Indiana Hoosiers - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

When a team suffers a tragic loss, a team typically rallies around it and excels or gets crushed by it and falters. Given how much the Hoosiers have struggled during the last 15 years - a period in which they haven't had a winning season since 1994 - the untimely death of head coach Terry Hoeppner is more likely to have the latter effect. Bill Lynch, last year's assistant, takes control of a team that returns 16 starters. Lynch ran the show last season when Hoeppner was ill with a brain tumor, so it shouldn't be a big adjustment for players.

Quarterback Kellen Lewis returns and he has the ability to make things happen on the field. If Indiana is to make it to a bowl game for the first time in 15 years, he'll be the main reason why. He'll have his sights set firmly on wide receiver James Hardy, who was named to the All-Big Ten team last year. James Bailey and Nick Polk could also serve as reliable targets for Lewis. The running back position has yet to be decided - a significant question mark heading into the fall. Demetrius McCray, Josiah Sears and Marcus Thigpen, who was named to several media outlet All-American teams, will battle for the role. Thigpen is also a threat as a punt returner. The Hoosiers return their top 16 tacklers from last season but they will all need to step things up to get the team over the hump.

The group will need to be stronger against the run (one of its major weaknesses last season) and Greg Brown and Kenny Kendal will be asked to help the defensive line do just that. Second Team All-conference cornerback Tracy Porter also figures to be a key player on defense. The season will begin under a cloud of sadness and there might not be a silver lining of wins to be found in Indiana.

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