record. This marked their third consecutive losing season and fifth in the last seven years. In response, Indiana made a significant change by firing head coach Tom Allen and bringing in Curt Cignetti from James Madison. Known for his impressive coaching record (including Division II and FCS, Cignetti's teams are 119-35), Cignetti is tasked with revitalizing the Hoosiers and steering them toward a more competitive future. Bettors and fans alike are eager to see if this new leadership can turn the tide for Indiana football.

Indiana Hoosiers Offense (10 starters returning)

While it is common for some coaches and a few players to follow their departing head coach to his new university, new Hoosier head coach Cignetti has taken this concept to a new level. Over a dozen former James Madison players followed Cignetti to Bloomington. The running back duo of Kaelon Black and Ty Son Lawton, who combined for 1,633 total yards and 11 TDs, will now be rushing against Big Ten defenses instead of their former Sun Belt opponents. Likewise, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt and tight end Zach Horton were 1st-team All-SBC selections. One of the few incoming transfers NOT from James Madison is quarterback Kurtis Rourke, a 3-year starter at Ohio University in the MAC. Rourke threw over 7,600 yards with a 66.3% completion percentage and 50 touchdowns with just 16 interceptions in 35 games while leading the Bobcats to consecutive 10-win seasons. A veteran offensive line with a combined 123 starts will help power the offense.

Indiana Hoosiers Defense (11 starters returning)

While James Madison's first two years in the FBS ranks saw impressive offenses, the Dukes were known for their attacking defense, which wreaked havoc on their opposition. Last year, the Dukes fielded the 5th-best rush defense in the country at 83.8 yards per game and were tied for the 4th-most sacks with 45. Cignetti brought the bulk of his defensive coaching staff with him, along with five former starters, highlighted by the defensive end Mikail Kamara, who had 7.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss while garnering 2nd-team Sun Belt Conference recognition. The 2023 Hoosiers ranked in the bottom 3rd of the nation in total yards allowed, giving up 383.4 yards per game. However, with the massive turnover and influx of new talent, it is easy to envision this Indiana defense being significantly better.

Indiana Hoosiers Schedule

After studying Indiana's schedule, I see that the Hoosiers seem primed to surpass the 5.5-win total that Vegas initially installed. They start with two winnable games against Florida International and the FCS Western Illinois Leathernecks. They open Big Ten play by traveling to Los Angeles and taking on UCLA. They then get a breather as they host Charlotte of the American Athletic Conference. The Hoosiers need to be at least 3-1 when they hit the meat of their Big Ten schedule to have a realistic shot. Luckily, they play only four road games the entire season: UCLA, Northwestern, Michigan State, and Ohio State. They should win two of those road games, if not three. Winning just two on the road and the three nonconference games gets us to five. Then all they need to do is pick up a home win against the likes of Purdue, Maryland, Washington, or Nebraska.

Indiana Hoosiers Football Predictions

The Hoosiers have gone through the "Home Makeover" version of college football. They cleaned house with their coaching staff and brought in a ton of new talent (mainly from James Madison) through the transfer portal. Of their 11 projected starters on offense, only three were in Bloomington last fall. The defense has a similar story, with just four probably starters having played for Indiana last year. However, the Hoosiers won't have to go through the average transition period with new coaches since so many of the JMU players played for Cignetti last year. Add a very experienced offensive line, a three-year starting quarterback to the mix, and some dynamic offensive weapons, and you get the makings of a surprise team. While the lion's share of the spotlight is on the new blood in the conference and the perennial powerhouses, it might just be the unheralded football team from the blue-blood basketball school that makes the most noise. At the very least, I see Indiana winning six or more games to cash the over-season wins total, and they have the talent to spring an upset.

Indiana Hoosiers Game to Key On

If there is one thing that Cignetti-coached teams do, it's take care of business at home. In addition to compiling a 62-8 SU record at home during his five seasons at the helm of James Madison, he also posted a sterling 27-13 ATS of the lined games played in Harrisonburg, Virginia, home of the Dukes. JMU was NEVER a home dog in Cignetti's tenure there. While the competition was admittedly not as high, the caliber of his players was also lower. Covering as a home favorite was already something the Hoosiers did quite well, as they posted an 18-13 ATS as home chalk over the past 10 seasons. With these trends in mind, I look for their opening game against FIU to be a decisive win and cover for Indiana. Cignetti will want to make an early statement, and the talent level between the two schools is markedly different. The spread is currently Indiana -21, and I see that moving to about -24 or more before kickoff. I would feel comfortable laying the points all the way to 28.

Get college football picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bet premium picks by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

 

Most Recent College Football Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers