It has come down to this. After five months of College football, and some teams not in the playoffs, after a few misteps buy the Comittee, Indiana and Miami will play for the Trophy in Miami, on Monday evening.

Very few people picked Miami vs. Indiana title matchup at the beginning of the season, but this is College football and anything is possible.

The Hoosiers enter as huge favourites, but the Canes could celebrate a great win at home, if they win a few postion battles .

ux Here are three matchups to watch out for, that will decide the outcome of this game, one way or the other.

Indiana D- Line vs Miami O Line:

Mario Cristobal’s coaching philosophy is built around putting massive behemoths of football players, to bully the opponent on a play by play basis. The matchup vs Indiana, numbers size should favour Miami. The Hurricanes starting offensive line, is pail in comparison, to the Hoosiers defensive front.

Unfortunately this is not a Sumo Wrestling weigh in. Despite been undersized leads the NCAA, in tackles for loss and are third in sacks. Indiana has six sacks, and 16 tackles for negative yardage,as Alabama and Oregon had no answer, for the Hossiers Defensive Line.

Miami’s offense success is gaged on running the ball early and often. Mark Fletcher Jr’s coming out party in the playoffs, is the main reason why Miami is here.He has averaged 131 yards a game. But the main reason is, Miami has had favourable matcups vs, the Aggies and Ole Miss who’s front were quite weak vs the run.

For the Hurricanes to succeed on Monday evening Fletcher and the running game have to be on point, and not put alot of pressue on Carson Beck’s hands to win the game buy himself.

Ruben Bain and the Defense vs. Fernando Mendoza:

This will be a strength vs strenght matchup. On the one side for Indiana, Fernando Mendoza is having a Cinderella seaosn. The Heisman winner has thrown 8 touchdown passes, while only hving 5 incommpletions. But this Miami defense, isnt Alabama or Oregon.

Ruben Bain and Akheem Mesidore are the two best rushers in the country. Expect both of these bookends to target Indiana right tackle Akeem Benson. Thats the one missing link, in Indiana’s offensive line, as he was burned multiple times vs Oregon.

Look for Mendoza and Indiana to get the ball out quickly, which Ole Miss had some success with last week. Indiana might speed up the tempo. Which is out of their normal tempo.

3rd-down defense vs 3rd down offense:

This is where the game will be won or lost for both teams. Indiana has had the largest point differential in CFP History, but breaking their opponents hearts every week. The Hoosiers like to get ot to big leads and run away in games. So they will have to excel in third down situations.

The hoosiers are a mind boggling 20- for 28 on third downs. Miam’s defense has come up big in third down defensse, these last few weeks. Ole miss and Ohio were a combinded 5 for 20 on third down, vs the Canes defense.

For Miam’s offense third down efficiency, is the number one statistic for their path to victory. The Hurricanes, wont be able to sustain a shootout with the Hoosiers, so long drives, sustaining the clock will be the key. Versus Ole Miss Carson Beck and the offense, were 13 for 22 combined on third and fourth down, and used up 23 minutes of possession, to their advantage.

Final Score and Prediction:

As all good things must come to a end. Miami’s defense will suffocate Indiana, as they have been doing all playoffs long, and their running game will flourish. Indiana hasnt really played this type of defense all season long. This game will be won in the trenches, and with their home crowd, and super fan and Alumni Michael Irvin cheering them on, the Canes will win a close one at the end.

Final Score: Miami 24 Indiana 21