Howard at No. 6 Indiana 2026 Preview: Prediction & 4 Prop Bets

Saturday, September 12, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM ET Location: Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana TV: BTN Tickets: As low as $35

Betting Note: A widely posted sportsbook spread and total were not yet available Sunday morning. One independent projection made Indiana roughly a 36.5-point favorite, but that should not be treated as a consensus betting line.

Defending national champion No. 6 Indiana returns to Bloomington Saturday looking to move to 2-0 when Howard visits Memorial Stadium.

The Hoosiers opened their season with an emphatic 52-16 victory over North Texas. Transfer quarterback Josh Hoover immediately looked comfortable in Curt Cignetti’s offense, completing 13 of 16 passes for 231 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Howard enters 1-1. The Bison beat Alabama A&M 31-24 before falling 28-21 to No. 23 Richmond after rallying from a 20-0 halftime deficit.

Indiana has the overwhelming talent advantage, but Howard’s experienced quarterback and willingness to keep fighting should make the Bison more competitive than a typical FCS opponent.

Top Four Prop Bets

Exact player props may not be offered for an FBS-FCS matchup. The numbers below are projected betting targets.

Prop Bet #1: Josh Hoover Over 199.5 Passing Yards

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Hoover Over 199.5 Passing Yards

• 231 Yards in Opener
• Four TD Passes
• Elite Efficiency

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Hoover could not have started his Indiana career much better.

He threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns on only 16 attempts against North Texas and was not sacked.

Howard has allowed 257.5 passing yards per game through two contests, creating another favorable matchup.

The concern is playing time. If Indiana leads by four touchdowns early, Hoover may spend much of the second half on the sideline.

Projected Bet: Josh Hoover Over 199.5 Passing Yards

Prop Bet #2: Charlie Becker Over 49.5 Receiving Yards

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Becker Over 49.5 Receiving Yards

• 65 Yards in Week 1
• Two Touchdowns
• Hoover Chemistry

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Charlie Becker emerged as Hoover’s leading receiver against North Texas.

He caught four passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring receptions of nine and 35 yards.

Howard has already allowed 515 passing yards through two games, so Becker should have another opportunity to create explosive plays.

Projected Bet: Charlie Becker Over 49.5 Receiving Yards

Prop Bet #3: Ja’Shawn Scroggins Under 199.5 Passing Yards

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Scroggins Under 199.5 Passing Yards

• Indiana Defensive Speed
• Pressure Matchup
• 44.4% Completion Rate

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Howard quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins has thrown for 424 yards and four touchdowns through two games, averaging 212 yards per contest.

The problem is efficiency.

He has completed only 44.4 percent of his passes and now faces a defending national champion that returns linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones, who combined for 15 sacks last season.

Howard may throw frequently while trailing, but Indiana’s pressure should limit efficiency.

Projected Bet: Ja’Shawn Scroggins Under 199.5 Passing Yards

Prop Bet #4: Howard Team Total Under 13.5 Points

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Howard Under 13.5 Points

• Major Talent Gap
• Indiana Front Seven
• FCS Road Matchup

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Howard averages 26 points per game, but the Bison have not faced anything comparable to Indiana.

Scroggins is dangerous, and Howard showed impressive resilience against Richmond, scoring 21 second-half points after falling behind 20-0.

Still, sustaining long drives against Indiana’s front seven will be difficult.

Projected Bet: Howard Team Total Under 13.5 Points

Players to Watch

Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana: Threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns in his Hoosier debut.

Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana: Led Indiana with 65 receiving yards and two touchdowns against North Texas.

Turbo Richard, RB, Indiana: Rushed for 58 yards and scored twice in his Indiana debut.

Ja’Shawn Scroggins, QB, Howard: Has 424 passing yards, four touchdowns and 88 rushing yards through two games.

Travis Kerney, RB, Howard: Has rushed for 81 yards through two games.

Keys to the Game

Howard

Howard must avoid an early avalanche. Indiana scored 14 first-quarter points against North Texas and never trailed.

Scroggins also has to protect the football and use his mobility to escape pressure. Howard needs sustained possessions, not repeated three-and-outs.

Indiana

Indiana should attack immediately with Hoover.

Once the Hoosiers establish a comfortable lead, Richard and the running game can take over.

Defensively, the priority is preventing Scroggins from creating outside the pocket and forcing Howard into long third downs.

Betting Prediction

Indiana is dramatically better at nearly every position.

The Hoosiers scored 52 in their opener despite Hoover attempting only 16 passes. That balance makes them particularly difficult for an FCS defense to handle.

Howard’s veteran quarterback should create a few drives, but Indiana’s depth should eventually overwhelm the Bison.

The biggest handicapping concern is Indiana’s second-half approach. Once the game becomes comfortable, Cignetti has little reason to leave Hoover or other key starters exposed.

The Verdict

Indiana should control the game from the opening quarter and use its depth to steadily extend the margin.

Howard’s experience should prevent a complete offensive shutdown, but the Bison will struggle to consistently finish drives.

Final Score Prediction: No. 6 Indiana 49, Howard 10

Best Bet: Howard Team Total Under 13.5

Projected Spread Lean: Indiana if the number is -36.5 or lower

Top Player Prop: Josh Hoover Over 199.5 Passing Yards

Additional Props: Charlie Becker Over 49.5 Receiving Yards | Ja’Shawn Scroggins Under 199.5 Passing Yards