Way to go rest of the Big Ten. I’m blaming this on you.

Included in an utterly embarrassing weekend for the conference were two losses and a nail biter for the B1G against their regional baby brother, the MAC. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that the Hoosiers opened next Saturday’s game at Bowling Green as three-point underdogs Sunday evening.

Take that, optimistic Hoosier Faithful.

Doesn’t Vegas know that the team has improved every year since Kevin Wilson took over in 2011? That IU has a new defensive coordinator? That Indiana has the No. 1 rushing offense in the country and the fourth best total defense in the country?!

OKAY. Maybe the last two stats are a little skewed as IU hasn’t faced an FBS opponent yet, but this should still leave a sour taste in the mouth of everybody associated with Indiana football, from the coaches to the players to the fans.

It’s not just that a MAC team is favored over a squad from the Big Ten. It’s that a MAC team that has already been absolutely walloped by Western Kentucky and lost their All-Conference quarterback for the remainder of the season is still favored over a Big Ten team. Ouch.

The Hoosiers do (embarrassingly) have a losing record against MAC opponents under Kevin Wilson

While some Indiana fans may be quick to label the line ludicrous, it’s worth looking at the game from an unbiased viewpoint. Kevin Wilson does have a losing a record against MAC opponents since coming to Indiana in 2011 with losses to Ball State in 2011 and 2012. And, despite losing their starting QB for the year, Bowling Green was chosen as the favorite to win the MAC. Also, the game is at Bowling Green…

If nothing else, the line illustrates the important point that although Hoosier fans believe this is “the” year for Indiana, nothing will change the national perspective regarding the worst team in college football other than wins, wins and more wins.

NOTE: The line opened 5:03 p.m. on Sunday evening with Indiana +3, meaning IU is a three-point underdog, for those of you immune to the poison that is sports betting. By 9:26 p.m., the line had already changed 11 times. At the time of this article, Indiana is a six-point favorite.