I hate the phrase “biggest game of the year.”\nIt’s the most overused phrase in sports aside from “alleged steroid-user” and “Grossman interception.” It’s the sportswriter’s version of “taking it one game at a time.”\nSo when I hear people refer to Saturday’s homecoming game against Penn State as the “biggest game of the year,” I roll my eyes like Kelvin Sampson during an NCAA compliance meeting.\nIsn’t a team’s next game always the most important – or “biggest” – one? When is it not? What does that mean for the games the rest of the year? Are they inferior? \nWhat if Bill Lynch came to his midweek press conference this week and told reporters, “Well, Penn State is a good football team, but we’re looking ahead to Wisconsin. That’s going to be the biggest game of the year.”\nIt just wouldn’t happen. In addition to being completely out of character for the even-keeled Lynch, it wouldn’t make any sense. It would be like me telling a girl, “Well Susie, you’re a good-looking girl, but I’m more excited about the girl I’m taking out next weekend. That’s going to be my biggest date of the year.”\nIn reality – also known as the place Stephon Marbury no longer resides – Penn State is the hot girl. Talented in just the right spots and decked out with blue-chip recruits – East Coast schools can’t beat it and Big Ten colleges want to be it. \nThe Hoosiers are similar to Penn State: Both schools have the same record (5-2, 2-2), both have signature victories this season and both have exceptional star players – the Nittany Lions just fill the clothes out better.\nThey’ve been a football powerhouse since Eli Whitney rolled out the cotton gin. The Hoosiers have been in college football’s good graces since mid-September.\nIf history played any factor in Saturday’s match-up, the Hoosiers would be 68-point underdogs at Memorial Stadium on homecoming weekend. In 10 career meetings, the Hoosiers have never beaten Penn State. In IU’s defense, the last time the two teams played, Gerry DiNardo didn’t think anyone was paying attention and started Matt LoVecchio at quarterback. Hopefully he takes more care making my calzone.\nLate in that game three years ago, the Hoosiers trailed by only four points on Penn State’s one-yard line on first down, only to be stonewalled on four straight running plays and lose the game.\nSince that frustrating November afternoon, I swear the Hoosiers have had more goal-line situations than anyone else in college football. The Hoosiers can’t gain an inch up the middle, and the end zone isn’t 50 yards deep, meaning they can’t complete a pass. It’s like watching a mime in cream and crimson try and escape from an invisible box, only to watch it fail over and over again and eventually freak out from claustrophobia. Except instead of the claustrophobic part, the Hoosiers just bring out Austin Starr.\nSaturday’s game could lead to a lot of firsts for the Hoosiers: the first time they’ve been bowl eligible in 14 years, the first time they’ve been on national television this year or maybe even the first time they’ve had 40,000 fans at a home game this season.\nBut most importantly, the Hoosiers will try and beat Penn State for the first time.\nJust don’t call it the “biggest game of the year.”
Prediction: Indiana 34, Penn State 27
