There's a good common opponent here. Both teams beat Michigan, and both did it without scoring much. Minnesota won 20-14 at home. Indiana won 13-6 in Ann Arbor, held the Wolverines out of the end zone all day, and sacked Tommy Carr 4 times. The Hoosiers' defense is carrying this team right now. Over their last 3 games the offense has put up 20, 15 and 13, and the only loss of the season was a 19-15 home game against Ohio State.
Minnesota keeps winning close ones. They beat Washington by 3 on the road, Michigan by 6 and Iowa by 3, and that's a 5-2 team that's 3-1 in the Big Ten. The one time the Gophers got punched in the mouth, Purdue beat them 41-13, and that's the version of Minnesota a 3-touchdown spread has in mind. Columnist Jim Souhan's line on the Gophers' season is that it defies logic, and it's hard to argue.
For Indiana, this is a home game in the middle of a 7-1 season with a top-10 ranking to protect, against an unranked team that grinds clock and plays field position. The Hoosiers will want style points, and against a defense that held Iowa to 10 they may not get them unless the passing game shows up. Forecast for Bloomington is 72 and cloudy with light wind, so weather won't be an excuse for anybody. Watch how Hoover moves on his first couple of dropbacks. That will tell you what kind of afternoon it's going to be.