Indiana vs Notre Dame Expert Predictions For College Football Playoff First Round
December 20, 2024
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The first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff begins tonight. Teams have battled all season long and the wait is finally over.
The first game on the schedule will be the Indiana Hoosiers taking on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The game will be played from Notre Dame Stadium as the first-round games are hosted by the higher-ranked seeds.
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Indiana came in ranked No. 10 in the final bracket while Notre Dame came in ranked No. 7. Both sides will be looking to make a statement here, with more of the pressure being on the Fighting Irish.
The Fighting Irish enter this game after posting a record of 11-1 on the year. They’ve been dominant all year and will try to show it once again against the Hoosiers.
Notre Dame just gave head coach Marcus Freeman a new contract extension and this is what they are paying him for. This is a proud program and getting a win here could go a long way.
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 16: Mitchell Evans #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Notre Dame Stadium on November 16,… SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 16: Mitchell Evans #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Notre Dame Stadium on November 16, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame takes on Indiana in the CFP.
Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images
As for Indiana, they also finished the year with a record of 11-1. However, many see the Hoosiers as a good, not great team.
In the one “tough” matchup that they faced this year, Ohio State, Indiana was blown off the field. They had issues matching up with the Buckeyes physicality so this playoff bracket could be a challenge for them.
But who wins this game? Luckily, Newsweek Sports has you covered with our expert predictions.
Matt Levine: Having this game in South Bend should give Notre Dame an edge within the game but we’ve seen them falter before. Earlier in the year, the Fighting Irish lost to Northern Illinois on this field. However, that all seems like a distant memory at this point.
In my first prediction for this game, I had Notre Dame easily taking care of the Hoosiers. But the more that I thought about it all, Indiana could make this a fun game. I still have the Fighting Irish taking the win but Indiana didn’t come to the College Football Playoff just to make an appearance.
Prediction: Notre Dame 30, Indiana 28
Valentina Martinez: Notre Dame is red hot, positioning the Fighting Irish for a strong victory. Additionally, Indiana’s offense struggled against the defenses of Michigan and Ohio State.
Prediction: Notre Dame 32, Indiana 27
Ricardo Sandoval: The Fighting Irish will win the first and only game on Friday to crush the spirits of Indiana, who surprisingly had a very good season.
Prediction: Notre Dame 30, Indiana 21
For more college football news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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