Miami vs. Indiana Prediction: CFP National Championship Best Bets & Expert Picks Tonight
It's not quite David vs. Goliath, but looking at the history of these schools on the big stage, you might think it would be. My Miami vs. Indiana prediction analyzes the College Football Playoff National Championship between a program with a rich, storied history (Miami) and one looking to reach new heights (Indiana).
But the Hoosiers are a 7.5-point betting favorite ahead of tonight's kickoff from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN), and I'm backing a storybook ending for the favorite.
🏈 Miami vs. Indiana prediction tonight: 2026 CFP National Championship
See the latest college football odds and our college football picks for the CFP National Championship.
| Predictions | Odds | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana -8.5 | -108 via DraftKings | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Over 47.5 | -107 via Caesars | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Omar Cooper Jr. anytime TD | +140 via FanDuel | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
💰 Miami vs. Indiana best bet: Indiana -8.5 (-108) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Want more college football betting advice? Check out all of our college football analysis and expert predictions for the CFP National Championship.
Indiana is one win away from being one of the greatest teams in college football history, and I don't see Miami stopping the Hoosiers. Curt Cignetti's team brings its best against the best, with Indiana being 5-0 ATS against ranked teams and beating those teams by an average margin of 27 points.
Indiana has the best offensive line Miami has seen all season, and if Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza has time, he'll pick the Canes apart.
Meanwhile, Carson Beck has been lackluster in two of three CFP games and now takes on the No. 2-ranked defense by SP+.
Score prediction: Indiana 31, Miami 20
🙌 Best Miami vs. Indiana touchdown scorer prediction: Omar Cooper Jr. anytime TD (+140) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Indiana has a plethora of worthwhile options to score in the national championship, but wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is my favorite value at our best college football betting sites. He's found the end zone in 11 of his last 13 games, including six straight. That's why he's my amomg my favorite anytime touchdown scorer predictions for Miami vs. Indiana.
🔴 Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers TD SGP
Indiana's offense is dominant and has several NFL-caliber players who could find the end zone against Miami. I highlighted a few of them in my CFP National Championship betting X-factors.
Among the X-factors for this game are both the Hoosiers' running backs, Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, and Elijah Sarratt. Sarratt leads the team in TDs (15) and has scored in nine straight games, while Hemby and Black have combined for 17 TDs.
I think it's reasonable to believe those three could all score, alongside Cooper, given Miami's problem with missing tackles (174 on the season). That's why I love parlaying all four to score, with +2935 odds at FanDuel.
Cooper is a threat to score on any touch thanks to his ability after the catch. He ranks No. 5 in the country in forced missed tackles on receptions (40), and his contact balance and physicality should come in handy against a Hurricanes defense that's prone to missing tackles.
Miami has six starters with a higher than 20% missed tackle rate. Cooper isn't the only wideout I'm highlighting to shine tonight for the Hoosiers - I tee up others in my Miami vs. Indiana player props and Miami vs. Indiana same-game parlay.
📊 Miami vs. Indiana odds: CFP National Championship
Our live Miami vs. Indiana odds update in real time.
📈 Miami vs. Indiana betting trends
| Miami | Statistic | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| 13-2 | W-L record | 15-0 |
| 10-5 | ATS record | 10-5 |
| 6-9 | O/U record | 9-6 |
| 6.1 | Yards per play | 7.0 |
| 4.7 | Yards allowed per play | 4.6 |
| +0.8 | Turnover margin | +1.4 |
| 5-0 | Last 5 games | 5-0 |
| W, 31-27 vs. Ole Miss | Previous result | W, 56-22 vs. Oregon |
🚑 Miami vs. Indiana latest injuries
Here the Miami vs. Indiana injuries that could impact the game:
| Miami | Status | Indiana | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damari Brown, CB | Hasn't played since Nov. 29 | Lee Beebe Jr., RB | Out for season |
| Stephen Daley, DL | Out for season | ||
| Kellan Wyatt, DL | Out for season |
📉 Miami vs. Indiana betting insights
Here are some betting insights in the hours before kickoff, via BetMGM.
| Spread | Total |
| Open: Indiana -7.5 -> -7.5 (76% of bets and 79% of the money are on the Hoosiers) | Open: 47.5 -> 47.5 (76% of bets and 47% of money are on the Over) |
📺 How to watch Miami vs. Indiana: 2026 CFP National Championship
- Date: Monday, Jan. 19
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
- TV: ESPN
💡 Miami vs. Indiana expert picks
- Miami vs. Indiana prediction
- Miami vs. Indiana player props
- Miami vs. Indiana anytime touchdown scorer predictions
- Miami vs. Indiana first touchdown scorer predictions
- Miami vs. Indiana same-game parlay
- Miami vs. Indiana odds movement
- Miami vs. Indiana prediction markets
- How to bet Miami vs. Indiana
- How Indiana will win CFP National Championship
- How Miami will win CFP National Championship
- CFP National Championship betting X-factors
- CFP National Championship MVP predictions
- CFP National Championship odds & storylines
- Top betting markets for CFP National Championship
- Top NFL draft prospects in CFP National Championship
- CFP betting terms for beginners
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