It’s finally here. Game week between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Indiana Hoosiers has arrived. In the greatest setting of all, a sea of roses will surround two teams who don a shade of red come New Year’s Day in Pasadena.

So to gear up for the granddaddy of them all, our panel of college football experts got together to make final score predictions for the Rose Bowl on Thursday.

Alabama 27, Indiana 24

The Alabama Crimson Tide are playing with house money. All week, the mentality coming from Ty Simpson has been “us against the world.” Alabama has heard the noise for the last month that they don’t belong, and that they would lose in the quarterfinal.

Now, the Crimson Tide’s 17-point comeback on the road has brought in newfound confidence. That was before LT Overton was cleared to play and Josh Cuevas and Jam Miller got the green light to be full go. If Alabama can apply pressure on Mendoza and stay on schedule in the run game, I see no reason why the Crimson Tide can’t pull off the upset in Pasadena. Give me Bama in a tight one.

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Indiana 21, Alabama 17

Alabama is coming into this game having been through the wringer as of late. Georgia beat them down, and then Oklahoma took them to the wire in a game that was as physical as it gets. Bama is hurt, as everyone is at this time of year, but it is affecting Bama more than any of the other College Football Playoff teams.

Indiana is going to come in as the more physical team, and they’re going to win the line of scrimmage outright. However, this isn’t going to be some blowout game, at least I don’t think it will. Indiana is good, but them playing Ohio State, who also played no one, showed that both teams may not be as good or dominant as everyone thinks. I have Indiana in this one, but in a close game. – Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports College Football

Indiana 27 Alabama 23

I think both of these teams, on paper, have glaring questions coming into the matchup that could end up deciding the game. The Hoosiers lost DL Stephen Daley, who led the nation in tackles for loss, to a season-ending injury that occurred in post-game celebrations during the Big 10 championship. He will be a tough player for Indiana to replace, and they are set to face an Alabama offense that has struggled to run the ball consistently. If this injury allows Alabama to spark new life in the run game, it could mean trouble for Indiana.

For Alabama, their pass rush has been lackluster as of late, and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is not a QB you want to let get comfortable in the pocket for long. The Crimson Tide is getting back LT Overton, who should provide a boost, though. He likely isn’t at 100%, though, and I’d imagine it takes him some time to get back into the rhythm of things. I think this, along with Indiana’s offense, leads to Alabama being down early again, and I don’t think it can afford for that to happen against Indiana. Give me the Hoosiers to survive a potential Alabama comeback and to advance to the semifinal. – Destin Adams, A to Z Sports

Alabama 24, Indiana 20

Alabama is coming off a massive comeback win against Oklahoma with a ton of momentum to go with it. Indiana, meanwhile, will have a 25-day break between the Big 10 Championship and the Rose Bowl game against Alabama, which can cause the team to start slowly. Alabama needs to come out fast, establish the run, which they’ve struggled with, and let Ty Simpson find a rhythm early. It can’t wait until the second half to get hot again.

The defense is good enough to contain Fernando Mendoza enough, especially if it can get pressure with LT Overton back. This could be the top game in the second round if Alabama plays as it did in the second half for a full four quarters this time. Alabama wins the Rose Bowl 24-20 to continue its improbable run in the College Football Playoff. – Josh Taylor, A to Z Sports Alabama

Alabama Crimson Tide News

Ty Simpson’s sneak peek into Alabama’s mentality ahead of the Rose Bowl proves that the Crimson Tide is playing with house money

Alabama has a clear game plan heading into Thursday’s Rose Bowl.

Rob Gregson