Ohio State blew away its first two College Football Playoff opponents with dominant offensive displays. The Buckeyes added a win with a dominant defensive performance and are now heavily favored to win it all against Notre Dame in the national title game.
How to watch Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
The Buckeyes opened as 9.5-point favorites on BetMGM. OSU, the No. 8 seed in the field, has been a clear favorite in all three playoff games and covered in all three. Notre Dame has covered in all three as well, although the Fighting Irish were basically locked in pick ’em games against Georgia and Penn State.
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OSU’s high-flying offense was kept somewhat in check against Texas, which should give Notre Dame hope. The Fighting Irish boast the second-best scoring defense in the country (14.3 points per game), whereas Texas entered the semifinal fourth in that category. After starring in the first two rounds, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was held to one reception for three yards by the Longhorns. Notre Dame will hope to do the same, especially after allowing zero receptions to Penn State wide receivers in the semifinal. Despite a quiet game from Smith, Ohio State’s offense looked elite against Texas.
OSU has the best scoring defense in the country (12.2 points per game). Will Notre Dame’s offense be able to keep up with OSU’s while facing a nasty Buckeye defense?
The Irish have a solid run game with Jeremiyah Love leaping over defenders on a regular basis, and quarterback Riley Leonard is a threat with his legs as well. Notre Dame will hope to kill the clock and limit possessions for OSU’s dangerous offense. That’s easier said than done against Jack Sawyer and the Buckeyes’ defense.
The top-two scoring defenses in the country and a Notre Dame team that isn’t known for explosive passing plays? That’s a recipe for a low-scoring game. That’s why the point total opened at 45.5.
Ohio State leads the all-time series 6-2. Both of Notre Dame’s wins came before World War II. The other six meetings have all been in the last 30 years, including a home-and-home series over the past two seasons. Last season, Ohio State won 17-14 in South Bend, and the year before that, OSU won 21-10 in Columbus.
The Buckeyes last won a national title in the 2014 season. Notre Dame’s last title came back in the 1988 season.
Pick: Ohio State -9.5
Jeremiah Smith was kept in check by Texas’ stellar defense and Ohio State still beat Texas. Notre Dame’s pass defense is very good, but the Buckeyes just showed they can win a big game without Smith playing a major role. Favorites have been rolling in the CFP, going 9-1 outright and 8-2 against the spread. I’m sticking with that trend and the team with more offensive weapons, even with a spread big enough to erode some confidence in the pick.
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Notre Dame vs. Ohio State odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
|
-9.5 |
-400 |
||
|
45.5 |
+300 |
More CFP coverage
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Notre Dame used everything to beat Penn State. Did James Franklin provide extra juice?
Mandel’s Final Thoughts: Dramatic semifinals set up perfect finale in first 12-team Playoff
(Photo of TreVeyon Henderson: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
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