Miami vs Indiana Prediction, Picks & Odds for January 19 — CFP National Championship

Caley's prediction: Expect Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers to roll over Carson Beck and the Hurricanes.

Andrew Caley - Senior Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Andrew Caley • Senior Betting Analyst
Jan 17, 2026 • 16:00 ET • 4 min read

NCAAF

Match starts: 50 hrs
IU
49 %
MIA
51 %
EXPERT PICK - SPREAD
Indiana -8.5 (-105) Indiana -8.5 (-105)
Read Analysis
Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers CFB
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers.

The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game pits the No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes.

Indiana enters as nearly double-digit favorites, aiming to cap off a perfect season. Standing in their way are the Hurricanes, who have won seven straight.

My Miami vs. Indiana predictions explain why there will be a “Belt to Ass” moment in this Natty — just not the way Michael Irvin is hoping.

Find out more in my college football picks for Monday, January 19.

Who will win the National Championship Game?

Indiana.

This is the best team in the country, has been for a while. The only thing holding some back from realizing this is the logo on the helmet. Their tenacious style will overwhelm Miami over the course of the game, forcing some key mistakes as the Hoosiers win the national championship.

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Miami vs Indiana prediction

Miami vs Indiana Best bet: Indiana -8.5 (-105)

The Miami Hurricanes are on a hell of a run, but it will be the Indiana Hoosiers who will end their Championship dreams.

Indiana has absolutely whooped its opponents in the playoffs, led by Heisman Trophy QB Fernando Mendoza and an offense that doesn't make mistakes.

The same can’t be said for Miami. Carson Beck has been prone to picks, and the Hurricanes rank 113th in the country in penalties per game.

Indiana will force Miami into mistakes and generally overwhelm them, winning the National Championship with ease.

Miami vs Indiana same-game parlay

The National Championship will feature plenty of talented playmakers, but the most underrated may be Indiana wideout Elijah Sarratt.

While Sarratt wasn’t as highly touted as some of the other stars in this game, his impact is undeniable.

He’s hauled in 47 catches for 638 yards and an eye-popping 12 touchdowns over his last nine games — averaging 70.9 yards and scoring in each contest. A prop of 56.5+ yards and a touchdown makes perfect sense in the Natty.

Miami vs Indiana SGP

  • Indiana -8.5
  • Elijah Sarratt Over 56.5 receiving yards
  • Elijah Sarratt anytime touchdown

Our deep-ball SGP: Natty Fireworks

  • Charlie Becker has been massive down the stretch, boasting 457 receiving yards and three touchdowns over the last six games.
  • Malachi Toney is Miami's most electric playmaker, and if someone can bust a big one for "The U", it's their star wideout.
  • Miami has trusted backup running back Charmar Brown in the red zone lately, with the sophomore scoring four times in the last five games.

Miami vs Indiana SGP

  • Elijah Sarratt anytime touchdown
  • Charlie Becker anytime touchdown
  • Malachi Toney anytime touchdown
  • CharMar Brown anytime touchdown

Miami vs Indiana odds

  • Spread: Miami +8.5 (-110) | Indiana -8.5
  • Moneyline: Miami +280 | Indiana -350
  • Over/Under: Over 47.5 | Under 47.5

Miami vs Indiana betting trend to know

Indiana has covered the spread in 10 of its last 14 games (+5.60 Units / 36% ROI). Find more college football betting trends for Miami vs Indiana.

How to watch Miami vs Indiana

Location Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Date Monday, January 19, 2026
Kickoff 7:30 p.m. ET
TV ESPN

Miami vs Indiana latest injuries

Miami vs Indiana weather

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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Andrew Caley
Senior Betting Analyst

When his dreams of becoming the next Steve Nash died, all Andrew "Taco" Caley wanted to do was write about sports, something he's been doing at Covers for more than a decade. A Journalism School grad from Holland College in Charlottetown, PEI, Andrew previously worked at The Chronicle Herald and Star Metro, but knew in his heart that his future lay in sports. He began at Covers as a news editor and has now done everything under the sun when it comes to content. His work has been seen on TSN, Sportsnet, VSiN, and CBS. These days Andrew's betting expertise is focused on his favorite teams; the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors. He's also an avid college football fan and bettor. He can't be friends with you if you don't appreciate a Service Academy Under. The sportsbook where he does the bulk of his betting is bet365 thanks to its numerous prop betting options and competitive odds. His best advice? Find the balance between the numbers and what you see on the playing field. Then find the best price using multiple books. And don’t ask him where the nickname Taco comes from. It's not an interesting story. Seriously.

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