We have reached the College Football Playoff title game and the matchup couldn’t be better. The Ohio State Buckeyes will be taking on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a battle of two heavyweights.
Ohio State took down the Texas Longhorns to reach this point while Notre Dame outlasted the Penn State Nittany Lions. Both sides have an argument to make about why they should be seen as the favorites entering this game but only one can leave as champions.
The Buckeyes have been on a roll since losing to rival Michigan in the last game of their regular season. They seemed to take that loss personally and it has fueled them throughout this playoff run.
As for Notre Dame, they enter this game only having lost once all season. But this is a very different Fighting Irish team than the one who dropped a home game to Northern Illinois earlier in the year.
But who wins this battle of battled-tested teams? Newsweek Sports has expert predictions to get you ready for this anticipated contest.
Matt Levine: Notre Dame has been one of the more impressive teams in the College Football Playoff so far this season, with their defense leading the way. But their biggest challenge remains as they get set to take on Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have one of the best offenses in the sport and they seem primed to shred the Fighting Irish defense apart. The key will be getting quarterback Will Howard off to a good start in the game.
If he settles in, it could be an easy day for Ohio State. But Howard has been prone to some bad games which could open the door for Notre Dame. However, in the end, the Buckeyes are too talented and claim their first title since the first-ever College Football Playoff.
Prediction: Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 14
Ryan Stano: Ohio State is coming into the National Championship Game as hot as any team has ever come into that final game.
Notre Dame plays a ton of man-to-man, which is ripe for Ohio State’s offense.
Jeremiah Smith absolutely shreds man coverage and will do so again in this game. Ohio State’s defense isn’t getting enough credit, though. They will hold Notre Dame to less than two touchdowns.
Prediction: Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 10
Valentina Martinez: The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish are set to face off in the College Football Playoff National Championship. This game is a tale of two defenses, but Ohio State will take home the glory.
Prediction: Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 17
Ricardo Sandoval: The championship match is as highly profiled as one can be while also being one that no one expected.
The No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes will fight tooth and nail for their ninth title in school history, while the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will seek their 12th title.
These two programs are among the best in college football, and both have had unconventional paths to get to this spot. The Buckeyes are the huge favorites in this one, with a -8.5 spread.
While I expect the Buckeyes to win this game, it will be closer than the experts think.
Prediction: Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 20
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