WKU Football: Staff Predictions Week Two - Indiana

Can the Tops finally get a win against a Big 10 school?

WKU are starting the season 2-0 for the first time since 2015 after wins against Austin Peay and Hawaii. We surprisingly all had WKU winning last week so all of us are 2-0 as well with our predictions.

But this week poses more of a challenge for the Tops as they travel to Bloomington to play a 2-0 Indiana Hoosiers team. Can WKU finally get that Big 10 win that’s been eluding them since joining FBS? Let’s see how we think this matchup will go.

Matt McCay (2-0)

I would love to pick Western in a slight upset. Heck ESPN and others like them outright in their data. However, I still see enough question marks that I think it’s probably the better bet to go with Indiana. I hate to say that, but WKU’s Special Teams issues have now become a frontstage problem and it makes me wonder if they’ll fix it this season. Western also is not as prolific on offense.

The Tops can run the ball, which they couldn’t at this point last year. They’ve got a determined running back, Davion Ervin-Poindexter, who just so happens to have transferred from IU. Could that revenge factor play into his performance? We’ll see. The Tops can play defense and force turnovers. Again, this is something Western wasn’t doing last year. The question is, “Can WKU’s newfound strengths overcome last year’s issues?” I like Western’s speed and athleticism. But what killed Western last year was Indiana’s huge size at all positions. Less pressure. Wide open receivers. Potential broken tackles. That’s tough to overcome. I think this game is played in the 20s and IU’s good defense is good enough against WKU’s pretty good offense.

I’ll take Indiana: 28, Western Kentucky: 20.

Alex Sherfield (2-0)

After two games of figuring out how to maintain identity, the Tops find themselves in an interesting situation for Saturday. The Indiana Hoosiers are 2-0 but just like WKU, they’re also willing to improve on athleticism and play calling for the rest of the season. Currently, the Tops lead the nation in interceptions, something that the Hoosiers passing offense will strive to overcome, especially as they’re averaging 264 yards in the air.

I would also count on WKU’s defensive front seven to give the Hoosiers rushing offense some fits. It’s still early in the season but WKU has a really good change to avenge last year’s loss on the road in Bloomington.

Offensively, I feel like we will be okay. A quick start will be needed in order to change the momentum in our favor. It’s not going to be an easy game by all means, but I have faith in a 3-0 start over a Big Ten opponent.

Give me WKU: 33, Indiana: 28.

Devin Stewart (2-0)

Short and sweet again. Give me the Tops winning 35-31.

Jacob Giannelli (0-0 - First Prediction)

I’m sure last year’s game against IU left the team hungry for this Saturday, so that on top of an extra week of preparation due to coming off a bye will have this team ready to fight.

I like the Tops in this one, 34-31.

Jake Gary (2-0)

Western Kentucky looked a lot better than I thought they would in their last outing against Hawaii. I’m finally ready to predict an upset for them, putting down Indiana and getting a much needed win against them, considering a win vs Indiana has barely eluded WKU for so long. Look for the passing attack to shine, and the defense to step up and control the line of scrimmage #GoTops.

Western Kentucky: 35, Indiana: 31.

Jared Rosdeutscher (2-0)

This one is tough. ESPN’s FPI basically has this as a touchdown game and I think it will be even closer than that.

As much as I want to have the Tops winning this one, I think they won’t for the same reason they lost to IU last season. Just a little too early in the season and also this is the toughest team WKU has played so far this year. I still look for it to be a very close and competitive game with IU being able to hold on and win, 38-35.

Fletcher Keel (2-0)

Western Kentucky had ample opportunities to win each of the last two games against the Hoosiers and, for different reasons both times, failed to do so.

One of those teams was as complete as we’ve ever seen on the Hill, the other was still in its infancy as an imbalanced but record-setting title contender.

I’m not sure which side of the line the 2022 team will fall on and, unfortunately for this purpose, it is still too early to tell. I think the defense is the real deal. I think the offense can get there, but we still have the recency bias of Zappe and last year’s offense: That is to say, maybe the offense already is there. We just don’t know yet, unfortunately.

Here’s what I do know: WKU is 2-0 for the first time since Jeff Brohm. Indiana scrapped by Illinois and only beat Idaho by 13. WKU has scored 35 points in each of their first two games, even if it felt like pulling hair to get things going. This will be a close game.

This is a tough game to pick, and might prove to be the toughest game to pick of the year. But, that’s what we have gathered to do and, while I think the Hilltoppers making a statement isn’t out of the question, I think the Tops will make one too many mistakes late and leave us all asking what could have been.

I’ll take the Hoosiers, 27-17.