Ind. State: Taking Care of Business
The Sycamore had an early bye week after finishing non-conference play. They opened MVFC action taking on the UNI Panthers in Iowa last weekend. They played Farley’s boys even up and lost a hard fought game 20-14. What flipped the script to the Panthers favor was when the Sycamores late in the 2nd quarter, trailing 3-7 got a 1st and goal at the two yard line. They got a no gain on a first down run, an incomplete pass on 2nd down and a nine yard sack on 3rd down. Then they missed a chip shot FG. They then let UNI drive the field and kick a FG with 19 seconds left in the half. This allowed UNI to carry a 10-3 lead into the half. They never recovered from this 10 point flip.
What do we know about Indiana State thru their four games? Only one OL man, no QB’s or RB’s are back from last year’s team. On the defense, they have a totally new two deep on the DL. They have one LB back and no DB’s from the two deep. Folks, this is a whole new team we are facing from last year’s 44-2 victory in Terre Haute.
Their resume` leaves a lot to be desired. They beat a bad North Alabama team to open the season 17-14 in overtime at home. Purdue pasted them 56-0. They hung with Montana in the first half (missed a medium FG that would have made it 14-10 Griz until 3 minutes till half). Montana blew them out in the 2nd half and won on the road 49-14. Then we have the above mentioned even match with a substandard UNI squad (UNI ranks 88th out of 123 FCS teams in total defense in giving up 427.4 YPG and 61st in scoring defense at 29 PPG. This is substandard).
This needs to be a workman like game for the Herd. The Sycamores have some talent that can hurt you, but if the Bison progress and play their game, they win going away. Sagarin has the Bison a 27 point favorite. Purdue ran for 232 yards and doesn’t have the Rams. UNI averaged 4.5 YPC and their OL and RB’s aren’t in the same league as the Bison. Indiana State has given up 238.2 YPG in passing, so we need to expand our play book here. If we get up three scores on the road, we will probably go to our slow mo and grind out another victory. Go Bison!