Notre Dame and Ohio State don’t meet too often, so you can bet we’ll be tuned in with a ticket in our hand when these college football titans hook up Saturday night in South Bend.
Both teams are off to perfect starts this season, and both are shooting to stay that way through November when College Football Playoff bids are handed out. So this game might go a long way toward deciding who gets in and who doesn’t.
Which way are we going here with our free Ohio St./ND pick?
NCAAF Betting Odds
This week’s college football betting lines opened Notre Dame as a three-point home dog for Saturday, with an over/under of right around 54. Early betting action held that spread steady and bumped that total to 55.
Ohio State Betting Preview
The Buckeyes are 3-0 on the season after brushing off Western Kentucky last Saturday 63-10. Ohio State, favored by 30 points, only led that game 14-10 midway through the second quarter, then scored four touchdowns in eight minutes and had the spread covered at halftime. The Buckeyes then blanked the Hilltoppers from there to secure the win and the easy money.
Ohio State out-gained WKU 562-284, made the money, and was able to rest starters. The perfect warm-up for a Big Game.
The Buckeyes opened this season with a 23-3 win over Indiana but lost ATS at -30. They then eased through Youngstown State (FCS) 35-7 but came up short ATS at -44. But let’s face it, Ohio State’s season doesn’t really start until Saturday night.
The Buckeyes returned 14 starters this season from a team that made the CFP last season, where they shoulda-coulda beat Georgia in the Peach Bowl. They are, however, breaking in a new quarterback, after losing CJ Stroud to the pros.
Notre Dame Betting Preview
The Irish are 4-0 on the season after disposing of Central Michigan last Saturday 41-17. Notre Dame scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the game but only led 21-14 at the half. The Irish still only led the Chippewas 28-17 late into the third quarter, tacked on 13 points from there, won but came up short ATS at -35.
Notre Dame out-gained CMU 578-268, which is what a Top-10 team should do to a middle-of-the-road outfit from the MAC.
The Irish opened this season with a 42-3 walk over Navy in Ireland, covering at -20, then beat Tennessee State (FCS) 56-3, covering at -49, then won in good fashion at North Carolina State 45-24, covering at -7.
Notre Dame returned 13 starters this season from a team that played 9-4 last season. The Irish also added transfer QB Sam Hartman, who’s working out pretty good, with 13 touchdown passes against zero interceptions so far.
Ohio State-Notre Dame Recent History
These teams have only met seven times previously but actually just met last September, a rather uneventful 21-10 Buckeyes victory at the Horseshoe. Ohio State, favored by 17 points, dominated that game for the most part but didn’t take the lead for good until late in the third quarter, won but whiffed against that spread. Also, that game played way under a total of 59, as the defenses basically held the day.
College Football Betting Trends
Notre Dame is 4-2 SU, 4-1-1 ATS vs. the Big 10 over the last five seasons.
Notre Dame is 6-1 ATS its last seven games as a home dog.
Totals Report
In their two games against FBS opponents this season, the Buckeyes played a low-scoring game against Indiana, then nearly played over by themselves against Western Kentucky.
The overs are 2-1 in Irish games vs. FBS foes.
