Following a pair of enthralling semifinal showdowns in the College Football Playoff, oddsmakers have installed Ohio State as the clear favorite, with a 9 1/2-point edge over Notre Dame in the title game set for January 20 in Atlanta. The Buckeyes, with a record of 13-2 and seeded eighth in the inaugural 12-team CFP format, will be up against the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish, who stand at 14-1.
Leading sportsbooks such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetRivers are in agreement, unanimously favoring Ohio State over Notre Dame. However, there is a discrepancy in the predicted total score. BetRivers has set the over/under at 45 1/2 points, while the other two books have placed it slightly higher at 46 1/2.
Ohio State’s journey to the championship clash included a crucial 28-14 victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, marking their third triumph in the new CFP format. The Buckeyes clinched their spot in the title game with two touchdowns in the closing seven minutes of the game. The decisive play came when defensive lineman Jack Sawyer forced a fumble from Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, securing the ball and dashing 83 yards to score, sealing Ohio State’s advancement.
Notre Dame secured their spot in the title game with a breathtaking 27-24 win over Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard field goal with just seven seconds remaining proved to be the game-winning play for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame also battled through three playoff games to earn their place in the championship showdown.
