Opening Line: Indiana Favored Against Michigan State in Old Brass Spittoon Game

Following a 48-45 loss at Illinois, Indiana returns to Memorial Stadium for a matchup against 3-7 Michigan State. The Hoosiers opened as 4.5-point favorites.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana hosts Michigan State on Saturday in a matchup between the only remaining Big Ten teams with just one conference win.

Indiana opened as a 4.5-point favorite, according to the Draft Kings Sportsbook on Sunday afternoon. The over/under is not available at this time.

The Hoosiers are 6-4 against the spread this season, but have not been favored since Week 4 against Akron. Here's how they've fared against the spread in 2023.

• Week 1: Covered 30-point spread in 23-3 loss to Ohio State
• Week 2: Covered 31-point spread in 41-7 win over Indiana State
• Week 3: Covered 10-point spread in 21-14 loss to Louisville
• Week 4: Did not cover 16.5-point spread in 29-27 win over Akron
• Week 5: Did not cover 14.5-point spread in 44-17 loss at Maryland
• Week 7: Did not cover 33-point spread in 52-7 loss at Michigan
• Week 8: Did not cover 6-point spread in 31-14 loss to Rutgers
• Week 9: Covered 31-point spread in 33-24 loss at Penn State
• Week 10: Covered 7.5-point spread in 20-14 win over Wisconsin
• Week 11: Covered 4.5-point spread in 48-45 loss at Illinois

Entering the matchup, Indiana holds a 3-7 overall record and a 1-6 mark in the Big Ten. Michigan State has an identical record, as one of three Big Ten teams with three total wins, along with Purdue (3-7, 2-5).

The Hoosiers are coming off a heartbreaking 48-45 loss at Illinois. Indiana jumped out to a 27-12 lead late in the first half, thanks to continued growth from redshirt freshman quarterback Brendan Sorsby and junior wide receiver Donaven McCulley. Sorsby completed 22-of-33 passes for 289 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and he rushed for 53 yards and two additional touchdowns.  McCulley posted career-high numbers in the first half, and he finished the game with 11 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

But the defense let Indiana down, allowing 662 total yards total yards. Illinois was without starting quarterback Luke Altmyer, but backup quarterback John Paddock completed 24-of-36 passes for 507 yards, four touchdowns and one interception – good for the second-most passing yards in Illinois history and most since 1980. It’s the third-most passing yards allowed by Indiana in program history, and the most since Kyle Orton torched the Hoosiers for 522 yards in 2004.

Nothing worked for Michigan State in a 38-3 loss at No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday. Quarterback Katin Houser completed 12-of-24 passes for 92 yards, and the Spartans were also held to just 94 rushing yards. 

Michigan State started the year with wins over Central Michigan and Richmond, but has a 1-7 record since. The university fired former head coach Mel Tucker on Sept. 27, who is under investigation for a sexual misconduct, and promoted secondary coach Harlon Barnett to acting head coach for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Michigan State ranks last in the Big Ten with 16.7 points per game and 11th in the Big Ten with 27.7 points allowed per game. Indiana is 10th in the conference with 21.4 points per game and 13th with 30 points allowed per game.

Kickoff between the Hoosiers and Spartans is scheduled for Noon ET on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.

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• GAME STORY: Indiana quarterback Brendan Sorsby and wide receiver Donaven McCulley continued to show growth, but the Hoosiers' defense gave up record-setting numbers in a 48-45 loss, dropping their record to 3-7. CLICK HERE