When it was figured out that Indiana would face Alabama in the Rose Bowl in the Quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, Vegas oddsmakers made the Hoosiers a 6.5-point favorite over the Crimson Tide. That line has shifted in the last two weeks, not by much, but it has shifted in favor of Indiana.
This is certainly going to be an interesting game, especially with Alabama completing the comeback win over Oklahoma in the first round of the CFP. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti also has some history with Alabama, having coached there before landing his first head coaching position in college football.
Don't be mistaken, the odds for this game are still very close, but they are moving in the right direction for the Hoosiers.
No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana final odds for the Rose Bowl
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread
- Alabama: +7.5 (-120)
- Indiana: -7.5 (-102)
Moneyline
- Alabama: +215
- Indiana: -260
Total
- O/U: 47.5 (-115/-105)
No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana final prediction for the Rose Bowl
This is going to be a game of two great quarterbacks going head-to-head, but Indiana definitely has the edge in that position. Indiana has Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza going to battle for the Hoosiers, while Alabama will be led by Ty Simpson, who was meant to be a Heisman finalist at the beginning of the season.
If Indiana can play the type of defense it did against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game, it will be able to shut down the Alabama offense early and start to build a lead. Granted, Alabama proved that leads may not matter much as they overcame a 17-0 deficit against Oklahoma.
Indiana may have to knock off some rust, having not played football in nearly a month, but if there is one thing that Cignetti knows how to do, it is get his guys ready for a game. This game may be close in the first half, but we at Hoosier State of Mind are predicting that Indiana will run away with it in the second half, the defense being too much for Simpson and Alabama to handle.