Pinstripe Bowl 2015: Indiana vs. Duke TV Schedule, Time and Odds
It might not be a basketball game, but Saturday's Pinstripe Bowl showdown between the Indiana Hoosiers and Duke Blue Devils figures to feature a score like one—in a baseball stadium, of all places.
Duke's looking to snap a five-bowl losing streak after a 7-5 campaign behind one of the nation's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks, Thomas Sirk.
Indiana, on the other hand, will play in its first bowl game since 2007 after a 6-6 year in which a high-octane offense led by signal-caller Nate Sudfeld played the heavyweights of the Big Ten close.
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While Saturday's event features rebuilding programs, it promises to boast a high-scoring outcome worth the time investment. Here's everything to know about the encounter.
Game Details
When: Saturday, December 26, at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Television: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Over/Under: 70.5
Spread: Indiana (-2.5)
Team Injury Reports
| Jameel Cook Jr. | DB | Out Sat |
| Jordan Howard | RB | Ques Sat |
| Chase Dutra | DB | Out Sat |
| Zander Diamont | QB | Ques Sat |
| Isaac Griffith | WR | Out for season |
| Isaac James | UT | Ques Sat |
| J-Shun Harris II | WR | Out for season |
| Camion Patrick | WR | Out for season |
| Jeremy Cash | S | Out Sat |
| Cody Robinson | G | Out indefinitely |
| Bryon Fields | CB | Out for season |
| Kelby Brown | LB | Out for season |
Injury reports courtesy of USA Today.
So Close, So Far
Indiana's so close to the proverbial next step it can probably taste it.
The Hoosiers are going bowling under the guidance of coach Kevin Wilson, though it's the "what could have been" that seems to dominate the headlines instead of the bright future ahead.
Maybe there's some merit to that. The team lost in just 34-27 fashion to then-No. 1 Ohio State. It was a 35-27 loss to then-No. 9 Iowa. Against then-No. 14 Michigan, the Hoosiers forced two overtimes in a 48-41 loss.
Regardless, the concern clearly isn't putting points on the board. The Hoosiers do so with ease behind the arm of Sudfeld, who completed 60.7 percent of his passes this year with 24 touchdowns to five interceptions.
As the injury report shows, though, Sudfeld may have to take on the Blue Devils without lead back Jordan Howard, who has 1,213 rushing yards and nine scores this season.
While concerning, the real issue is the defense against one of the nation's most explosive players. Well, against any player, really, considering the unit allowed a ridiculous 507.3 yards per game this season. If the Hoosiers cannot limit big plays Saturday, it might not matter how many scores Sudfeld can throw.
Preferring Shootouts
The Hoosiers aren't the only team struggling with injuries.
In fact, the Blue Devils' injury list might be more decisive to the game's outcome, with the team sure to miss ACC Defensive Player of the Year Jeremy Cash, he of 101 tackles.
Not that the Duke offense cannot make up the difference. Sirk was quietly one of the best players in the nation this year, having thrown for 2,462 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his passes, with another 648 yards and six scores on the ground to lead all runners on the team in those categories.
Cash on the defensive side of things or not, Sirk shouldn't have a problem hitting on big plays against a defense coughing up more than 500 yards per game. For Duke to continue its strong rebuilding efforts, Sirk needs to make good on the on-paper projections.
"Playing in our fourth consecutive bowl game means a great deal to our past, present and future Blue Devils," coach David Cutcliffe said, according to ESPN.com.
The Blue Devils average better than 30 points per game and recently used the explosive offense to snap a four-game skid to end the season on a winning note.
Next up is turning around bowl fortunes and steering the program's ship in future years right along with it.
Prediction
It's impossible to ignore Indiana's defensive issues going into this one.
The Hoosiers just seem to bleed points for fun, and as the approach has shown time and again this year, a shootout isn't the way the program can win games.
Sirk's offense, which converts third-down chances at a 43.9 percent clip, won't leave the field often unless it finds paydirt. It puts the Hoosiers in an undesirable position, especially if the offense misses its top back.
Look for Sirk to control this game after pulling the Blue Devils away early.
Prediction: Duke 45, Indiana 38
Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified. All betting information courtesy of Odds Shark.
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