Alabama vs. Indiana Prediction, Odds & Picks: Top-Ranked Hoosiers Battle the Newly-Healthy Crimson Tide

• The teams were nearly identical against the spread, going 9-4-1 (ALA) and 8-5 (IU)

• Fernando Mendoza had one touchdown and one interception in each of his three toughest games

• Bama was in a 17-0 hole in the first round before they finished on a 34-7 run

Top-ranked Indiana will take the field for the first time in the 2025 College Football Playoff in the quarterfinal round against the perennial powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide.

The last time the Hoosiers were on the field was on Dec. 6, when they beat Ohio State to capture their first Big Ten conference championship since 1967. They’re 13-0 and are trying to cement the greatest turnaround in college football history by winning their first national championship.

Alabama appeared to be on its way out of the CFP after falling into a 17-0 hole against Oklahoma, only to close the game on a 34-7 run and book their ticket into the next round. They’re the only three-loss team in the field, but they’re as healthy as they’ve been since they were totally dominant in the middle of the year.

Get more info in our College Football National Championship predictions.

Here, I will break down the Alabama vs. Indiana odds and matchup and share my favorite betting pick for the CFP quarterfinal showdown.

Alabama vs. Indiana Odds

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Alabama vs. Indiana: My Pick

• My Pick: Indiana -7 (-105) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Kalen DeBoer might be the best big-game coach in America, but his teams at Alabama have disappeared in too many unexpected moments. Curt Cignetti has been pure gold since he got to IU, and he just proved his team can take down a national powerhouse in OSU.

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Alabama vs. Indiana Prediction

Alabama Crimson Tide Preview

Alabama has been up-and-down under Kalen DeBoer’s leadership, which was the antithesis of his career before arriving in Tuscaloosa. A serial winner, the -year-old had gone 104-12 in stops at Sioux Falls, Fresno State, and Washington before touching down in the southern United States.

While his 20-7 record at Alabama is hardly bad, his teams haven't been as predictable. They beat Georgia in back-to-back regular seasons, but they also lost to unranked Vanderbilt, Oklahoma and Michigan (last year) and Florida State. They were also throttled by Georgia in the recent SEC Championship Game, 28-7, before bouncing back with their CFP win over Oklahoma.

Health is working heavily in the favor of the Crimson Tide. After their opening-week loss to FSU, they went on an eight-game winning streak with wins over four ranked opponents before injuries finally caught up to them.

Bama only runs the ball to keep their opponents honest. They prefer to dominate the air with QB Ty Simpson (12th in EPA per pass), although he’s struggled under pressure. Ryan Williams has also fallen off a cliff, while leading receiver Germie Bernard hasn’t had a 100-yard receiving game since Week 1.

The Bama defense is quietly very strong, ranking 12th in EPA per play and 15th in points allowed per game (19.2). They also won the turnover battle against Oklahoma after finishing -3 during their regular-season showdown.

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Indiana Hoosiers Preview

This is all new to Indiana. After decades and decades of complete irrelevance, they’ve entered the CFP as the top-ranked team in the country.

The Hoosiers were not competitive in their first-round matchup with Notre Dame last year. However, beating Oregon by 10 on the road and taking down Ohio State in the B10 Championship shows that they are a different and more seasoned team.

Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza had a nice year, but he also didn’t prove to be an elite player against strong competition. He had exactly one touchdown and one interception and 215-222 yards against the three toughest defenses he faced, Oregon, Penn State, and Ohio State.

Fortunately for the 6-foot-5 QB, he won’t play the game on his own. The IU defense was third in points allowed per game (11.8) and 14th in yards allowed per play (4.6), while the offense led the country in EPA per play.

The biggest question the Hoosiers will have to answer is whether they can remain focused after a momentous conference championship, with nearly a month since their last game.

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Alabama vs. Indiana: Best Promos and Sportsbooks

All of the best online sportsbooks are offering a variety of betting markets for the Alabama vs. Indiana College Football Playoff showdown.

While the odds might be similar, each sportsbook will have its differences. Compare odds across multiple sportsbooks to find the best place to submit your bet of choice.

Find some of the best sportsbook promos and bonuses listed in the table below.

*21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR.

Alabama vs. Indiana Injury Report

Alabama

• Kevin Riley (RB) - Questionable

• Derek Meadows Jr. (WR) - Out

• Danny Lewis Jr. (TE) - Out

• Jalen Hale (WR) - Out

• Jack Sammarco (TE) - Out

Indiana

• Omar Cooper Jr. (WR) - Questionable (leg)

• Brendan Franke (K) - Questionable

• Amari Kamara (LB) - Questionable (shoulder)

• Lee Beebe Jr. (RB) - Out (leg)

How to Watch Alabama vs. Indiana

• When: Thursday, Jan. 1 @ 4:00 p.m. ET

• Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

• How to Watch: ESPN