Jan. 18, 2026, 6:30 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Miami Hurricanes<\/a> (13-2) and Indiana Hoosiers<\/a> (15-0) meet Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s<\/a> NCAA football odds around the Miami vs. Indiana odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions<\/a> for the best bets.<\/p>\n This is just the third all-time meeting, and the first in 60 years. The series is tied 1-1. Miami won 14-7 in the Orange Bowl (the stadium, not the bowl game) on Oct. 21, 1966, in the most recent meeting, while Indiana won 28-14 on Oct. 23, 1964, in the same venue.<\/p>\n Miami edged the Ole Miss Rebels 31-27 as a 3.5-point on Jan. 8 at the Fiesta Bowl as the Over (52.5) cashed. QB Carson Beck ran for a 3-yard TD with 18 seconds left in regulation to lead the Hurricanes to the victory. Prior to that, Miami topped the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31 as a 7.5-point underdog as the Under (40.5) cashed, while it beat the Texas A&M Aggies 10-3 as a 2.5-point underdog in the first round as the Over (48.5) was never threatened.<\/p>\n In the win over Ole Miss, Beck threw for 268 yards and 2 TDs, while RB Mark Fletcher Jr. ran for 133 yards. RB CharMar Brown had 54 rushing yards and a TD, while WR Keelan Marion registered 7 receptions for 114 yards and a TD, with WR Malachi Toney posting 5 grabs for 81 yards and a TD.<\/p>\n Miami TE Elija Lofton, who had a 15-yard reception in the second half, suffered an injury, and he is out for Monday’s game. LB Malik Bryant is also sidelined with an undisclosed injury, and he will not play. CB Xavier Lucas will miss the first half due to a targeting call against the Rebels in the fourth quarter. Indiana has no notable injuries.<\/p>\n Indiana snuffed out the Oregon Ducks 56-22 in the Peach Bowl, easily covering as a 3.5-point favorite as the Over (50.5) cashed, after it spanked the Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 as a 7.5-point favorite in the Rose Bowl as the Under (45.5) cashed. In addition, it topped Ohio State 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 6 as a 3.5-point underdog in Indianapolis as the Under (45.5) hit.<\/p>\n In the rout of Oregon, Heisman Trophy winner QB Fernando Mendoza threw for just 177 yards, but he had 5 TD passes, while RB Kaelon Black ran for 63 yards and a pair of scores. WR Elijah Sarratt was good for 7 receptions, 75 yards and 2 TDs. WR Charlie Becker ended up with 2 grabs for 48 yards and a TD, while WR Omar Cooper Jr. also had a visit to the end zone.<\/p>\n This will be Miami’s first shot at a national title since losing 31-24 in 2OT to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3, 2003. Indiana has been playing football since 1899, and it has never played for a national championship. In fact, it has just 3 Big Ten titles. The Hoosiers are attempting to become a first-time champ. The Florida Gators, in 1996, were the last first-time title winner.<\/p>\n The weather forecast calls for temperatures around 62 degrees at kickoff, with partly cloudy skies and winds from 10-12 MPH. The humidity levels will be around 65%, so it won’t likely adversely affect the Hoosiers like a typical game in South Florida with high heat and humidity.<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0Rankings:\u00a0US LBM Coaches Poll<\/a>, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n Watch NCAA football on Fubo!<\/a>Miami vs. Indiana odds<\/p>\n Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook<\/a>; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub<\/a> for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 6:26 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n Moneyline (ML): Miami +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Indiana -325 (bet $325 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Miami +7.5 (-110) | Indiana -7.5 (-110)Over\/Under (O\/U): 47.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Miami vs. Indiana picks and predictionsPrediction<\/p>\n Indiana 26, Miami 20<\/p>\n Indiana (-325) looks to cap off an amazing, unbelievable run from perennial doormat to sudden national power. Coach Curt Cignetti helped this team to a playoff appearance last season, but this season the Hoosiers are even more powerful.<\/p>\n Still, risking nearly 3 1\/2 times your potential return is way too much risk for not enough reward, especially since this game is being playing on the home field of Miami.<\/p>\n PASS.<\/p>\n Take MIAMI +7.5 (-110) in this battle at Hard Rock Stadium.<\/p>\n The Hurricanes are playing at home, and venue matters. If this game were literally anywhere else, Indiana would be the play. However, this is on Miami’s home field. While there is likely to be a lot of crimson and cream in the stands, perhaps outnumbering the home side, it will still be in South Florida.<\/p>\n We have tremendous defense on both sides of the ball, and we’re likely going to have a 1-score game.<\/p>\n UNDER 47.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.<\/p>\n Miami has cashed the Under in 3 of the past 4 games, while allowing 17 or fewer points in 6 of the past 7 games. The lone exception was against Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss and the powerful Rebels offense.<\/p>\n Indiana has allowed 24 or fewer points in all 15 games to date, while allowing 15 or fewer points in 12 of its outings. The Under has cashed in 2 of 3 playoff games.<\/p>\n For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com<\/a> and BetFTW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow @danieledobish on\u00a0Twitter\/X<\/a>.\u00a0Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter\/X<\/a> and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:<\/p>\n Alabama<\/a> \/ Auburn<\/a> \/ Clemson<\/a>\u00a0\/ Colorado<\/a> \/ Duke<\/a> \/\u00a0Florida<\/a> \/ Florida State<\/a> \/\u00a0Georgia<\/a> \/ Iowa<\/a> \/ Kentucky<\/a> \/\u00a0LSU<\/a>\u00a0\/ Michigan<\/a>\u00a0\/ Michigan State<\/a> \/ Nebraska<\/a> \/ North Carolina<\/a> \/ Notre Dame<\/a>\u00a0\/ Ohio State<\/a>\u00a0\/ Oklahoma<\/a> \/ Oregon<\/a> \/ Penn State<\/a> \/ Tennessee<\/a>\u00a0\/ Texas<\/a> \/ Texas A&M<\/a> \/ UCLA<\/a> \/ USC<\/a> \/ Washington<\/a> \/\u00a0Wisconsin<\/a> \/ College Sports Wire<\/a> \/ High School<\/a> \/ Recruiting<\/a><\/p>\n