#9 Alabama vs. #1 Indiana Early Odds & Leans: Rose Bowl Insights

Nate Hornung

Written by: Nate Hornung

Published: Tue Dec 23, 2025, 5:20 pm ET

Read Time: 5 minutes

Could Fernando Mendoza have a Heisman winner hangover? Alabama Indiana Early Odds

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New Year's Day is full of fantastic college football, but there's one bowl game that is just a little different from the rest, considering the stadium is literally named after the bowl itself. Of course, we are headed out to Pasadena as I am talking about the Rose Bowl, this year featuring the best team in the country and a potential CFP Cinderella. The No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Oklahoma Sooners and now face the top ranked Indiana Hoosiers out west. Let's look at the early odds for this matchup.

Go check out what else I've got on the slate for bowl season, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.

#9 Alabama vs. #1 Indiana Rose Bowl Insights

Germie Bernard and Alabama got past Oklahoma, can they take down the top ranked Hoosiers? Alabama Indiana Early Odds

Germie Bernard and Alabama got past Oklahoma, can they take down the top ranked Hoosiers?

Alabama went into Norman, Oklahoma and kicked the piss out of the Sooners. They fell down 17-0 on the road to a team they already lost to with absolutely no running game. And did they roll over and die? Nope. They responded with 24 unanswered points, tying things up at 17 by halftime and taking a lead early in the third. In total, they outscored the Sooners 34-7 in the final 40 minutes of game time to beat them by double digits in a hostile environment. But now they face the prefect Hoosiers.

Indiana is 13-0 this year with an undefeated regular season, a Big Ten Championship, and Heisman winning quarterback in their locker room. They seem to be unstoppable, but they still have a LONG way to go before hoisting the trophy of their dreams. I'm a bit worried this team is almost too hot too early, but let's look at the odds and discuss.

Matchup Information – Alabama vs. Indiana – January 1

  • Venue & Location: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)
  • Date: Thursday, January 1, 2025
  • Kick Off: 4:00 p.m. Eastern
  • Broadcast: ESPN

Alabama vs. Indiana Betting Odds

Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel Sportsbook, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of December 23, 2025 at 4:46 p.m. eastern. Sign up today and get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 slot spins right away. Lucky Rebel offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.

Spread

  • Alabama +6.5 (-102)
  • Indiana -6.5 (-119)

Moneyline

  • Alabama +205
  • Indiana -260

Total

  • Over 48.5 (-110)
  • Under 48.5 (-110)

Could there be a Big Ten Championship hangover? What about a Heisman hangover? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves when breaking down this game. Did Ohio State really care about winning the conference championship? Or did they ease up to save themselves for the field of 12 playoff, making things easier on the Hoosiers?

#9 Alabama vs. #1 Indiana Rose Bowl Early Leans

Elijah Sarratt and Indiana are three wins away from a National Championship - Alabama Indiana Early Odds

Elijah Sarratt and Indiana are three wins away from a National Championship

After Friday night's game, Alabama looks very dangerous, yet they were still held to just 2/12 on third down and to 260 total yards. Facing an Indiana defense could be even tougher to move the ball, and sharps clearly think so too. The total has ticked down from the opening to 48.5 where it sits now, and I certainly lean this way too.

If you like the under, I'm not sure if it's going to move back up. But perhaps on game day when the Average Joe wakes up from New Year's Eve hungover and wants to root for points. As for a side, this does seem like too many to me. Alabama might be the most dangerous team left on their side of the bracket, and a win in this game would certainly set them up as a favorite against either Oregon or Texas Tech, regardless of who wins.

I'm still not sure how I'll play this one, but if the spread moves too much on either side I'll be willing to pounce. My gut tells me the Hoosiers get one more win before going down, but covering the touchdown might be asking too much, especially in what I expect to be a low scoring game.

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Nate Hornung
Nate Hornung

Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.

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