HAWKEYES VS. HOOSIERS

When the Hawkeyes have the ball

When Indiana beat the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium in 2007 - yes, this example is graying, but it's going somewhere - the Hoosiers put nine sacks on the Hawkeyes. When Indiana pulled a major upset the year before in Bloomington, a late turnover sealed the Hawkeyes' fate.

The point is Indiana's defense hasn't shown up in this game the last two seasons. Iowa pummeled IU, 45-9, in 2008. Last season, the Hoosiers couldn't hold a 21-7 lead and allowed 28 points in the fourth quarter while the Hawkeyes surged to a 42-24 victory.

It might be as simple as a lack of playmakers.

Junior DE Darius Johnson (6-0, 252) can be a force. He leads IU defensive linemen and is fourth on the team with 38 tackles (20 solos) to go along with two sacks and three tackles for loss. He plays a stand up position and often drops back into coverage. That can be a filmroom headache.

The numbers aren't nice for IU's defense. The Hoosiers are ninth in the conference in scoring (29.4 points a game), eighth against the pass (216.6), 10th against the rush (167.5), ninth in total defense (384.1) and 10th in pass efficiency defense (147.7). Teams also are completing 64.5 percent of their passes against IU.

The Hawkeyes should be able to throw the ball.

Senior QB Ricky Stanzi has treated the football like a gold doubloon. Iowa's pass offense is in high gear, but, of course, the big question this week is the health of running back Adam Robinson. Sources told The Gazette on Wednesday that Robinson, the No. 3 rusher in the Big Ten with 100.8 yards a game, suffered a concussion during the Michigan State game and would be monitored for availability throughout the week.

If Robinson isn't able to play, true freshman Marcus Coker likely will be the guy.

Most likely, Iowa will lean on Stanzi and a passing game that might be the best in the Kirk Ferentz era.

Advantage: Iowa

When the Hoosiers have the ball

Indiana QB Ben Chappell (6-3, 242) isn't very mobile. He walked into Monday interviews wearing a boot on his injured left foot. He missed practice Tuesday, but returned Wednesday and that's a great thing for the Hoosiers.

Chappell (18 TDs and 7 INTs) is a big QB with a with a big arm. IU Coach Bill Lynch believes Chappell, who leads the Big Ten with 305.8 yards a game, always finds the open man, which makes the receivers work hard because they know they'll get the ball if they're open.

And what a group this is. Demarlo Belcher, Tandon Doss and Terrance Turner are 1-2-3 in the Big Ten with 7.25, 5.71 and 5.25 receptions a game.

But the Hoosiers lack balance.

Iowa likely will be breaking a fairly new group of linebackers into action today. Ferentz said on his radio show Wednesday night that senior weakside linebacker Jeremiha Hunter could return.

Advantage: Iowa

Special teams

IU punter Will Hagerup is 10th in the Big Ten with 39.2 yards a punt. The most dangerous number here for the Hoosiers isn't 39.2, it's the two punts that Hagerup has had blocked this season, including one last week against Northwestern. IU alternates between field goal kickers, but Mitch Ewald (9 of 11) seems to be the guy. He had a streak of nine straight chopped down against Northwestern last week.

IU is among the national leaders averaging 24.0 yards per kick return. Junior Tandon Doss, who ranks eighth on the school's career kick return yardage list with 1,125 yards, is fourth in the conference and ranks 32nd nationally with a 25.7 average on 23 returns.

Iowa's only special teams blemish last week was kicker Mike Meyer's PAT miss. Senior Derrell Johnson-Koulianos' kick off returns deserve mention here. He's second in the Big Ten with 27.5 yards a return.

Advantage: Indiana

The scoreboard

Iowa could find out this week how much Robinson is worth. The last time the Hawkeyes played in Bloomington, they cruised behind a rush offense that produced 227 yards. Robinson is capable of that. He's also become a bona fide weapon as a receiver. Is he worth 10 points today? There's also the “look ahead” factor. That hadn't taken root this week in the complex, but the outside world has gone ahead flipped the schedule to Nov. 20 and Ohio State.

First things first. There is no big Ohio State game for Iowa with a loss at Indiana.

Iowa 38, Indiana 20

- Marc Morehouse