Ohio State is the most talented team in the nation. This past month has been more impressive than at any point for any team this season. Naturally, he is the favorite to win the national championship.
But the Buckeyes know how easy it is to fall from your perch.
When it won its most recent national title 10 years ago, Ohio State and its third-string quarterback (Cardale Jones) entered Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and Oregon State by six points in a 22-point victory. and left.
Another national championship in the 21st century came despite an 11-point deficit, ending Miami's winning streak at 34. In between those titles, Heisman winner Troy Smith and the undefeated Buckeyes lost to Florida.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame odds
| team | spread | money line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| ohio | -8.5 (-115) | -400 | 45.5 or higher (-110) |
| notre dame cathedral | +8.5 (-105) | +310 | Less than 45.4 (-110) |
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame predictions
If Ohio State wins, it will be the first national championship in 17 years with two losses. At their best, the Buckeyes can embarrass Notre Dame. However, it's not hard to imagine that Ohio State won't be able to reach its potential like it did in the regular season.
This team is a 21-point favorite with 10 points left, a month away from scoring, and will need late goal-line stands to beat Texas and Penn State, and a fourth-quarter loss to Nebraska. faced an inferiority.
Ohio State's coach (Ryan Day) continues to lose his biggest games, with his only appearance in the national championship game ending in a 38-point loss.
The Buckeyes' offensive coordinator (Chip Kelly) also appeared in one national title game as head coach, leading the University of Oregon's top offense to 19 points in the 2011 title game loss to Auburn. Quarterback Will Howard has five interceptions in the past five games.
Superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was held to one catch for three yards in the semifinals. The ground game against the Longhorns was limited to 3.4 yards per carry.
Recent blueprints are a bonus. Notre Dame has the structure and discipline to play blind, riding the nation's No. 2 defense to win 13 straight and going 11-1-1 against the spread. In the playoffs, the Irish are allowing an average of 17 points per game.
They force the most turnovers in the nation and rank fourth in interceptions. The gap between Ohio State and Notre Dame widened in 2022-23, but the Irish still held the Buckeyes to an average of 19 points over two games.
Unfortunately for the Irish, Ohio State's defense is even stronger and even better at stopping the run and rushing the passer. Notre Dame's inability to hit home runs and injuries to the offensive line gave the Buckeyes defense a huge advantage in this game.
Still, the biggest mismatch in college football's national championships regularly produces surprises. Since BCS was introduced in 1998, favorites with six or more points have lost more games than won (6 wins, 8 losses), covering 4 out of 14 games.
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Admittedly, it's hard to imagine how Notre Dame would score enough points to win, but it shouldn't be hard to imagine the Irish holding a close lead in an ugly lock battle. is.
Pick: Notre Dame +8.5 (-110, ESPN BET)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Doug Kezirian is a contributor to the New York Post and currently serves as chief content officer at sports betting media company Only Players. Doug has over 20 years of experience in the betting field, including 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He is also a rare record of success – 14th place at the 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas Supercontest ($37,000) and two top-10 finishes at the 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58,000). He made headlines for winning an additional $297,000 in the 2021 NFL Draft.
