There are high hopes and expectations for the Indiana Hoosiers as former head coach Lee Corso and the College GameDay crew head to Bloomington for Saturday’s Big Ten matchup with the Washington Huskies. Can Curt Cignetti continue an incredible campaign, or will Purple Reign dampen the mid-afternoon air?
Our Washington vs. Indiana prediction breaks down everything you need to know, including the latest betting odds and each team’s chances of success for the remainder of the 2024 college football season.
Washington vs. Indiana Betting Preview
All Washington vs. Indiana odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter (FPM).
- CFN FPM Spread
Indiana -13.5 - Spread
Indiana -6.5 - Moneyline
Indiana -250, Washington +205 - Over/Under
53 points - Game time
Noon ET - Location
Memorial Stadium | Bloomington, IN - Predicted Weather at Kick
64 degrees, mostly sunny, 9 mph winds - How to Watch
Big Ten Network
It’s been over 20 years since these two teams last met and even longer since the Huskies flew into Bloomington. While Washington won the last time they clashed, Indiana holds a 2-1 advantage over their new Big Ten foe. Despite an injury to star quarterback Kurtis Rourke, the Hoosiers are the betting favorite for this crucial Big Ten matchup, and it’s easy to understand why.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Indiana hasn’t trailed in a game all season, and it’s allowed them to not only go undefeated through eight weeks, but they’ve covered the spread for six consecutive games since narrowly failing to cover in their season-opener against FIU. Washington has only covered three times (with a push vs. Rutgers) and failed to cover by a country mile in the only game as an underdog.
Washington’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, Washington has just a 16.5% chance of beating the Hoosiers on Saturday afternoon. It’s worth noting that our metric predicted the Huskies’ defeats to the Washington State Cougars, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Iowa Hawkeyes.
The remaining win probabilities for the Huskies’ 2024 campaign can be found below:
- at Indiana: 16.5%
- vs. USC: 49.4%
- at Penn State: 7.2%
- at Oregon: 5.5%
- vs. UCLA: 79.3%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, Washington would end the year with a 5-7 record, a significant downturn in fortunes after reaching the National Championship Game in 2023. However, a difficult season was projected with the transfer portal, NFL, and coaching staff departures. The matchup with the USC Trojans holds the key to potential bowl eligibility.
Indiana’s Winning Probability
Conversely, the CFN FPM gives the Hoosiers an 83.5% chance of beating the Huskies on Saturday afternoon. Our metric has predicted every game of Indiana’s current incredible run, and while the injury to starting quarterback Rourke is suboptimal, it doesn’t necessarily mean the streak ends in Week 9.
The remaining win probabilities for Indiana in the 2024 season can be found below:
- vs. Washington: 83.5%
- at Michigan State: 80.6%
- vs. Michigan: 77.4%
- at Ohio State: 24.7%
- vs. Purdue: 95.1%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, the Hoosiers would reach the clash with the Ohio State Buckeyes with a 10-0 record, something no one would have predicted before the season. Even with a projected defeat to Ryan Day’s team, Indiana should finish the year with an 11-1 record, which could be enough to play in the Big Ten Championship Game, depending on other results.
Prediction for Washington vs. Indiana
When College GameDay announced Bloomington as the Week 9 location, they likely imagined that it would be a celebration of everything the Hoosiers have achieved this year — including the success of quarterback Rourke. While his injury curtails the celebration somewhat, are the Huskies really capable of completely ruining the party — and Indiana’s unbeaten run?
What does this game hold for the Hoosiers in a post-Rourke landscape? Can Jedd Fisch’s Washington get a much-needed win on the road? Who’s got the edge, and where will the key battles unfold?
Rourke’s injury matters. The reaction to the news that the star quarterback from the oddsmakers makes that clear. The 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year leads the Big Ten in passing touchdowns (15) and yards per attempt (10.7) while currently sitting second behind Dillon Gabriel by completing 74.6% of his pass attempts. He’s been a big part of Indiana’s 2024 success.
Yet, backup turned starter Tayven Jackson has been serviceable in relief of Rourke this year, and brings experience as a five-game starter in 2023. More importantly, he has the ability to extend plays with his legs, and with Indiana’s propensity to run the ball, that element of his game could tide the Hoosiers over just fine against Washington in Week 9.
It isn’t talked about a lot, but Indiana can really wallop a team on the ground. The Hoosiers just gave the Nebraska Cornhuskers an absolute shellacking with the run game, and they lead the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns by 10 scores.
No, they don’t have 10 rushing touchdowns; they have 10 more than the nearest challenger. Only Iowa and Ohio State have more yards per carry that the Hoosiers have mustered this year, fuelled by a double-headed monster in Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton.
In every game that Washington has lost this year (Rutgers, Iowa, and Washington State), they’ve given up two touchdowns on the ground. Only three Big Ten teams have allowed more rushing yards per game than the Huskies this year.
There’s obviously a lot more to factor into game analysis than rushing offense vs. rush defense. Still, it boils down to this: Indiana can control the clock, can run the ball, and can handle anything Washington throws at them. Oh, and the Huskies are also yet to win away from Husky Stadium this year.
Prediction: Washington 19, Indiana 30
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.