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Posted: 2:38 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, 2012

Ohio State vs. Indiana preview

OSU's Miller stuns crowd with bedazzling performance
Ohio State's Braxton Miller, left, hurdles across the goal line past Indiana's Ryan Phillis for a touchdown during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Indiana 34-20.

By Doug Harris

Who: Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) vs. Indiana (2-3, 0-2)

When: 8 p.m. today

Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Ind.

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: WING-AM (1410)

Stat pack: Indiana QB Cameron Coffman 86-of-128 passing (67.2 percent), 801 yards, 6 TDs, 1 int. QB Nate Sudfield 25-of-40 (62.5), 357 yards, 3 TDs, 0 ints.

OSU QB Braxton Miller, 83-of-135 (61.5 percent), 1,060 yards, 9 TDs, 3 ints., 763 rushing yards, 8 TDs; WR Philly Brown, 35 receptions, WR Devin Smith 19; LB Ryan Shazier 59 tackles; DE John Simon 7.5 tackles for loss.

Worth noting: The Buckeyes have won 16 consecutive games over the Hoosiers, but the series hasn’t always been one-sided. Coach Bill Mallory led IU to back-to-back wins in 1987-88. After a 31-10 loss to the Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium in ’87, OSU coach Earle Bruce called it “the darkest day in Ohio State history.” He ended up being fired that year after going 6-4-1.

Pressure is on: OSU running backs. Miller has been stupendous, but consistent help in the rushing department would be appreciated. A knee injury will sideline Jordan Hall for the second straight week, and Carlos Hyde will need to build on a 140-yard day against Nebraska last week.

Edge goes to: Ohio State. The Hoosiers don’t have enough Replogles to make the game tight, but even as a 17-point favorite, the Buckeyes can’t be complacent. Going on the road is always dicey, even though Memorial Stadium will be filled with thousands of OSU fans. And there’s the Associated Press poll to consider. Anything less than a blowout won’t be looked upon favorably by voters.

Storyline: The Buckeyes need to overcome their habit of going catatonic offensively for a quarter or two. It happened in the first period against Nebraska last week: four possessions, no first downs. Coach Urban Meyer was so desperate to get something going that he even tried an ill-advised fake punt, which failed.

But Miller and the boys were so overpowering over the final three periods that it didn’t matter. Toward the end of the 63-38 win, Meyer gave offensive line coach Ed Warinner a hearty handshake, and Warinner pointed back at the Meyer and winked. Those were two guys who looked like they knew they had Big Ten defenses figured out.

Prediction: OSU 42, Indiana 13

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