Charlotte football vs. Indiana first look: Betting odds, key matchup, player to watch

Charlotte football hits the road to face its toughest opponent yet.

An unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers team, which received 13 votes in this week’s AP Top 25 poll, awaits the 49ers following their dramatic win at home. New head coach Curt Cignetti has the traditional Big Ten power rolling, and they’re coming off a dominant victory at UCLA in the sides’ first meeting as conference opponents.

As long as he isn’t still injured, Deshawn Purdie is expected to start at quarterback for Charlotte once again, head coach Biff Poggi said in Saturday’s postgame news conference. Purdie, who’d been sacked six times, completed 16 of 23 passes for 194 yards before exiting early in the fourth quarter and being replaced by a stellar Trexler Ivey.

“All eyes on Charlotte,” Cignetti told reporters in Indiana on Monday morning. “A team that’s proven capable of playing up, at a very competitive level. Last year, they played Maryland, led at halftime, one-score game in the fourth quarter. Florida was a ballgame throughout the entire game. And (North) Carolina, this year, was a one-score game in the third quarter.

“They have a lot of transfers. They have a lot of athletes. Their defensive line is big, and they can move. They’ve got a receiver who can really go. There’s a standard to everything do, and we want to keep improving as a team. ... We have to stay humble and hungry as we prepare for this next opponent.”

Key matchup: Charlotte’s receivers vs. Indiana defense

Like Cignetti alluded to, Charlotte’s top wideout heading into the season has been playing well.

The 49ers’ (1-2) opponents have held Jairus Mack to only six receptions, all over the past two weeks. But the player from Athens, Georgia, totals 157 receiving yards on them, including just one catch last week for 39 yards.

The offense at Indiana (3-0) has been exemplary early on. The Hoosiers opened with a convincing 31-7 win against Florida International, crushed Western Illinois in a 77-3 drubbing and surged past UCLA with a 42-13 victory inside the Rose Bowl this past weekend.

Charlotte likes to run the ball, and with Purdie struggling to move in the pocket last game, it feels safe to figure it will continue to pound the rock when it can. If the Niners’ receivers can break out and the defense creates some more highlights and makes stops, there’s no reason why they can’t keep the game close, particularly early on.

Player to watch: RB Hahsaun Wilson

Charlotte’s top returning running back has emerged as its leading rusher.

Wilson is up to a team-best 117 rush yards on 19 carries, including his 39-yard dash for the game-winning touchdown late in Saturday evening’s win. Starting running back Terron Kellman was out with an injury during the last game, and Cartevious Norton also had his most notable performance yet.

It could be tough for Charlotte to run the ball against Indiana, which just held UCLA to 13 points. The Hoosiers gave up 110 rush yards from five different Bruins’ running backs this past weekend.

Led by Wilson, Charlotte’s backs have explosive speed. Norton, who transferred in after impressing as a young back at Iowa State, added a season-high 28 yards on Saturday.

Wilson and Norton were the only running backs to carry the ball multiple times, and another standout performance from the former could be key for the Niners’ offense.

Vegas betting odds

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Indiana is a 28.5-point favorite as of Monday, with the over/under at 48.5 points.

How to watch the Charlotte 49ers against Indiana

Matchup: Charlotte 49ers (1-2) at Indiana Hoosiers (3-0)

TV: Big Ten Network

Stream: FOX Sports

Radio: ESPN 730

Date: Saturday, Sept. 21

Time: Noon

Place: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana