The final of the first 12-team College Football Playoff is set, as the Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Both of these teams have won three straight playoff games to reach this point and will look to cap off their season with one last win over an elite opponent. Ohio State is favored by 9.5 points going into this game, while the total for the game has been set at 46.5.
Here, we will break down Ohio State vs Notre Dame from a betting perspective. Continue reading to get our keys to this titanic showdown, as well as our best bet for the game. We have locked up a profitable college football betting season already and will look to get one final win in the final game of the year from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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Ohio State Favored to Win National Title
The Ohio State Buckeyes were questioned at times this season, with many calling for the firing of head coach Ryan Day after their loss to Oregon. But Ohio State bounced back from that loss and their loss to Michigan by running through the first three rounds of the College Football Playoff to get to the national title game. Now the question is whether or not Ohio State can live up to this game’s college football odds by winning as a favorite.
For Ohio State to win this game, they are going to need to stop Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard on the ground. Leonard is a solid passer, but his ability to pick up first downs on the ground and keep drives going is what has made him especially impactful. If the Buckeyes can prevent that from happening, they will silence Day’s critics and win another national title.
Can Notre Dame Wake Up the Echoes, Win Title?
It was a gutsy performance from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. They came back from an early double-digit deficit to beat Penn State and earn their place in the national title game. Now Notre Dame is one win away from their first national championship since the 1988 season, when Lou Holtz was their coach.
Taking Jeremiah Smith away from the Ohio State passing attack will be the number-one key to this game for Notre Dame. Texas did a great job of taking Smith away and nearly tied the game late in the fourth quarter before a late goal line stand from the Buckeyes. If Notre Dame can do something similar against Smith, the Fighting Irish could win this game outright as an underdog if they avoid mistakes on offense.
Ohio State vs Notre Dame Prediction
In the Ohio State vs Notre Dame matchup for the national championship, we are going to take the points with Notre Dame. Ohio State is simply playing the best football of anyone in the country right now. But nearly double-digits is way too big a margin in a game where the Notre Dame defense should be able to compete for large stretches. Look for Ohio State to win but for the margin to be closer to a touchdown in Atlanta.
