Indiana @ Duke preview

NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL STORYLINES

1. Indiana and Duke, two schools known more for their prowess on the basketball court, meet on the gridiron for the first time since 1984 - this time in a baseball stadium - as they invade Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26. Indiana is in a bowl game for the first time since 2007 and plays in just its second since 1993. The Blue Devils are making their fourth bowl appearance in a row but are in search of their first postseason win since the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2, 1961.

2. Both teams boast quality quarterbacks, with Hoosiers senior Nate Sudfeld leading the Big Ten in passing yards (3,184), touchdowns (24) and pass efficiency (153.9). His play in back-to-back road wins to end the regular season lifted Indiana into the bowl picture, as he threw for 735 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions against Maryland and Purdue. Duke signal caller Thomas Sirk is not quite on that level as a passer, but he did rank third in the ACC in pass completions and can hurt opponents with his legs, compiling a team-high 648 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

3. The Hoosiers and Blue Devils both had strong starts before gut-punch losses altered their seasons and may have prevented them from attaining a more notable bowl berth. Indiana was 4-2 and up 25 points at home against a bad Rutgers team, but it collapsed in a 55-52 loss that was the lowlight during a six-game losing streak. Duke was 6-1 and on top of the ACC Coastal division before visiting Miami utilized eight laterals in a wild kickoff return for a touchdown that sent the Blue Devils to a damaging 30-27 defeat that started a four-game losing streak.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Indiana -2

ABOUT INDIANA (6-6, 2-6 Big Ten): The long layoff before the bowl game allows running back Jordan Howard's knee to heal up, and head coach Kevin Wilson said there is a chance the junior plays, which could transform Indiana's attack. Howard produced 1,213 yards in only nine games but missed the finale against Purdue and later had his knee scoped. He averaged 168.8 yards a game during the Hoosiers' 4-0 start and 206 in narrow losses to Iowa and Michigan down the stretch.

ABOUT DUKE (7-5, 4-4 ACC): Behind Sirk and a balanced attack that features five receivers with at least 30 catches and four rushers with more than 300 yards, the Blue Devils should move the ball against an Indiana squad that ranked last in the Big Ten in total defense. Duke will want to shore up its defensive unit, though, after it was lit up for an average of 42.3 points during the four-game losing streak. Senior safety Jeremy Cash, who had 101 tackles - 18 for a loss - and 2.5 sacks, shined through it all to claim ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors.



PREDICTION: Indiana 55, Duke 49