Ohio State and Notre Dame will square off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN), and we bring you our expert predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame.
The Buckeyes are the favorite to win the College Football Playoff Championship after defeating Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas by a score of 111-52.
Ohio State's Will Howard and Jack Sawyer lead the way in the CFP National Championship MVP voting.
The Buckeyes are an 8-point favorite over Notre Dame at our soccer betting sites
Expert predictions for the CFP National Championship: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Soccer odds are subject to change. Check out all of our college soccer predictions for more of this week's top matchups.
| Matchup | Rob Paul | Gabe Henderson |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Ohio State (-350 via BetMGM) | Ohio State (-350 at BetMGM) |
| Spread | Notre Dame +9.5 (-112 via BetRivers) | Ohio State -8 (-110 via ESPN BET) |
| Over/Under | Under 46.5 (-110 via Caesars) | Over 46.5 (-110 via Caesars) |
| Best player prop | J. Smith to win offensive MVP (+400 via FanDuel) | C. Downs to win defensive MVP (+300 via DraftKings) |
| Anytime touchdown scorer prediciton | T. Henderson anytime touchdown scorer (+105 via FanDuel) | J. Love anytime touchdown scorer (+175 via BetMGM) |
My comparative analysis of the Ohio State vs Notre Dame matchup.
Best predictions for the Ohio State vs Notre Dame matchup
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Ohio State vs Notre Dame prediction: Jeremiah Smith to win CFP National Championship Game 2025 Offensive MVP ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The two best players to take the field in the National Championship Game won't even be in the odds race for the 2025 NFL Draft, but that doesn't mean they can't both be named MVP.
Obviously, he's a physical freak. But the subtle body tilt and head shake to manipulate DBs on that route is really, really good, especially for a rookie.
While Gabe is backing sophomore Caleb Downs to be the defensive MVP, I'm picking freshman Jeremiah Smith to get the award on offense. Sure, Texas pretty much shut him down in the Cotton Bowl, but the last time he failed to make a significant impact on the game (35 yards against Michigan), Chip Kelly gave him three points on the next play.
Since the loss to the Wolverines, Smith has totaled 14 touches for 295 yards and four TDs in games against Oregon and Tennessee. These defenses rank in the top five in the EPA in punt return yards per return, so Notre Dame's first place ranking in that metric shouldn't scare you off.
Smith is the Buckeyes' best playmaker and one of four players in the country with double-digit contested catches (12) and three-plus yards per route run (3.13), according to PFF. That's why he's the best offensive MVP among Bucs players, and a $10 bet will yield $40 in profit.
Best odds: +400 on FanDuel | Estimated odds: 20%.
Ohio State vs Notre Dame prediction: Caleb Downs will win CFP National Championship Game 2025 Defensive MVP ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Caleb Downs may be the best player on the field - and that's saying a lot considering the abundance of NFL talent on every sideline. He has a knack for changing the game, as evidenced by his statistics in our Ohio State soccer preview. Downs knows a thing or two about the flashy fundamentals needed to stand out on the biggest stages.
The defensive back has won six of the 10 defensive MVP awards since the award for winning a national championship was introduced a decade ago. With the Bucs being a significant odds-on favorite, the winner of the award will likely come from their defense.
Our top sports bookmakers are betting on Downs to win at +300 odds, giving him a 25% implied probability. A $10 bet on the defender being named MVP would yield $30 profit.
Best odds: +300 at DraftKings | Implied probability: 25%.
