Idaho Vandals vs. Indiana Hoosiers Odds & Game Pick (2021)

Sep 9, 2021 - 11:46 PM

Indiana entered the season as a top-25 team. That didn’t last long, as the Hoosiers are now on the outside looking in following a 6-34 loss at Iowa last Saturday. Iowa was just a field-goal favorite for that matchup, so Indiana definitely came up short. They’ll look to get back in the win column by hosting Idaho in Week 2. 

The Idaho Vandals are an FCS team out of the Big Sky Conference. It’s not like they are a heavy-hitter in the FCS world, either, as they aren’t ranked (or receiving votes) in the latest FCS Coaches Poll. The fact that Indiana is favored by 32.5 points despite their terrible season-opener should tell you everything you need to know about Idaho’s talent level. 

Let’s cover all the betting angles of this Saturday evening showdown. 

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Details

• Opening Line: Indiana Hoosiers -32.5
• Over/Under: N/A
• Location: Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN
• Kickoff: 7:30 ET

Overview

Idaho beat up on Simon Fraser 68-0 last week. I have never heard of Simon Fraser. Is that just one guy playing football? If so, I’m surprised he only gave up 68 points! 

The Vandals’ real season will begin on Saturday with a trip to Bloomington. That will kick off back-to-back games against Power 5 teams, as Idaho will face Oregon State in Week 3. Take note that Idaho did not play in 2020, but they did go 2-4 in the Big Sky Conference this spring. 

Even though they will play a lesser opponent, Indiana should be pumped up for this game. The Hoosiers had high expectations coming into this season, and then they fell flat in the opener. They’ll want to prove themselves as a viable team who can make some noise in the Big Ten Conference. Look for them to take first step back toward relevance by taking care of business against Idaho. 

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Trends 

• The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Idaho’s last 12 games.
• Indiana is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games.
• Indiana is 5-1 ATS in their last six home games.

Bottom Line 

Which version of Indiana will show up on Saturday? Will we see the one that earned a top-25 ranking in the preseason or the one that got flattened in Iowa City last weekend? The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. 

This is a major jump in talent for Idaho; however, they were competitive in six games this spring. That included a narrow 31-38 loss against Eastern Washington, who was ranked ninth in FCS at the time. 

The Hoosiers are still trying to iron out the wrinkles on both sides of the ball, and that could leave the door open for Idaho to cover. I don’t believe Indiana will be in danger of losing this game, but I will lean towards Idaho to stay within the heavy 32.5 point spread. 

Pick: Lean Idaho +32.5

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Spencer Limbach is a featured writer at BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Spencer, check out his archive and follow him @spencer_jl.

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