No. 4 Michigan Hosts Indiana, Needing To Win Out For Goals
The Associated Press
Indiana (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) at No. 4 Michigan (9-1, 6-1, No. 3 CFP), 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Michigan by 23½.
Series Record: Michigan leads 55-9.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The Wolverines need to win out — against the Hoosiers, at No. 2 Ohio State and in the Big Ten championship game — to win its first conference championship since 2004 and advance to the College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers are a win away from becoming bowl-eligible for the second straight year with games left at Michigan and against rival Purdue at home.
KEY MATCHUP
Indiana RB Devine Redding against Michigan's front seven. Redding ran 23 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns in last week's loss to then-No. 12 Penn State. The Wolverines have been weak against the run lately, giving up 164 yards on the ground at Iowa in their first loss this season and 217 yards rushing three weeks ago in a win at Michigan State.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Indiana: Redding. He is 99 yards away from giving Indiana a player with consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Vaughn Dunbar in 1990 and 1991. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Hoosiers haven't played in two straight bowls since Dunbar pulled off the feat.
Michigan: QB John O'Korn. He may start for the first time with the Wolverines, replacing Wilton Speight, who hurt his left shoulder against the Hawkeyes. O'Korn started 16 games at Houston before transferring to Michigan.
FACTS & FIGURES
Michigan beat Indiana 48-41 in two overtimes last year, tying the game with 2 seconds left in regulation on Jehu Chesson's TD catch and winning on Amara Darboh's 25-yard touchdown reception. ... The Hoosiers have not beaten Michigan since 1987 and have not won on the road in the series since 1967. ... The Wolverines are outscoring teams by an average of 27.4 to 4.6 in the first quarter this year. ... Indiana has lost seven fumbles in the last two games.
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