The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship kicks off between the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes on Monday, Jan. 19.
While there are plenty of wagers across the board for a game of this magnitude, I took a deep dive into an important but overlooked phase of the game: special teams.
I found 2 special teams bets for Monday's national title game, so let's take a look at my National Championship picks and Indiana vs. Miami predictions for Jan. 19.
National Championship Picks, Odds
| Indiana Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 47.5 -105o / -115u | -350 |
| Miami Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 47.5 -105o / -115u | +280 |
Both Miami and Indiana are close in special teams rankings, per SP+, as both national title teams sit just outside the top 20.
The ability to identify hidden yards through special teams could help predict the battles of field position and available yardage when it comes to reaching scoring position.
The Hurricanes may have the advantage in punting, as Dylan Joyce leads a top-20 punt efficiency unit. The third-year Hurricane has pinpointed 24-of-49 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
A large discrepancy also falls in Miami’s favor in terms of kickoff returns. The Hoosiers sit 112th in kickoff efficiency, per SportSource Analytics, as opponents have taken a fair catch on 4-of-116 kickoffs this season. Indiana ranks outside the top 75 of all FBS teams in average field position for returned kicks.
Miami should start with better field position for offensive drives thanks to the Hoosiers' poor kickoff coverage. In fact, Indiana keeps only 12% of opponent returns from reaching the 25.
Field-goal kicking, however, will fall on the side of Indiana thanks to the leg of Nico Radicic.
The junior has connected on all 84 PAT attempts and 16-of-17 field goals. The lone miss for Radicic came in the 30-39 yard range, as he hasn't had an attempt beyond 50 yards this season.
Miami kicker Carter Davis has also connected on all of his PAT attempts, but he has struggled from long distances. The senior’s numbers fall off from 40 yards and beyond, connecting on just 7-of-12 field goals from that range.
However, his lone 50-plus yard attempt at Hard Rock Stadium split the uprights against Florida in Week 4.
Miami and Indiana combine for an average of 2.3 field goals a game. Although the Hoosiers have one of the lowest numbers of attempts on the season, Radicic has connected on 3-of-4 attempts in recent games against Ohio State and Alabama.
Davis, meanwhile, has kicked a field goal in eight consecutive games, while also knocking through at least two in six different contests this season.
Indiana vs. Miami Special Teams Picks
The market lists total first-half field goals over 1.5 at plus-money, with recent history indicating value on the prop. Indiana has kicked at least one first-half field goal in five of its previous seven games.
As for Miami, there's value on its first score being a field goal at +160. The Hurricanes have started their scoring with Davis' leg in four of their previous six games.
Picks: Over 1.5 1H Field Goals · Miami's First Score: Field Goal (+160)
