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The Indiana Hoosiers are 4-0 and haven't really been tested, although things were a little tighter against Northwestern last week, but this weekend is the first road trip for Curt Cignetti and Co. The Hoosiers are expected to beat up on the Scarlet Knights, but Greg Schiano's crew can play teams tough and surprise at times. Indiana is more talented and certainly more poised to play well, but road upsets happen all the time.

If you've listed to Cignetti talk after games and during his Monday press conferences, he's definitely been pleased about some things, but like every coach, he's always looking for ways to improve and knows that playing perfect football just isn't a thing. The Hoosiers were supposed to win by more than three touchdowns against Northwestern and only won by six. That kind of effort can bite a good team on the road, so while Rutgers isn't playing very well this year at 1-3, Cignetti knows his Hoosiers need to show up and show out.

Indiana is expected to beat Rutgers pretty handily, so here are a few things that would need to happen for that to transpire.

1. Indiana will score a touchdown on its opening drive

Indiana's efficient and effective passing attack will hit Rutgers' struggling secondary early. Expect the Hoosiers to march right down the field and cap off a quick 5-6 play opening drive with seven points. Josh Hoover throwing to Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, coupled with a ground attack featuring Lee Beebe Jr. and maybe some edition of Turbo Richard, who is probably after getting hurt last week, will just be too good for Rutgers to contain.

2. Indiana's defense will record 5+ sacks

Indiana's front seven has been disruptive, and against a Rutgers offensive line that has struggled with pass protection against top-10 pressure fronts, the Hoosiers will notch at least five sacks on the day.

3. Josh Hoover throws for more than 300 yards

Indiana's rushing attack is very good when Richard and Beebe are both rolling, but Richard likely isn't at 100% after last week's injury. Schiano knows that, and his teams are known for loading the box and stopping the run when that's their focus. Because of that, look for Hoover to find Becker and Marsh often. Hoover hasn't hit the 300-yard mark yet, but he's got it in him.

4. Indiana will have a defensive/special teams touchdown

Indiana has had several nice returns on the year and linebacker Rolijah Hardy already has a pick-six. With Hardy back in the lineup this week, and the potential for some successful returns, the Hoosiers will score a non-offensive touchdown in this one.

5. Indiana will limit Rutgers to under 2.5 yards per carry

Indiana enters the game with the nation's 9th-ranked rushing defense (allowing just 2.2 yards per carry). They will completely shut down the Scarlet Knights' running game, making Rutgers one-dimensional. 

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