Hope vs. reality: Predicting the Hoosiers' season

I'm not quite sure what is going to happen with the Hoosier football team on the field this year. So I've enlisted the help of others to make some predictions about the outcome of all of this year's games. Since I didn't want a biased opinion, I talked to two experts in the field of prognostication.\nOne of them was the Great Prognostico. Prognostico runs his own psychic hotline, and has successfully predicted many events in the past year, including the rise in gas prices and the passing of Bob Hope.\nThe other expert is Vinny "The Chin" D'Annuzio, who is a bookmaker living in Barbados. Vinny operates out of the country because gaming authorities in Vegas and Atlantic City were "paying too much attention."\nHere are their predictions:\nWashington\nPrognostico: Can you say Rose Bowl preview? Washington will still be getting over its postseason turmoil when the Hoosiers roll into Husky Stadium. Expecting to roll over IU, they will be stunned by a 53-yard Bryan Robertson field goal as time expires.\nVinny: Remember last season, when Penn State's Larry Johnson ran for over 300 yards against the IU defense and catapulted himself into the thick of the Heisman race? Look for Washington QB Cody Pickett to throw for at least 500 yards and six touchdowns.\nIndiana State\nPrognostico: What a way to kick off the home schedule! I see glorious things as a sellout crowd watches a game that will be over by the end of the first quarter.\nVinny: This is a rivalry game for the Sycamores, so expect them to come out pumped up. That might be good enough to get them a couple of touchdowns. They are likely cover the point spread, especially if it's around 28.\nKentucky\nPrognostico: The Hoosiers will head into Big Ten play with just the one loss to Connecticut after they beat the Wildcats and avenge last season's close loss in Lexington. The IU defense will intercept Kentucky's Jared Lorenzen three times, but nobody will be able to sack him.\nVinny: These games always seem to come down to the wire, no matter what either team's record is. Overtime is a distinct possibility. But in the end, UK will just prove to be a little too much for the Hoosiers to handle.\nMichigan\nPrognostico: A win would give IU its first win over the Wolverines since 1987. But hey, whom am I kidding? I see bad things on the horizon for the Hoosiers in this one, which will be their second loss of the year.\nVinny: Can Michigan's scoreboard hold triple digits?\nMichigan State\nPrognostico: IU won the last time it played in East Lansing. Look for the Hoosiers to repeat that performance as they pick up their first Big Ten victory. This could be the game where we first hear the Heisman buzz for Mr. LoVecchio.\nVinny: The Spartans slaughtered the Hoosiers last year with many of their key players sitting out due to suspension. It'll be closer this year, but MSU won't have to do too much sweating.\nNorthwestern\nPrognostico: I see the Hoosiers scoring in the 50s, or perhaps the 60s as they roll to a Homecoming victory and crack the Top 25.\nVinny: I flipped a coin. It came out heads. That means Northwestern.\nOhio State\nPrognostico: The national champs will come to Bloomington undefeated … but they won't leave it that way! I'm seeing visions of Kordell Stewart and Doug Flutie … perhaps a Hail Mary from LoVecchio to Courtney Roby will knock the champs off their pedestal.\nVinny: Maurice Clarett should be back by this time. Not that it will make a difference. The mostly Ohio State crowd will watch the Buckeyes pull away in the second half after the Hoosiers keep it close in the first.\nMinnesota\nPrognostico: The football gods will punish Minnesota for playing in a dome and give the Hoosiers a win by default.\nVinny: Minnesota QB Asad Abdul-Khaliq is a dark horse Heisman candidate coming into the season, a la Brad Banks a year ago. His name could be getting thrown around more after this game.\nIllinois\nPrognostico: By this time, there will be way too much momentum behind the well-oiled IU machine for the Illini to stop it. IU may climb into the Top 10 after this win, but my tea leaves aren't strong enough to see what the pollsters will be thinking.\nVinny: I'm not even sure if anyone will still be going to games at this point. They won't miss much, as Illinois will win by about 10.\nPenn State\nPrognostico: Defense will lead the way as IU beats Joe Paterno for the first time. Now IU will definitely be in the Top 10. \nVinny: Last year's game was so ugly that Joe Pa actually brought in the second string kicker. And that was at home. I hate to see what will happen in Beaver Stadium.\nPurdue\nPrognostico: ESPN's Game Day crew will be at Memorial Stadium to cover the most anticipated Bucket game in 35 years. The fates will collaborate in IU's favor, as a win will be combined with a Michigan loss to Ohio State, giving the Hoosiers the Big Ten title and a trip to Pasadena.\nVinny: Purdue will retain the Old Oaken Bucket. Hoosier fans will wait until next year. Again.\n-- Contact staff columnist Alex Hickey at ahickey@indiana.edu.