Ohio State vs. Notre Dame Expert Picks: ATS Pick, Player Props, Touchdown Predictions
Two of the biggest brand names in college football clash in tonight's CFP National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. We've rounded up our top Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks ahead of the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN.
Ohio State and Notre Dame have made it to the first-ever championship of the 12-team College Football Playoff as the eighth and seventh seeds, respectively. Ohio State, an 8.5-point betting favorite tonight, also opened as the favorite by the 2026 CFP national championship odds.
Our Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks include an ATS pick, player props, and a touchdown scorer prediction for the national championship.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks
- Against the spread pick: Notre Dame +9.5 (-112 via BetRivers) vs. Ohio State ⭐⭐⭐
- Player prop pick: Riley Leonard Under 178.5 passing yards (-115 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Touchdown scorer prediction: TreVeyon Henderson anytime touchdown scorer (+105 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
Don't miss Rob Paul's Ohio State vs. Notre Dame parlay picks for a shot at a +3000 payday!
Best Ohio State vs. Notre Dame picks
Notre Dame to cover the spread: +9.5 ⭐⭐⭐
Best odds: -112 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 52.83%
Although I'm predicting the Buckeyes will take home the national championship in our Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks, I think it could be a tougher fight than the spread anticipates. Expecting the Buckeyes to record a double-digit win against this Notre Dame team really underestimates how tough and well-coached the Irish are this season - and how frequently Freeman's squad covers as a dog.
While Notre Dame has only been an underdog seven times during Freeman's reign as the king of South Bend, the Irish are 6-1 against the spread and 4-3 straight up in those games. That includes covering as a 15-point underdog against the Buckeyes in 2022. Notre Dame has also covered in 11 straight games this season.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame prediction made by Rob Paul.
Riley Leonard Under 178.5 passing yards ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best odds: -115 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.49%
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The most obvious reason Ohio State is more than a touchdown favorite against Notre Dame is because of the Fighting Irish's one-dimensional offense. While Leonard has showcased his ability as a runner, he's been unpredictable as a passer this season.
The Duke transfer has thrown for fewer than 179 yards in nine of 15 games (60%) and has more turnover-worthy plays (three) than big-time throws (two) in the College Football Playoff. It doesn't help his case that Notre Dame's pass catchers struggle to separate and not one of them ranks in the top 200 in the country in yards per route run.
Now he's taking on the No. 1 defense by SP+ which allows the fewest passing yards per game in the country (161.1). To make matters worse, Notre Dame is playing with a banged up O-line against a pass rush led by Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, who have a combined 108 pressures this season.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame player prop picks made by Rob Paul.
TreVeyon Henderson anytime touchdown scorer ⭐⭐⭐
Best odds: +105 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 48.78%
Attempting to pick the correct anytime touchdown scorer in Ohio State's backfield can often feel like shooting fish in a barrel from 100 yards away ... with a Nerf gun.
Quinshon Judkins and Henderson have 13 and 11 total touchdowns, respectively, so it's no surprise to see both with relatively short anytime touchdown odds in the national championship. The latter has been the marginally hotter hand as of late with five touchdowns to Judkins' four throughout the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame anytime touchdown scorer predictions made by Gabe Henderson.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks & predictions
- Ohio State vs. Notre Dame prediction
- Ohio State vs. Notre Dame player prop picks
- Ohio State vs. Notre Dame parlay picks
- Ohio State vs. Notre Dame anytime touchdown scorer predictions
- Will Howard player props
- Riley Leonard player props
- Ohio State vs. Notre Dame preview
CFP National Championship game info
- When: Monday, Jan. 20
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- How to watch: ESPN
- Weather: Indoors
- Favorite: Ohio State -8.5 (-108 via FanDuel)
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