IU football opens up as road favorite in Big Ten opener at UCLA

Following a 2-0 start and a few dominant performances, the IU football program is eyeing its first real test of the 2024 season — its Big Ten opener.

The Hoosiers are traveling to UCLA on Saturday night to play at the Rose Bowl.

As of Sunday afternoon, Indiana is favorites ahead of the matchup in every single matchup predictor and betting source. According to DraftKings, IU football is a one-point favorite while FanDuel has Indiana as a 2.5-point favorite.

The biggest change, however, is from ESPN’s FPI predictor tool. It projects IU has a 58.2 percent chance of winning, with UCLA at just 41.8 percent. During the preseason, Indiana had just a 21.7 percent change of coming out with a win.

That same tool projects IU to to finish with eight wins (7.9 projection) and a 91.3 percent projection to win at least six games.

IU football is coming off of a program-best 77-point performance against Western Illinois on Friday night. It was the most points since 76 in 1901. Indiana also totaled over 700 yards, a best for a single game total in program history.

Following week two, Indiana is now ranked No. 26 in ESPN’s FPI rankings — up from 77 when the season started.

UCLA is 1-0 after a 16-13 win against Hawaii in the opener. They had an open week this past weekend.

“You show us the schedule, I get ‘em ready to play,” Curt Cignetti said following IU’s 77-3 win on Friday. “Put ‘em in the best positions and develop this football team every single day, the intangibles, develop the culture, mindset, the identity and how they think.”

Kick on Saturday night is 7:30 pm ET on NBC.

SEE ALSO: IU football didn’t just win on Friday, It dominated — as it should. Now, it’s using it as a ‘confidence boost’ heading into first real test

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