Indiana Hoosiers @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Football Preview

Western Kentucky’s football program, which has taken so many lumps since its transition from the FCS to the FBS, hopes that home cooking will change the equation this weekend in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Western Kentucky has been smoked twice this season, losing road games against Nebraska and Kentucky.  The Hilltoppers have now lost 22 straight games, and will be making their home debut on Saturday against another BCS program. The school administration and athletic director Wood Selig believed fully that WKU belonged with the big boys after enjoying immense success at the Division I-AA level of football competition. Selig fired Coach Dave Elson after last year’s 0-12 campaign, but so far under new coach Willie Taggart, there’s no real appearance of improvement.

Consider the following facts: WKU running back Bobby Rainey ran for 155 yards against Nebraska, and then 184 yards against Kentucky this past weekend. With that level of production from an every-down running back, WKU – at the very least – should be able to hold down the scoring of the opposition, given its ability to move the sticks on the ground. Any team with a quality running game minimizes the power of opponents to roll up big numbers. When you also consider the fact that Nebraska and Kentucky do not possess two of the sport’s more credentialed offenses, it becomes even more apparent that Western Kentucky should have been appreciably competitive against those two teams.

The final scores of those contests: Nebraska 49, Western Kentucky 10 (on Sept. 4); Kentucky 63, Western Kentucky 28 (Sept. 11). It would appear that the Western Kentucky administration has bitten off far more than it can chew with the hiring of a new coach as the perceived solution to problems which are much bigger and more substantial in nature. Plainly put, WKU can’t stop anybody. Last weekend, the Hilltoppers allowed 42 first-half points to Kentucky and surrendered 482 yards to the Wildcats. WKU trailed by at least 21 points for the game’s final 39 minutes.

This is all music to the ears of the Indiana Hoosiers, who do have to play on the road, but probably not against an opponent who will make them sweat.

Indiana will play its second game of the season Saturday when the Hoosiers visit the town of Bowling Green. Indiana defeated FCS opponent Towson 51-17 in its season opener before taking a bye last week.

Quarterback Ben Chappell completed 16 of 23 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns against Towson.  Darius Willis carried 14 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Darmarlo Belcher caught seven passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.  Ted Bolser caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Indiana’s special teams helped the Hoosiers make quick work of Towson, recovering an onside kick and blocking a punt in the first half.  The Hoosier defense also picked off two passes in the first quarter, helping Indiana to a 38-14 lead at halftime. These details indicate that Indiana’s offense really didn’t do all the work against Towson. If Indiana’s offense is oversold as a unit, perhaps Western Kentucky – playing a team from a power conference at home, for a change – could make the proceedings interesting. Indiana needs to display composure in an unfamiliar environment and make an early statement which will squelch the level of belief residing on the WKU sideline.

Indiana’s attempt to grow as an offense – particularly in the passing game – will be helped this weekend, as wide receiver Tandon Doss returns to the lineup for the Hoosiers after missing the season opener with a groin injury. If Indiana can punch Western Kentucky in the mouth early on, the Hoosiers should like their chances. Then again, if the Hilltoppers start strong, who knows what kind of path this contest will acquire.

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