The Indiana Hoosiers (7-1) host the Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2) in a Big Ten Week 9 matchup on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. Indiana enters as a 20.5-point favorite according to DraftKings Sportsbook, with the Over/Under set at 40.5 points. The Hoosiers rebounded from their first loss in over a year — a defeat to Ohio State earlier this month — with an overtime victory at Michigan last week.
Indiana's offense struggles, defense elite
Since head coach Curt Cignetti took over in 2024, Indiana has shed its reputation as a college football laughingstock. However, the offense has looked vulnerable recently, scoring 20, 15, and 13 points over its last three games. Quarterback Josh Hoover, who Cignetti said has been playing injured, has completed no better than 54.5% of his passes in that span. The Hoosiers' strength remains their defense, which ranks No. 2 nationally allowing just 12.0 points per game.
Minnesota seeks signature win
Minnesota owns notable wins over Washington, Michigan, and Iowa this season but is just 1-1 on the road. The Golden Gophers' defense ranks 34th in points allowed per game, while the offense sits 84th in scoring. Quarterback Drake Lindsey has thrown six interceptions, with at least one in each of his last five games. Minnesota suffered blowout losses at Purdue and at home against Mississippi State earlier this year.
Betting outlook and model projection
The SportsLine Projection Model, which entered Week 9 on a 68-59 run on top-rated college football picks, gives Indiana a 68% chance to cover the 20.5-point spread, earning an 'A' grade. The money line lists Indiana at -1450 and Minnesota at +850, while the Over/Under odds are Over -115 and Under -105.
