The Old Dominion Monarchs take on the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington, IN, on Saturday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
Indiana is favored by 23.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -3200. The total is set at 53.5 points.
Here’s my Old Dominion vs Indiana prediction and college football picks for Saturday, August 30.
Old Dominion Monarchs vs Indiana Hoosiers Prediction, Picks
- Old Dominion vs Indiana Pick: Old Dominion +23.5 (-105)
My Indiana vs Old Dominion best bet is on the Monarchs to cover as three-touchdown underdogs. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Old Dominion vs Indiana Odds, Spread, Lines
| Old Dominion Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+24 -110 | 53.5 -110o / -110u | +1350 |
| Indiana Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-24 -110 | 53.5 -110o / -110u | -2800 |
- Old Dominion vs Indiana Spread: Indiana -24 (-115), Old Dominion +24
- Old Dominion vs Indiana Over/Under: 53.5 Points
- Old Dominion vs Indiana Moneyline: Old Dominion +1350, Indiana -2800
Old Dominion vs Indiana Week 1 Pick to Bet
Indiana had a miraculous 2024 season, posting an 11-2 record in the first year under head coach Curt Cignetti.
But the Hoosiers lost a ton of production from last year’s stacked roster. They did a good job filling those holes in the transfer portal (especially on offense), but I especially worried about the defensive front (which returns only Mikail Kamara).
Creating Havoc was the strength of the Hoosiers’ defense last season, and if they take a step back in that department this year, it will really open up the door for Old Dominion star quarterback Colton Joseph.
Joseph took over as the full-time starter in Week 6 of last season, and he took the offense to another level. Across eight starts, the redshirt freshman threw for 1,627 yards with 11 touchdowns while adding 647 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He ranked fifth among Sun Belt players in total offense, and he could improve this season with more experience under his belt.
On the other side of the ball, Old Dominion has arguably the best linebacker corps in the Group of Five. All-American linebacker Jason Henderson returns after a season-ending injury in Week 1 last season, and he is joined by fellow returnees Mario Thompson, Jahleel Culbreath, and Koa Naotala to form a stout group that should slow down this Indiana rushing attack.
The team was excellent at not wasting possessions last season. They had the best red-zone offense in the country, consistently capitalizing on scoring opportunities. That will be key when trying to stay within a considerable number against a Big Ten opponent.
Head coach Ricky Rahne’s teams have shown they are not afraid of the moment in early-season games.
In 2022, the Monarchs upset Virginia Tech in the season opener and lost by two at Virginia on a game-winning field goal.
In 2023, they lost by three to Wake Forest after leading in the fourth quarter.
Last season, Old Dominion largely outplayed South Carolina in Columbia, but four turnovers gave the Gamecocks easy touchdowns to escape with just a four-point win.
Indiana ran up the score against all its non-conference opponents last year, but I still think the Hoosiers are getting too much love in this spot. The Hoosiers are patching a lot of holes, while the Monarchs have stars on both sides of the ball that consistently stepped up against higher-level competition.
Pick: Old Dominion +23.5
