No. 7 Notre Dame takes on No. 8 Ohio State in the battle for the 2025 NCAAF Championship. Both teams are hungry for success, with the Fighting Irish hoping to end their championship drought dating back to 1988. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are looking to reclaim glory for the first time since 2014. Judging by the odds, they’re likely to succeed.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Odds

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When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
• Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• How to Watch: ESPN

Reasons Why Ohio State Buckeyes are -9.5 Favorites

In their final game of the regular season, the Ohio State Buckeyes lost to their archrivals Michigan Wolverines for the fourth time in a row. The loss put coach Ryan Day under pressure, but in just a few weeks, he managed to flip the narrative.

While missing out on the Big Ten title, it’s now a distant memory as the Buckeyes eye an even greater prize – the National Championship. They’re coming to Atlanta as huge favorites, which is no surprise as their roster is packed with amazing players.

Central to their success in the 2024-25 college football campaign is freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Despite being in his first college season, Smith is already considered one of the top WRs in the nation.

He’s been incredible throughout the College Football Playoff, racking up 13 catches, 293 yards, and four touchdowns. The best thing is that Smith is just one on a long list of elite receivers that quarterback Will Howard has at his disposal.

Emeka Egbuka, a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is there as well, and this guy tends to shine in big games. Ohio State also has two incredible running backs, TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, which makes this team a real offensive superpower.

As if all this wasn’t enough to consider the Buckeyes the best team in the nation, their defense has been incredible as well. The fact that they haven’t conceded more than 21 points since early October shows that these guys mean business.

Can Notre Dame Produce Anything on January 20?

Following a gritty 27-24 victory over No. 6 Penn State in the CFP semifinals, the Fighting Irish are just a win away from claiming their first national championship since 1988. They booked the ticket to the Atlanta showdown by being constantly solid in the defense.

Under third-year head coach Marcus Freeman, they’ve got a defense that ranks second in the FBS, allowing just 14.3 points per game. They’ve been thriving on forcing opposition mistakes, leading the nation with 32 takeaways and a +15 turnover margin.

In fact, a clutch interception by Christian Gray against Penn State was what led to the game-winning field goal. Defensive coordinator Al Golden will need his unit to step up once more, but it won’t be easy as they’re squaring off against arguably the best offense in the nation.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Prediction

The strongest weapon of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is their defense. The question is whether they’re good enough to stop the Ohio State Buckeyes’ offense. We don’t think they are.

In fact, we’re certain that the Buckeyes will win this game thanks to their superb offensive play, but we’re not 100% positive whether they’ll cover the 9.5-point spread. After all, there’s so much at stake here, which is why the Fighting Irish are bound to go all-in.

Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes & Over 45 Points