Indiana Hoosiers
2010 record:  5-7 overall, 1-7 conference
2010 Bowl Game:  N/A
2010 ATS:  6-6
2010 O/U:  7-5
Returning starters:  9 total (4 on offense, 5 on defense)

Over the month of August, our team of writers will be previewing the top teams heading into an exciting 2011 campaign.  The college football handicappers at Maddux Sports are also preparing and have season-long packages readily available for clients.  Let’s examine the changes taking place in Bloomington, Indiana heading into the first year of the Kevin Wilson era.

Offense

Indiana will be moving on without its offensive leader from a year ago, as Ben Chappell is gone and so is his 3,300 yards and 24 passing touchdowns.  The quarterback job is up for grabs with sophomores Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker.

The spring game served as Wilson’s first glimpse of the situation, as Kiel completed 14-of-27 passes for 196 yards, while Wright-Baker connected on 8-of-10 attempts for 82 yards.  The two have very little combined experience in regular-season action, going 9-for-29 combined.

A huge question mark is found in the backfield, as health concerns surround expected starter Darius Willis, who suffered a torn patellar tendon and has missed gaining valuable reputations in the spring.  He’s a threat to score a touchdown on every play and needs to be in the lineup for the season opener against Ball State.

Not many people realize that the top three pass catchers in the Big Ten Conference last year resided in Bloomington, but two of those players have departed.  Senior Damarlo Belcher is the unquestionable leader and is off a season that saw him catch 78 passes for 832 yards.

Uncertainty is found on the offensive line, as the program lacks talent that has been on display the last couple years, sending offensive tackles to the NFL Draft in two previous years.

It’s a major concern for co-offensive coordinators Kevin Johns and Rod Smith, as the squad ranked 11th and 112th nationally in rushing in 2010.

Defense

Not much went right for a unit that allowed 34.0 points a game, ranking 10th within the conference.  The Hoosiers allowed 171.8 yards per game on the ground last year and that’s the main focus for defensive coordinators Mike Ekeler and Doug Mallory.

Ironically enough, the defensive line is perceived to be the strength of the stop unit, led by four juniors who will be rotation through on a consistent basis.  The biggest adjustment for these players is switching back to a 4-3 scheme.

The linebacking group has some solid players at its core, led by middle linebacker Jeff Thomas and Leon Beckum on the outside.  Thomas comes back as the leading tackler overall, while Beckum creates havoc in the backfield with nine tackles for loss.

Inexperience in the secondary is the name of the game, as four of the six players who saw starting time last year are gone.  Indiana finished last in the conference in pass efficiency defense, giving up 27 touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks.

Special Teams

Place-kicker Mitch Ewald connected on 16-of-19 field goal attempts and is one of 30 players listed on the Lou Groza Award watch list.  He is certainly a weapon and finished with three made field goals from outside 40 yards last year.

The punting responsibilities will be handled by senior Chris Hagerup for a third consecutive year, but he’s coming off a disappointing season.  He has seen his punting average dip from 42.4 in his freshman campaign to 39.4 in 2010.

The kickoff return game is expected to be a strength once again despite the loss of Tandon Doss to the NFL.  Nick Turner and Duwyce Wilson both gained experience last year and should be capable options.

Against the Spread

Playing the Hoosiers as a home underdog paid off for bettors last year, posting a perfect 3-0 ATS mark in that situation.  The schedule at Memorial Stadium is likely not to present three such opportunities this year, but watch the college football lines page for the Oct. 1 contest against Penn State.

Bet On

Indiana has covered three straight games against Northwestern and depending on how the Wildcats start the 2011 season, the Hoosiers could be getting points at home on Oct. 29.

Fade Away

Despite all the problems in Columbus, Ohio State is likely to continue its domination over Indiana, covering eight-straight in the series entering this year.