The College Football Playoff festivities kick off with a trip to South Bend where Notre Dame will host Indiana, in a thrilling and inner-state postseason matchup. FanDuel is offering the Irish as fair 6.5-point favorites after wrapping the regular season covering in eight-straight meetings.
The winner of this matchup with advance to the CFP Quarterfinals against Georgia at Caesars Superdome. FanDuel has listed hypothetical odds for the Sugar Bowl, tagging Notre Dame as 1.5-point favorites and Indiana as 5.5-point 'dogs vs Georgia if they meet.
indiana vs notre dame Odds
Matchup Page: Indiana vs Notre Dame, 8:00 pm ET
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Hoosiers | +6.5 (-105) | +198 | OVER 51.5 (-115) |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | -6.5 (-115) | -245 | UNDER 51.5 (-105) |
Odds as of December 20 from FanDuel
indiana vs notre dame Picks – CFP First Round
There was one upset to Northern Illinois back in Week 2, but in the 10 weeks that followed, Notre Dame has looked like a whole different team. Three wins on neutral fields, covering six-straight spreads of 14-points or more, and leading the country with a +26.3 win margin.
Riley Leonard has gained crucial confidence, earning 60% of his passing touchdowns in the second half of the season while also completing 76% or more of his passes in the final two intense games that mattered most against a ranked, undefeated Army and USC.
There's no denying Indiana is sparked a special season under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti. Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke is comfortable in the pocket, completing 70.4% to sit seventh-best in the nation. His passing attack is gaining 254.9 YPG, shaking off nerves while holding that same average on the road this season.
However, we saw the Hoosiers run into some issues facing the Buckeyes renowned defense, earning just 151 total yards and 68 passing yards in the 15-38 defeat. On par in the defensive world, Notre Dame is allowing under 300 total yards per game, a solid enough mark to sit in the top 10 in Division 1. Even more buff is the passing defense pressure that ranks third by coughing up just 157 YPG.
Indiana is the best rush defense in the nation. But, I'm calling those numbers to be inflated since the Hoosiers haven't clashed with a team that ranks anywhere near the top 25 in rushing. Indiana simply doesn't have the experience to quickly shut down the mobility of Leonard and the efforts of RB Jeremiyah Love. Plus, playing in front of Touchdown Jesus gives the Irish even more of an edge.
Indiana vs Notre Dame Pick: Notre Dame -7.5 (-110)
*picks made as of Wednesday, December 11 at 12:30 pm ET
indiana vs notre dame News
At this time of the year, weather is always a huge betting factor to consider. A bit of snow hit South Bend this morning but isn't expected to be much of a concern come game time. The temperature will be 33 degrees for kick-off.
indiana vs notre dame Prop Bet: riley leonard O 242.5 Pass + Rush Yds (-114)
Riley Leonard will need to be a difference maker if the Irish want to win this game. It's all on his shoulders and he needs to stand upright rather than cracking under pressure.
I like this prop because whether Indiana slows his run game or his passing game, he can adjust to lean on offensive area that has an opening. He's proven to be able to handle plays and earn yardage through the air and on the ground. I used to call the senior a one-dimensional quarterback who wasn't fully honing in on his strengths. But, it's clear Leonard has gotten more comfortable in his role as QB1.
According to Outlier, Leonard is averaging 260.6 YPG, a jump from what his line is set at ahead of the CFP's first round.
indiana vs notre dame Betting Trends
- The OVER hit in 8 of the Indiana Hoosiers last 8 games on the road
- Notre Dame is 8-0 ATS in its last eight games, six of those spreads are of 14-points or more
- Indiana is 9-2 ATS (81.8%) in its last 11 games
