Opening Line: Indiana A Massive Favorite Against Western Illinois in Week 2

Coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers are 42.5-point favorites in their second game of the 2024 season against FCS opponent Western Illinois.

Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman Marcus Burris Jr. (92) celebrates a sack against Florida International. / robert goddin-usa today sports

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana's Week 2 matchup against Western Illinois isn't expected to come with much drama.

The Hoosiers are favored by 42.5 points over the Leathernecks, and the over/under is set at 52.5 points, according to the FanDuel Sportsbook on Friday morning. Indiana opened as a 40.5-point favorite, but the line has already moved a few points. Moneyline odds are not available.

Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind., and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. It's one of two Friday night Big Ten games this week, with Northwestern hosting Duke at 9 p.m. ET on FS1.

First-year coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers are coming off a 31-7 win over Florida International in Week 1. The line opened at 17.5 points in favor of Indiana, and if bettors took the Hoosiers early enough, a late touchdown by running back Elijah Green was enough to cover the spread.

But line moved all the way to 25.5 points in Indiana's favor at kickoff, a spread that Florida International covered in the 24-point loss. The over/under opened at 50.5 points and closed at 52 points, and the under hit comfortably with just 38 points scored.

Indiana's Ty Son Lawton (17) runs against Florida International at Memorial Stadium. / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

On the other side, Western Illinois began its 2024 season with a 54-15 loss against Northern Illinois on the road. Northern Illinois covered the 36-point spread, and the point total went over the 55-point line.

Western Illinois now travels to Bloomington having lost 25 straight games. Its last win came against Illinois State on Oct. 30, 2021, and the Leathernecks have won just four total games since the beginning of the 2019 season.

Indiana went 3-9 last year, which signaled the end of Tom Allen's seven-year tenure as head coach. After taking the Hoosiers to bowl games in 2019 and 2020, Allen went 9-27 in his final three seasons, the fewest wins of any Big Ten team in that time.

Cignetti now aims to turn the Indiana football program around after a 52-9 run across five seasons at James Madison, as does first-year Western Illinois coach Joe Davis. Davis earned his first head coaching job in 2024 after a two-year stint as Eastern Illinois' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

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• HOW TO WATCH: Indiana football continues the 2024 season against the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Friday at 7 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. Here's how to watch, with game time and TV information, the latest on the point spread, series history, coaching information and more. CLICK HERE

• MEET THE OPPONENT: Struggling Western Illinois comes to Memorial Stadium to try to shake off a long losing streak. CLICK HERE.

• WHY PLAY FCS TEAMS? Indiana plays Western Illinois on Friday. Why do the Hoosiers, and so many other Big Ten teams, play FCS teams? An explainer. CLICK HERE.

• CIGNETTI COMMENTS FROM RADIO SHOW: Curt Cignetti's highlights from his weekly radio show. CLICK HERE.

• PREDICTIONS AND 3 KEYS FOR WESTERN ILLINOIS GAME: Read about our predictions and three keys for Indiana to prevail against Western Illinois on Friday. CLICK HERE.

• MCCULLEY, BLACK INJURY UPDATE: Indiana coach Curt Cignetti addressed injuries to wide receiver Donaven McCulley and running back Kaelon Black on Monday. CLICK HERE

• CIGNETTI ERA BEGINS WITH COMFORTABLE VICTORY: Indiana earned a 31-7 victory over Florida International in a game where the Hoosiers were rarely threatened. CLICK HERE.