Final Indiana vs Notre Dame Prediction & Updated Odds (Friday, Dec. 20)

• The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 7-point favorites over the Indiana Hoosiers in the opening round of the College Football Playoff 
• Both schools enter this matchup with just a single loss on the season
• Check the Indiana vs Notre Dame odds, spread and prediction below

The College Football Playoff will officially kick off Friday night, when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) host the Indiana Hoosiers (11-1). Second-ranked Georgia awaits the winner in the quarterfinals.

Perhaps the greatest football season in Indiana history isn’t enough to sway the books against one of college football’s blue bloods, as the Fighting Irish are the favorites to advance.

Indiana vs Notre Dame Final Odds

The visiting Hoosiers are hefty 7-point underdogs in the college football odds, with a total set at 52 points.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8pm ET at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, IN, with ABC and ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.

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Odds as of December 19 at 11pm ET. Be sure to check out the best Caesars Sportsbook promos before placing a bet on any College Football Playoff matchup.

Final Odds Leading to IU vs ND Kickoff

The line moved from when this matchup was first announced, with the Fighting Irish opened as high as 8.5-point favorites. They can now be found as short as 6.5-points, depending where you look.

While the moneyline has never dipped below IU at +200 odds, the total opened as low as 49.5 points, before settling at 52 points.

Weather patterns could also be a factor in determining your tickets, with a cold streak hitting the Northeast as it usually does in December.

Temperatures at South Bend are expected to be a frigid 29 degrees at kickoff, with snow expected earlier in the day.

Can Upstart Hoosiers Win a Big One?

It’s the biggest storyline going into this one: are the Hoosiers for real?

They played a light schedule to go to 11-1, and their only real tests inside the Big Ten weren’t that impressive, sneaking by Michigan 20-15, then getting smacked by then no. 2 Ohio State 38-15.

NOBODY'S STOPPING ELIJAH SARRATT 🔥

ALL the way down for an @IndianaFootball TD! pic.twitter.com/bJu9fxkT3r

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 1, 2024

Notre Dame will present only the second-ranked team on their slate, and they have to travel to the Irish’s house, a team that’s won five straight at home, winning by an average of 28.8 points with only one game settled by one possession.

That doesn’t mean IU can’t compete. QB Kurtis Rourke is a big-time pivot, passing for 2,827 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions on the season.

That includes a 66-0 pasting of Purdue to close out the regular season, where he threw for 349 yards and six scores.

Irish Lean on D, Run Game For Success

We’re also going to find out if Indiana’s statistically dominant D holds up in primetime.

Notre Dame puts up 224.8 yards per game on the ground, a Top-10 mark in college football. They’re paced by Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who combined to average 133.3 yards per game and 7.2 yards per carry. Dual-threat pivot Riley Leonard rushed for 721 yards and 14 TDs.

Love bomb

7️⃣6️⃣ yard rushing touchdown for @JeremiyahLove #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/4KYLqEs5FH

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 16, 2024

They will go head-on against the top run defense in the nation, as the Hoosiers allow just 70.8 yards per game.

Not only that, but IU is second in yards allowed and ninth in passing yards, with teams putting up just 174 yards per contest.

That being said, the Irish are riding a 10-game winning streak and their 49-35 demolition of USC in the finale was the fourth time in five games ND had scored at least 49 points.

Indiana vs Notre Dame Prediction

The Fighting Irish seem well equipped to handle Rourke and that IU passing attack, as they allow only 157.9 yards through the air, the third-best mark in the nation, and hold teams to an NCAA-best 48.7% completion rate.

Expect an electric atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium, as it will be hosting the first playoff game in the school’s illustrious history.

This should follow the script of IU’s previous games against top-rated opponents Ohio State and Michigan, where they hung tough with an elevated opponent, before fading in the second half.

• Indiana vs Notre Dame Pick: Notre Dame -7 (-110)