Western Illinois vs. Indiana Predictions, Picks & Odds: Week 2

Indiana is well-positioned to demolish Western Illinois, but can the Hoosiers cover a massive spread?

Philip Wood

Last updated: September 6, 2024 9:45 AM EDT • 4 min read

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti high-fives Indiana Hoosiers kicker Nicolas Radicic as we look at our Western Illinois vs. Indiana predictions. — Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti high-fives Indiana Hoosiers kicker Nicolas Radicic. Photo by Robert Goddin/Imagn Images.

Can the Indiana Hoosiers cover as more than six-touchdown favorites against the Western Illinois Leathernecks?

In terms of who will this game, our Western Illinois vs. Indiana predictions aren’t shocking. The Hoosiers will dominate, but can they cover a 42.5-point spread? They destroyed the FIU Panthers in Week 1, defeating them 31-7. The Hoosiers recorded 414 yards of total offense while holding the Panthers to just 182.

The challenge won’t get any harder for the Hoosiers this week, as they take on a Leathernecks team that fell 54-15 to the Northern Illinois Huskies in Week 1. The Huskies put up 706 yards of offense in that game. Can Indiana replicate that rout?

Best Western Illinois vs. Indiana picks

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

Spread pick: Indiana -42.5 (-110 via FanDuel) vs. Western Illinois ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Total: Over 52.5 (-110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

Western Illinois vs. Indiana spread prediction: Week 2

Indiana -42.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Only two of our best sportsbooks are offering a spread for this game. Both FanDuel and bet365 are featuring it at -42.5, with each book posting a price of -110. There isn’t any value to be had in placing your bet at one sportsbook over the other.

The Leathernecks are really, really bad

The Leathernecks are quite simply one of the worst, if not the worst, teams at the FCS level.

They haven’t won a game since 2021, losing 25 consecutive contests. The school suffered a defeat of 39-plus-points in six of its final seven games last season. Western Illinois also scored seven points or fewer in its last six games of the season.

There's no way the Leathernecks can stop the Hoosiers.

Will the Hoosiers rest starters early?

The only way the Hoosiers don’t cover this spread is if they bench everyone in the second half and the backups somehow struggle.

But the Leathernecks are so bad that it really doesn’t matter. The Hoosiers’ backups should be able to put up huge numbers just like the starters. And even if they run the ball most of the second half, the Hoosiers are bound to break off some massive plays that add to their total.

The Leathernecks are unlikely to score in this game, and even less likely to record more than seven points. That means the Hoosiers need to top 50 points, which I absolutely think they’ll do as part of our Week 2 college football predictions.

Best odds: -110 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 52.38%

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Western Illinois vs. Indiana total

Over 52.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐

This is only a three-star play because the Hoosiers will need to do all the scoring. The Leathernecks may have scored 15 points in Week 1, but they’re not going to enjoy that level of success against a Big Ten defense.

If the Leathernecks score zero points, then the Hoosiers need to score 53 points on their own. They haven’t scored 50 points in a game since 2021, though Indiana did notch 45 against the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2023. If Northern Illinois can score 54 against the Leathernecks then the Hoosiers can too. This is likely to be the ugliest game of Week 2.

Best odds: -110 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 52.38%

Western Illinois vs. Indiana odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Western Illinois vs. Indiana game info

When: Friday, September 6
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
How to watch: BTN
Weather: 50 degrees, 3% chance of precipitation, 7-mph winds
Favorite: Indiana (-100000 via FanDuel)

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Written By:
Philip Wood

Phil has covered sports betting since 2016, and he has been with SportsBook Review since 2022. He previously hosted the College Football Pick 'Em podcast for CanesInsight.com. He is always looking for value, especially on lines that just seem too good to be true. His belief is that if a line doesn't make sense just assume oddsmakers know something you don't. He also loves in-season futures. There is so much value to be had as the public overreacts weekly. Bettors tend to forget just how long NFL and college football seasons are. After all, the Green Bay Packers were 2-5 in 2023 and they made it to the Divisional Round. When deciding where to bet, it comes down to value over everything. +100 is always better than -110. An alumnus of The U, Phil always holds out hope that the next head coach will be the one who turns the football program around. He is also a diehard Detroit Lions fan and is willing to forgive Dan Campbell for forgetting that a kicker can be useful.