The Northwestern Wildcats (2-0) and the No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers (3-0) meet Friday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana, in the Big Ten conference opener for both. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze college football odds around the Northwestern vs. Indiana odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
Northwestern leads the all-time series 47-36-1, although Indiana has won the past 2 meetings. That includes a 41-24 victory in Evanston in the most recent meeting, and a 34-3 beating at The Rock in the most recent home game in 2019. Northwestern's last win in the series came at home in 2016, and its last win in Bloomington was in 2011.
Northwestern is feeling pretty good about itself
early on, belting the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, ranked No. 2 in the FCS rankings, by a 34-18 count Sept. 5, while covering as a 13.5-point favorite. It also topped the Colorado Buffaloes 41-7 last week as a 3.5-point favorite. The Over has cashed in both outings.
The defending national champion Hoosiers have blasted 3 tomato cans, scoring 38 or more points in 3 wins over the Texas Mean Green, the Howard Bison and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, while pitching 2 shutouts in a row. The Hoosiers are 0-3 against the spread (ATS) in 3 games, while the Under has cashed in the past 2 outings.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Northwestern at Indiana odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:13 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Northwestern +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000) | Indiana -2100 (bet $2,100 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Northwestern +20.5 (+100) | Indiana -20.5 (-122)
- Over/Under (O/U): 49.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Northwestern at Indiana picks and predictions
Prediction
Indiana 30, Northwestern 13
Moneyline
Indiana (-2100) will cost you 21 times your potential return, or a $4.76 of profit on a bet of $100. That's obviously an insane amount of risk for such little profit, and even in a multi-leg parlay it makes little sense.
PASS.
Against the spread
Through the first 3 games, NORTHWESTERN +20.5 (+100) might actually be a little more surprising. The Wildcats handled a very good South Dakota State team, and it belted Colorado, albeit a weak one, at home last weekend.
We're definitely not saying the Wildcats are going to spring the upset, or come close to it, but the Hoosiers are going to get their first real test of the season on a short week. Northwestern can move the ball, and it will challenge early, before Indiana pulls away for the win. I like NORTHWESTERN +12.5 (-110) - FIRST HALF SPREAD, too.
Over/Under
UNDER 49.5 (-110) is a strong play based on Indiana's tremendous defensive effort the past couple of weekends. Northwestern isn't going to get shut out like IU's past 2 opponents, but it will put up a strong effort. It knows a little something about defense, too, allowing just 12.5 points per game in 2 outings.
Best prop bet
Northwestern QB AIDAN CHILES - OVER 0.5 PASSING TDs (-154 - FanDuel)
Chiles has found a home in Evanston, and the former highly-touted prospect has 4 TDs in 2 games, including 3 TDs last week at home against Colorado. He isn't going to light up Indiana for a lot of yardage, but asking him to throw just a single touchdown isn't a huge ask. He is the best quarterback, by far, the IU defense has seen to date.
Betting odds calculator
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow Daniel Dobish on X at @danieledobish. Follow SportsbookWire on X at SportsBookWire and on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Northwestern Wildcats at Indiana Hoosiers odds, picks and predictions
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