Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1/20/25 – An electrifying clash with all the necessary components for creating a blockbuster showdown is expected to be witnessed as the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-2) will up against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14-1) in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship. Ohio State and Notre Dame have always been known for their brutal defense and terrifying offense, and they are ready to display all of that for the world to see as they go head-to-head at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Buckeyes will take the field prepared to secure their victory after dominating the Texas team and taking them down with a score of 28-14, while looking to lower the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s esteem, which was built from beating Penn State with a score of 27-24.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1/20/25 Game Info
| When: | Monday, January 20, 2025, at 7:30 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeyes | -8 (-110) | Over 45.5 (-110) | -380 |  |
| Fighting Irish | +8 (-110) | Under 45.5 (-110) | +290 | |
| ||||
𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐩 vs Texas ✔️ pic.twitter.com/TtHswvr1rt
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 14, 2025
The oddsmakers favor Ohio State by eight points, reflecting their dominance in recent matchups with Notre Dame. Bettors eyeing Ohio State’s -380 moneyline should weigh their 6-0 record against the Irish. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s +290 moneyline offers a tempting return, bolstered by their stellar 10-0 ATS streak. For totals, the 45.5 line suggests a tightly contested, defensive battle. The UNDER could be a savvy play given Ohio State’s recent trends.
Will Howard (QB) vs. Steve Angeli (QB)
Ohio State has moved past the Notre Dame hurdle easily, and a big part of it has to be credited to Will Howard and his impressive 79% passer completion during the match, along with the 2 touchdowns he secured. In the end, Howard completed 72.6% of his passes while throwing for a total of 3,779 yards along with 33 touchdowns. He still had some lockdown passes and overall brought his A game during the field. Howard is bound to shine against Ohio State’s disciplined Irish defense during the next match.
However, Steve Angeli has successfully kept the Irish in the game despite how infrequently he is used. So far this season his game stats include throwing three touchdowns as well as completing around 69% of his passes, while Angeli successfully showed that he can be efficient while playing conservatively. However, as the next match against the Buckeyes approaches, Angeli’s focus will need to be on throwing more passes due to Ohio’s aggressive style.
Ohio State’s Dominance
Ohio State comes to this championship after defeating Texas, Oregon, and Tennessee in their last three matches, and looking great doing so. The offensive woes of the Buckeyes revolve around TreVeyon Henderson as the running back this season, who aided in racking up 967 rushing yards and scoring 10 touchdowns. On the other hand, wide out Jeremiah Smith has been superb, averaging 14 receivers on 17.3 yards, hoping to reach the mark of 14. Their variety of strategies left most of their rivals in disarray, but the close encounter with Michigan proved to be a concern for the Buckeyes, who lost to them 10-13.
Notre Dame’s Cinderella Run
Fighting Irish’s performance has been on an exceptional upward trajectory, owing to their victories over top-tier teams, which include Georgia and Penn State in their previous five games. Furthermore, Jeremiyah Love has been outstanding this season, scoring 17 touchdowns and acquiring a total of 1,121 rushing yards. To add to the praise, Jaden Greathouse has been exceptional with the two remaining ground catches, scoring 464 receiving yards. Defensively and offensively, Notre Dame is a powerhouse with great strength, but they struggle significantly in getting the offensive edge to win in a shootout.
Trends
Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends
Ohio State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Ohio State’s last 12 games.
Ohio State is 8-1 SU in their last 9 games.
Buckeyes are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games against Notre Dame.
Ohio State is 6-0 SU in their last 6 games against Notre Dame.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends
Notre Dame is 10-0 ATS in their last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Notre Dame’s last 20 games.
Notre Dame is 10-0 SU in their last 10 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Notre Dame’s last 5 games against Ohio State.
Notre Dame is 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Prediction
This game promises to be a battle of contrasting styles: Ohio State’s explosive offense against Notre Dame’s disciplined defense. The statistics from the previous matches in combination with the passing game put the Buckeyes in a comfortable position but one cannot ignore the strong ground game and ATS capabilities of Notre Dame.
Betting on Ohio State -8 (-110) does make sense, but if you feel that an upset is a possibility, then Notre Dame’s +290 would suit you nicely. Ohio State has some pretty competent defenders, which makes the UNDER 45.5 (-110) bet a reasonable decision.
Score Prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes 27, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 20.
Hilbert Mayer
Sports Writer
Hilbert Mayer is a professional sports writer, betting analyst, and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Before focusing on sports betting analysis and handicapping, Hilbert worked as a sports writer for various news outlets, covering everything from game recaps to in-depth matchup features. Today, he specializes in MLB, NFL, March Madness, and UFC betting, combining his journalistic background with deep statistical expertise and real-world betting insights. His proven track record, sharp reads, and ability to break down complex matchups make him a trusted voice among both casual bettors and seasoned sharps.
Published on: January 14, 2025
Last updated: March 28, 2025