Indiana 7.5-point favorite over Miami for national championship game
The College Football Playoff National Championship is set. Indiana will look to capture its first national championship in program history against Miami, which hasn't claimed college football's biggest prize since 2001.
Despite the game being played in Miami's backyard at Hard Rock Stadium, Indiana is a 7.5-point favorite on theScore Bet. Before Indiana's 56-22 annihilation of Oregon in the semifinal, the Hoosiers were a projected 5.5-point favorite over Miami. Indiana's performance Friday moved the line two points. The championship game will be played Monday, Jan. 19.
π Complete national title game odds can be found on theScore Bet
Indiana has dominated its opponents all season en route to a perfect 15-0 record entering the finale. The Hoosiers are the nation's only squad with a top-three offense and defense. Their rise from irrelevance to prominence in two seasons has been one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history, orchestrated by head coach Curt Cignetti.
But Miami's journey to the title game has also been improbable. Everyone assumed it had no chance of making the playoff after suffering an upset loss to SMU in November, its second defeat in three games. However, the Hurricanes snuck in as the No. 10 seed and had a more difficult path to the title game, defeating Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss.
Carson Beck was heavily scrutinized early on in Miami's season following his departure from Georgia. However, he's come up clutch in the playoffs, including a terrific performance in the semifinals against Ole Miss.
But Miami's biggest strength is its defense, particularly its defensive line filled with NFL prospects. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who's from Miami, has had a storybook season as the Heisman winner and presumed No. 1 pick in the NFL draft (his odds to go No. 1 moved from -375 to -800 on theScore Bet after Friday's semifinal). Still, he hasn't faced a pass rush as daunting as Miami's, which will be the story of the title game.
While the spread indicates Indiana will win comfortably, both of these squads are worthy champions. The days of the SEC running college football and traditional powerhouses continuously booking their tickets to the title game are seemingly over. This championship - and entire playoff - signals a changing of the guard. The question is whether Indiana or Miami will be the poster child for the transformation.
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