Washington vs. Indiana Prediction: Week 9 College Football Clash

The highly anticipated Week 9 college football matchup between the Washington Huskies and the Indiana Hoosiers is set to take place on Saturday, October 26. Indiana, currently undefeated at 7-0, is riding a historic wave, thanks in large part to college football’s No. 1 scoring offense. However, the Hoosiers will be without their starting quarterback, Kurtis Rourke, who injured his thumb last week. Tayven Jackson will step in to lead the potent Indiana attack.

Washington, on the other hand, is coming off a disappointing 40-16 loss to Iowa and faces a challenging road ahead with three critical games against ranked conference opponents. The Huskies have struggled on the road, averaging 10.7 points worse than their opponents away from home this season.

Analytical models strongly favor Indiana in this matchup. The SP+ prediction model projects Indiana to win by a score of 32 to 22, giving the Hoosiers a 73 percent chance of outright victory. The College Football Power Index (FPI) also supports Indiana, predicting they will win in 83.8 percent of simulated games.

Betting odds reflect this favoritism, with Indiana listed as a 6.5-point favorite and a moneyline of -210 to win outright at FanDuel Sportsbook. The total for the game is set at 53.5 points, with the over at -115 and the under at -105.

Despite the strong analytics in favor of Indiana, some analysts suggest that Washington’s passing offense, led by Coach Kalen DeBoer, could pose significant challenges. Washington boasts the 17th best passing offense in the nation and the number one pass defense, allowing only 123 yards per game through the air.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Given the statistical edge and current form, Indiana is expected to continue its winning streak, but Washington’s defensive strengths could make this a closely contested game.