Indiana at Ohio State: How to watch, picks, odds for Big Ten, top-5 showdown

Every fairy tale inevitably arrives at the heros test, and that time has come for Indiana.

The undefeated Hoosiers head to Columbus as substantial underdogs, and the spread has only widened since it opened.

Curt Cignetti, using existing parts and those acquired via the transfer portal, has turned a used sedan into a sports car.

Indiana is ranked third in total defense, 15th in offense, has trailed twice all season and is nearly perfect against the spread.

That car has won many street races convincingly, but now its up against a Formula One monster.

Advertisement Ohio State is a blue-blood monolith of roster talent and depth that seems insurmountable.

The Buckeyes have nearly every positional advantage over Indiana, and their pass rush is unlike anything the Hoosiers have seen.

They lead the country in pressure rate without the blitz (42 percent).

Half of the quarterbacks theyve faced threw for fewer than 150 yards, and only two threw for more than 200.

The last passer to look unbothered was Oregons Dillon Gabriel, and while Indianas Kurtis Rourke might not have the Heisman case Gabriel does, hes the best quarterback OSU has seen since Gabriel.

Rourke is second in the country in passing efficiency and has thrown 21 touchdowns to four interceptions.

He leads the Big Ten in yards per attempt and yards per completion, and receiver Omar Cooper Jr.

leads the conference with 22 yards per catch.

Fellow wideout Elijah Sarratt is third at 18.

Indiana doesnt run very often, so if the Hoosiers cover it will mean Rourke exploited coverage gaps downfield.

But keeping pace with the Buckeyes will be exhausting.

Indiana allows just 2.5 yards per carry, but OSU can wear them down with Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson (both averaging 6.0 YPC or better).

Quarterback Will Howard is as good statistically as Rourke and has two NFL -caliber wideouts in Jeremiah Smith and Emeku Egbuka.

Smith has been particularly unguardable, with only one game below 70 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Hoosiers need to play close to ensure a playoff berth, and while Cignettis street racer might keep up off the line, its a long, windy track, and Ohio State was built for this race.

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How Will Howards offseason work with a QB coach boosted his accuracy, confidence Ohio State starting center Seth McLaughlin sidelined with Achilles injury Has the expanded College Football Playoff made more games matter down the stretch? (Photo of Jeremiah Smith: Michael Reaves / Getty Images).

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