In a clash of college football titans, the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-2) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14-1) will face off in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It is a matchup of two of the most storied programs in college football history, each seeking to add another chapter to their legacies.
The game opened with Ohio State as a 9.5-point favorite, but action has seen the spread drop to -8. For Ohio State backers, this presents an opportunity to get a more favorable number. If the line stabilizes at -8, it might suggest a balanced market. But if it ticks back up toward -9, it indicates renewed confidence in the Buckeyes' dominance. If the line continues to move toward Notre Dame (say, to +7.5 or +7), it signals even stronger market confidence in the team's ability to compete or potentially pull off an outright upset.
Line movement tells a story: Bettors are seeing a tighter contest than originally expected. In a game as monumental as the national championship, focus on picking the outright winner and let the spread guide how you manage your bets from there.
Here's a breakdown of Ohio State and Notre Dame, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each team, along with insights on the side, total, props, and a final prediction.
All odds are accurate as of time stamp. All times Eastern. For the latest odds go to ESPN BET.
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Breaking down the game| Spread/total | Player props | Live betting tips
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T
Ohio State Buckeyes (-8, 45.5) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Monday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Records: Notre Dame 12-3, 4-1 vs. AP Top 25 teams; Ohio State 11-2, 3-1 vs. AP Top 25 teams
Opening Line: Ohio State -9.5, O/U 46.5
Money line: Ohio State (-380); Notre Dame (+290)
Over/Under: 45.5 (O -115, U 105)
FPI Projection Ohio State by 1.9 points (55.3% chance to win)