Northwestern Wildcats at Indiana Hoosiers: College Football Pre-Game Primer

Pre-Game Primer

 Northwestern (6-1) at Indiana (2-5)

Date:  October 25th, 2008

Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

Game Time: 11:00 a.m. CT

On Air: Big Ten Network, 720 AM

Line: Northwestern by 9

Northwestern can win if…

…they provide a good balance of run and pass plays on offense.  Quarterback C.J. Bacher has been running more often this season (180 yards) and gives the Wildcats their first legitimate dual-threat signal caller in a while.  If offensive coordinator Mick McCall uses his quarterback to run more, the passing game should continue to flourish as the Hoosiers will be keyed on stopping the run first.

Wildcats running back Tyrell Sutton has been making plays all over the field in 2008 and through seven has earned the title of Team MVP.  Bacher will use him as his safety valve and Sutton should be a good bet to record multiple touchdowns against a weak Indiana defense.

Hoosier quarterback Kellen Lewis is very talented, but is coming into this game listed as questionable and is less than 100 percent healthy.  If Lewis plays (he is expected to), the Wildcats have to keep him in check by forcing him to make plays with his arm and not his feet.  Northwestern’s defensive line has been outstanding and will have to once again prove they are for real by keeping Lewis behind the line of scrimmage.

Northwestern will struggle if…

…Lewis gets into a rhythm.  The Wildcats lost linebacker Malcolm Arrington for the season and now are relying on the unheard of sophomore Nate Williams.  If Williams struggles to act as a spy on Lewis when the dual-threat decides to run, the Hoosiers will have a significant advantage in the time of possession battle.

Thigpen is one of the most underrated running backs in the conference.  The only reason no one talks about him is his inconsistency from game to game.  Against Michigan State in late September, Thigpen piled up 207 total yards rushing and receiving.  However, against Iowa earlier this month, he finished with negative two total yards.  He can be very explosive in the open field, and if the Wildcats take him for granted (as the Spartans likely did), he very well could have another big day.

The Northwestern secondary stepped up against Curtis Painter and Purdue last Saturday, and will have to demonstrate their success wasn’t a one game fluke.  The Hoosiers are more of a run-oriented team, but to open the run, you need to pass, and big plays have killed Northwestern so far this season.  Limiting deep passes downfield is a must for the Wildcats to come out on top.

Northwestern players to watch

Quarterback C.J. Bacher

Coming off an impressive four touchdown game, Bacher will look to exploit the Hoosier secondary in every way possible.  If the game becomes a rout, don’t be surprised if backup Andrew Kafka sees some action.

Running back Tyrell Sutton

Solidifying himself as Northwestern’s all-time leading receiver for a running back, Sutton should see a slight boost in his number of carries in this game.

Defensive end Corey Wooton

Wooton continues to wreak havoc on all Big Ten signal callers and this weekend has Lewis as his prime target.  Two sacks and a force fumble aren’t out of the question. 

Purdue players to watch

Quarterback Kellen Lewis

The dual threat and only true play-maker on the Hoosiers leads the team in passing and rushing.  His eight total touchdowns shouldn’t be taken lightly by the Wildcat defense.

Running back Marcus Thigpen

Indiana had high expectations for the senior, but so far, he has been somewhat of a disappointment during his Hoosier career.  His inconsistency is his biggest weakness and he seems to disappear during games in which Indiana falls behind in.  For the Hoosiers to be competitive in this game, Thigpen has to make his presence felt.

Most Telling Statistic

During Indiana’s current five-game losing streak, they have surrendered a total of 200 points (24.8 per game average).

Prediction

First I predicted the Wildcats would upset the Spartans, and then they get blown out.  Last weekend I predicted the Boilermakers would upset Northwestern at home and Curtis Painter would return to Heisman-form.  What do the Cats do?  They wipe the floor with Purdue and force Painter to the bench after three interceptions. 

This Indiana team has a few talented players, most notably Lewis and Thigpen, but they are no match for Wildcats defensive line.  Wooton will be all over Lewis the entire game, and don’t be surprised if he gets over three sacks by the time the game is over.

I see Bacher continuing his success through the air has his wide receivers take turns becoming the feature player each weekend.  Two weeks ago it was Ross Lane’s turn to catch all the passes (113 yards), and last week true freshman Jeremy Ebert led the team in receiving (65 yards).  This Saturday should be Rasheed Ward’s turn to catch the majority of Bacher’s passes, as it has been a while since his name was mentioned.

Of course, if Bacher feels sorry for the Hoosiers and decides to turn the ball over more than twice, this game could be a lot closer than some expect.  Despite the potential for an upset, the Wildcats will be too much for the Hoosiers and will hand them their sixth straight loss.

- Northwestern 37, Indiana 17