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 against Texas 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.
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, although it has gone up to 46.5 since.
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.
Notre Dame vs. Ohio State odds
Expert picks against the spread
More CFP coverage
Ohio State fans and Ryan Day: From love to hate to love again, with an asterisk
Nobody is more Ohio State than Jack Sawyer. The Cotton Bowl’s defining play had to be his
Notre Dame, Ohio State already own college football’s worst losses by national champions
Mandel: Dramatic semifinals set up perfect finale in first 12-team Playoff
Ubben: Ohio State’s run to national championship game doesn’t happen without Michigan
(Photo of TreVeyon Henderson: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
