Opening Line: Somewhat Surprisingly, Indiana Favored at Northwestern on Wednesday

Despite playing on the road and having lost to Northwestern earlier this season, No. 14 Indiana is a slight favorite when the two teams get together on Wednesday night in Evanston, Ill. Here's the latest on the point spread, and a great history on what both teams have done against the number this season.

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern hosts Indiana on Wednesday night, and we all know how important home court advantage is in the Big Ten.

The two teams have the same record — 18-7 overall and 9-5 in the Big Ten, tied for second place and two games behind Purdue in the league standings — and the Wildcats have won three straight games as underdogs, including knocking off No. 1 Purdue in Evanston on Sunday.

They've also already beaten Indiana once this season, winning in Bloomington on Jan. 8, the only team to beat Indiana at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall this season.

So then, why is Indiana actually favored on Wednesday night?

Yep, someone surprisingly, Indiana is a 1.5-point favorite over Northwestern according to the SISportsbook.com gambling website. The over/under is 135.5. It has a lot to do with the Hoosiers winning eight of their past nine games and covering the last three games as well.

The game starts at 9 p.m. ET and will be televised on the Big Ten Network. Here's all the information on how to watch, plus a great preview of the game by HoosiersNow.com reporter Jack Ankony. CLICK HERE

Here is a thorough breakdown on what Indiana has done all season, both straight up and against the spread:

Indiana by the numbers

• Indiana overall record: 18-7
• Indiana overall vs. spread: 14-11
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• Indiana home record: 13-1
• Indiana home vs. spread: 10-4
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• Indiana road record: 4-5
• Indiana road vs spread: 3-6
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• Indiana neutral court record: 1-1
• Indiana neutral court vs. spread: 1-1
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• Indiana record as favorite: 16-2
• Indiana vs. spread as favorite: 12-6
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• Indiana record as underdog: 2-5
• Indiana vs. spread as underdog: 2-5

Indiana vs. the spread

Here's what Indiana has done this season, straight up and against the spread::

• Nov. 7 — Beat Morehead State 88-53 as a 24.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 10 — Beat Bethune-Cookman 101-49 as a 32.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 18 — Won at Xavier 81-79 as a 1.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 20 — Beat Miami of Ohio 86-56 as a 27.5-point favorite in Indianapolis (won)
• Nov. 23 — Beat Little Rock 86-67 as a 29..5-point favorite (lost)
• Nov. 25 — Beat Jackson State 90-51 as a 28.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 30 — Beat No. 18 North Carolina 77-65 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
• Dec. 3 — Lost at Rutgers 63-48 as a 3-point favorite (lost)
• Dec. 7 — Beat Nebraska 81-55 as a 12.5-point favorite (won)
• Dec. 10 — Lost to No. 10 Arizona 89-75 in Las Vegas as a 1.5-point underdog (lost)
• Dec. 17 — Lost at No. 8 Kansas 84-62 as a 5.5-point underdog (lost)
• Dec. 20 — Beat Elon 96-72 as a 28.5-point favorite (lost)
• Dec. 23 — Beat Kennesaw State 69-55 as a 17.5-point favorite (lost)
• Jan. 5 — Lost at Iowa 91-89 as a 1.5-point underdog (lost)
• Jan. 8 — Lost to Northwestern 84-83 as a 7.5-point favorite (lost)
• Jan. 11 — Lost at Penn State 85-66 as a 2.5-point underdog (lost)
• Jan. 14 — Beat No. 18 Wisconsin 63-45 as a 4-point favorite (won)
• Jan. 19 — Won at Illinois 80-65 as a 6.5-point underdog (won)
  
• Jan. 22 — Beat Michigan State 82-63 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
• Jan. 25 — Won at Minnesota 61-57 as an 11.5-point favorite (lost)
• Jan. 28 — Beat Ohio State 86-70 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
• Jan. 31 — Lost at Maryland 66-55 as a 2.5-point underdogs (lost)
• Feb. 4 — Beat No. 1 Purdue 79-74 as a 1-point favorite (won)
• Feb. 7 — Beat No. 24 Rutgers 66-60 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
• Feb. 11 — Won at Michigan 62-61 as a 2.5-point underdog (won)

Northwestern vs. the spread

Northwestern is 18-7 this season and 9-5 in the Big Ten, tied for second in the Big Ten. In true home games, the Wildcats are 11-4 overall and 8-7 against the spread. They have been the underdog in all three of their most recent Big Ten games, but have won then all straight up anyway. 

Here are all of their results so far, including how they've fared against the spread:

• Nov. 7 — Beat Chicago State 85-54 as a 23.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 11 — Beat Northern Illinois 63-46 as a 16.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 15 — Won at Georgetown 75-63 in the Gavitt Games as a 1.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 18 — Beat Purdue Fort Wayne 60-52 as a 11.5-point favorite (lost)
• Nov. 22 — Beat Liberty 66-52 in the Cancun Challenge in Cancun, Mexico as a 3..5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 23 — Lost to No. 13 Auburn 43-42 in the Cancun Challenge in Cancun, Mexico as a 7.5-point underdog (won)
• Nov. 28 — Lost to Pittsburgh 87-58 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge as a 6.5-point favorite (lost)
• Dec. 4 — Won at No. 20 Michigan State 70-63 as a 5.5-point underdog (won)
• Dec. 11 — Beat Prairie View A&M 61-51 as a 17.5-point favorite (lost)
• Dec. 17 — Beat DePaul 83-45 as an 8.5-point favorite (won)
• Dec. 20 — Beat Illinois-Chicago 92-54 as a 14.5-point favorite (won)
• Dec. 29 — Beat Brown 63-58 as a 13.5-point favorite (lost)
• Jan. 1 — Lost to Ohio State 73-57 as a 2.5-point underdog (lost)
• Jan. 4 —Beat Illinois 73-60 as a 3.5-point underdog (won) 
• Jan. 8 — Won at No. 15 Indiana 84-83 as a 7.5-point underdog (won)
• Jan. 11 — Lost to Rutgers 65-62 as a 1.5-point underdog (lost)
• Jan. 15 — Lost at Michigan 85-78 as a 4.5-point underdog (lost)
• Jan. 23 — Beat Wisconsin 66-63 as a 2-point favorite (won)
• Jan. 25 — Won at Nebraska 78-63 as a 2.5-point favorite (won)
• Jan. 28 — Beat Minnesota 81-61 as a 12.5-point favorite (won)
• Jan. 31 — Lost at Iowa 86-70 as a 6.5-point underdog (lost) 
• Feb. 2 — Lost to Michigan 68-51 as a 4-point favorite (lost) 
• Feb. 5 — Won at Wisconsin 54-52 as a 2.5-point underdog (won) 
• Feb. 9 — Won at Ohio State 69-63 as a 5.5-point underdog (won)
• Feb. 12 — Beat No. 1 Purdue 64-58 as a 5-point underdog (won)

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