The Big Ten is guaranteed one team in the College Football Playoff championship game with No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon facing off in the semifinals at the Peach Bowl.
The Hoosiers and Ducks are familiar foes with the sides meeting in October, and Indiana emerging with an important road win that helped catapult the Hoosiers to their first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1967 season.
Oregon will be looking for some payback and has some history on its side. In the six repeat meetings among Power Four teams that have occurred in the Bowl Alliance, the Bowl Championship Series and College Football Playoff, all six have been one by the team that lost the regular-season game.
Will the Ducks make it seven or will Indiana continue its run toward a national title that would have seemed crazy two years ago? Our experts weigh in with their picks.
Indiana vs. Oregon predictions for Peach Bowl
Matt Hayes
Nothing has changed since that October game in Eugene. While the Ducks played well defensively in a quarterfinal win over Texas Tech, Indiana’s offense is light years from what the Red Raiders showed last week. Oregon couldn’t stop the Hoosiers in October, and won’t again. Indiana 37, Oregon 17.
Jordan Mendoza
Can Indiana beat Oregon twice? Both teams are coming off dominant showings in the quarterfinal, and the Hoosiers are going to have their hands full trying to stop a defense that has greatly improved. However, Indiana has that clutch gene that has showed up all season, and it won’t go away in the semifinal. Fernando Mendoza tosses the ball around effectively and Oregon will have several chances to respond, but can’t get past Indiana and the No. 1 team in the playoff makes the national championship game. Indiana 29, Oregon 27.
Paul Myerberg
It will take a mammoth effort to take down Indiana. But Oregon can get it done on defense, as shown in the Orange Bowl. The Ducks should learn from this year’s 30-20 loss to Indiana and bring new ideas to the table on offense. But it’s going to take something inventive to take down the Hoosiers. Indiana 37, Oregon 23.
Erick Smith
If Indiana believed in history then it never would be two games from a national championship. So the fact that no team in national title contention in the last 30 years has beaten a team twice in the same season shouldn’t be a concern. That said, Oregon still presents a significant challenge and probably the toughest game remaining. Look for the familiarity of that regular-season game to help the Ducks and Dante Moore improve their play and eke out a dramatic victory. Oregon 23, Indiana 21.
Eddie Timanus
A pick-six made the score of the first meeting between the Hoosiers and Ducks look closer than the game actually was. Indiana mostly dominated the action. Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza will not repeat the miscues of the first encounter, and Indiana will move on to the title game. Indiana 35, Oregon 17.
Blake Toppmeyer
The last Indiana-Oregon matchup in Eugene was competitive, but I didn’t retain much doubt as to who the better team was when it finished. Indiana looked superior.
Why should a rematch at a neutral site, three time zones away from Oregon, go any differently? It shouldn’t.
Dominant though Oregon was against Texas Tech, Indiana looked even better against Alabama. Time and again, the Hoosiers prove they have the nation’s most complete team.
Oregon’s defense is good. Indiana’s is better. The Ducks’ quarterback is good. Indiana’s is better. We can play this game at a number of positions. Oregon is good. Maybe, even really good. Indiana is just better. Indiana 31, Oregon 21.
When is the Peach Bowl: Indiana vs Oregon time, date
The Peach Bowl is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9.
Where is the Peach Bowl?
The Peach Bowl is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Peach Bowl odds: Indiana vs Oregon
Odds per BetMGM.
Spread: Indiana (-3.5)
Over/under: 46.5
Moneyline: Indiana (-180)
