Indiana vs Notre Dame Free Picks, Free College Football Picks, College Football Predictions 12/20/24
- J.A. Cavalier
- Dec 20, 2024
- 3 min read
INDIANA @ NOTRE DAME (ND -7.5, 51.5)
CFB ODDS, CFB PREDICTIONS, CFB PREVIEWS
HOOSIERS @ FIGHTING IRISH 12/20/24
It is rare for the Notre Dame football program to experience a first-time event. However, the Fighting Irish, whose first game took place in 1887, are set to make history Friday night. No. 7 seed Notre Dame (11-1) will host No. 10 seed Indiana (11-1) in the first-ever playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
The winner will advance to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff tournament, where it will take on No. 2 seed Georgia on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told his players to stay focused as they approached the Friday game. The Irish have approached every game as a playoff game of sorts since their early loss to Northern Illinois.
Indiana also is entering newfound territory as its magical season continues. The Hoosiers have thrived in Curt Cignetti's first season as coach. They have the best record through 12 games in school history, and they are coming off a 66-0 victory against Purdue that marked their largest win against an FBS opponent in school history.
Nobody will confuse Indiana's football history with that of Notre Dame's. The Hoosiers never won 10 games in a season until this year. They have not won a bowl game since the 1991 season. They have two Big Ten Conference titles -- in 1945 and 1967. Yet, under Cignetti, they have a chance to show again that this year is different.
Cignetti has been preaching to his players that tonight’s game is just another game. The Hoosiers have prepared just as they have prepared for their previous 12 games. One of the keys for Cignetti and Indiana will be quarterback Kurtis Rourke. He has passed for 2,827 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.
Justice Ellison (811 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) and Ty Son Lawton (634 rushing yards, 12 TDs) lead the Hoosiers rushing attack out of the backfield. Elijah Sarratt is the top target in the passing game with 49 catches for 890 yards and eight touchdowns.
Notre Dame is led by dual-threat quarterback Riley Leonard. He has passed for 2,092 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions and he has rushed for 721 yards and 14 TDs. RB Jeremiyah Love has a team-high 949 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns for Notre Dame. He injured his knee in a 49-35 victory against Southern California in the regular-season finale but is expected to play, according to Freeman.
This will be the first meeting between the in-state programs since 1991, as well as the first postseason matchup between the programs. Notre Dame leads the series 23-5-1, including 13-1-1 in South Bend. The Irish are 10-2 ATS on the season and they have covered in 8 straight games. Indiana ended the regular season 9-3 ATS.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
INDIANA UNDER 21.5 POINTS
Indiana’s offense is one of the best in the country. The Hoosiers averaged 40.3 points per game, which was second-best out of all 134 FBS teams. But, head coach Curt Cignetti’s team was held in check by two teams - Michigan and Ohio State. Notre Dame’s defense is better than both the Wolverines and the Buckeyes. The Irish are third in the country in scoring defense, holding teams to 13.6 points per game. Indiana was more successful in the passing game. Notre Dame is No. 1 in the nation in Passing EPA/Play. Against Michigan and Ohio State, the Hoosiers averaged 2.6 yards per play. The Irish are fifth in the nation in yards per play and should limit Indiana tonight. USC scored 35 on the Irish in the regular season finale, but none of the previous six ND opponents scored more than 14 points.
