National Championship Best Betting Picks, Predictions For Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

By - Finn January 20, 2025 Comments (0) 8 Mins Read

Oct 19, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Crowing a national champion signals a farewell to college football before the sport goes on a seven-month hiatus.

For bettors, the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between Notre Dame and Ohio State marks one last opportunity to score until August.

Various sportsbooks offer a variety of plays for the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish. The following three bets could help players finish the season strong before research begins for the 2025 campaign.

Riley Leonard 200-plus passing yards, +160 (DraftKings)

Notre Dame’s rushing offense enters the National Championship Game averaging 210.8 rushing yards per game, while Ohio State is allowing fewer than 90 yards per game on the ground. This sets up one of Monday’s defining subplots.

The Fighting Irish will likely struggle to pound the ball against the Buckeyes’ stout front seven early. Instead, they will need Riley Leonard to spread out Ohio State’s defense by attacking through the air.

The dual-threat quarterback Leonard averages a modest 173.7 passing yards per game and has exceeded 200 yards just six times. However, two of those came in the Playoff, including 223 yards against an outstanding Penn State defense.

Ohio State boasts the nation’s best passing defense, allowing just 161.1 passing yards per game. That’s why the odds on this bet are set where they are. However, with Leonard’s rushing ability and Notre Dame likely to attack the perimeter, the Irish quarterback could nickel-and-dime his way to 200 yards.

Stake SportsBook Bonus

$100,000 Daily Race

For help with a gambling problem, call or text the NCPG – (1-800-522-4700)

Play now

Ohio State 1st Field-Goal Attempt, +490 (FanDuel)

Ohio State has scored touchdowns in all three of its Playoff wins—and, at +230 odds via FanDuel, the Buckeyes extending that streak to four games is worth a look. However, before the postseason began, Ohio State struggled to start fast against the better defenses it faced.

Against Michigan, the Buckeyes settled for a field goal; against Penn State, they threw a pick-six; and against Nebraska, they turned the ball over on downs during their first possession. The Notre Dame defense is statistically the best Ohio State will face this season, having set the tone throughout their schedule.

In fact, Notre Dame has not surrendered an opening-drive touchdown since October 12 against Stanford. The Irish’s streak includes all three Playoff games, forcing Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State to punt on their initial possessions.

Ohio State’s first drive resulting in a punt is listed at +110, so taking the chance on the Buckeyes reaching field-goal range offers a higher potential payout. A drive ending in a takeaway is also intriguing at +500, given Notre Dame’s nation-leading turnover creation.

Stake SportsBook Bonus

$100,000 Daily Race

For help with a gambling problem, call or text the NCPG – (1-800-522-4700)

Play now

Over 45.5, -110 (FanDuel)

Although a matchup between two of the sport’s premier defenses suggests a low-scoring affair, you would have to go all the way back to the 2012 BCS Championship Game between Alabama and LSU for the last title game that produced a total under Notre Dame and Ohio State’s 45.5. That game featured a historically dominant Crimson Tide defense facing a shaky LSU offense with quarterback issues.

Past results have no direct bearing on the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish, but they do reflect a few realities about national championship games. Many past matchups have been lopsided, with one side able to pile up the points.

Ohio State has proven capable of turning matchups with top-tier teams into routs, as seen in their blowouts of Tennessee and Oregon. If Monday’s contest is competitive, it will likely be due to both teams having balance despite their excellent defenses.

Will Howard and the Ohio State passing attack were electric in the first two Playoff wins, while Notre Dame’s Leonard rose to the occasion as both a rusher and passer against outstanding Georgia and Penn State defenses.

Whether it’s a blowout or a down-to-the-wire nail-biter—and considering this is the final game of the season, most fans are hoping for the latter—look for the over to hit.

Stake SportsBook Bonus

$100,000 Daily Race

For help with a gambling problem, call or text the NCPG – (1-800-522-4700)

Play now

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