College Football National Championship Predictions, Picks & Odds: Jan 20, 2025
The stage is all set for the College Football Playoff National Championship, and fans are gearing up for an exciting clash between two legendary teams: the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Ohio State boasts a powerful offense driven by standout players and a fierce defense that has dominated the postseason. On the other hand, Notre Dame brings a well-rounded offense, a tough defense and a talent for stepping up in big moments, making them a serious threat to bring home the ‘ship.
The festivities have brought about our CFP National Championship predictions for 2025, which we’ve laid out below!
College Football National Championship Predictions For 2025
With the championship title at stake, we’re analyzing every detail to find the best strategies for this clash. From point spreads to player props, there are plenty of chances to make some money with some CFP National Championship picks.
Let’s explore the top bets and CFP National Championship predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame in the CFP National Championship!
College Football National Championship Picks & Odds
We’re about to lay out our latest CFP National Championship predictions.
Before diving into that, make sure to check out the CFP National Championship odds for each of our bets at DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook, respectively:
- Ohio St. vs. Notre Dame Largest Lead:
- Over 16.5 (-105) vs. Under 16.5 (-125)
- Over 16.5 (-105) vs. Under 16.5 (-125)
- Emeka Egbuka Props:
- Receiving Yards - Over 57.5 (-114) vs. Under 75.5 (-114)
- 50+ Receiving Yards (-160), 60+ Receiving Yards (+100)
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame Best Bet: Largest Lead Under 16.5 (-125 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
This matchup could wind up being closer than the actual spread is indicating. Both Ohio State and Notre Dame have been really consistent this season, rarely getting blown out in their games.
Ohio State has one of the toughest defenses in the nation, giving up just 12.2 points per game, while Notre Dame isn’t far behind at 13.6. Both teams have kept their games competitive against a variety of opponents, staying within striking distance throughout the playoffs.
Ohio State had a closer game last week in their 28-14 win over Texas than they had the 2 games prior. Notre Dame has had close playoff wins against teams like Penn State (27-24) and Georgia (23-10). Plus, both teams have solid offenses – Ohio State with a strong passing game led by Will Howard and Notre Dame with a powerful rushing attack led by Jeremiyah Love.
This balance should make it tough for either team to get a big lead, so a margin over 16.5 points seems pretty unlikely. Let’s roll with the largest lead to be under 16.5 (-125 at DraftKings) as the first of our CFP National Championship predictions.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame Props: Emeka Egbuka 50+ Receiving Yards (-160 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Egbuka has been extremely reliable for Ohio State in his career, and even more so in this CFP. This season in total, he’s tallied 896 receiving yards on 70 catches, averaging 12.8 yards per reception and scoring 10 touchdowns.
Egbuka has consistently gone over the 50-yard mark, hitting it in each of his last five games, as defenses have been more focused on stopping Marvin Harrison Jr., who is Ohio State’s main receiving threat. His knack for finding open space against tough defenses shows just how dependable he is.
Although Notre Dame has a strong defense (ranked 12th in passing yards allowed), they might have a tough time against a versatile offense like Ohio State’s. With Harrison Jr. drawing a lot of defensive attention, Egbuka is likely to face more favorable matchups.
Plus, quarterback Will Howard’s growing confidence in distributing the ball only enhances Egbuka’s chances. Ohio State’s offense, which ranks 25th in passing yards per game (265.1), effectively uses multiple targets, and Egbuka’s skills in route-running and catching make him a prime candidate to take advantage of mismatches.
Considering his steady performance and Ohio State’s ability to stretch the field, betting on Egbuka to exceed 50 yards (-160 at FanDuel) seems like a smart move to round out our CFP National Championship picks.
How To Watch The 2025 CFP National Championship
Whether you’re making any CFP National Championship predictions or not, here’s how you can catch all the action:
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- When: 7:30 PM ET on Monday, January 20th
- Watch on TV: ESPN
- Where to stream: ESPN app, ESPN+, YouTubeTV, FUBO
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Player News
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Tim Elko will head to the bench for the White Sox on Thursday against the Marlins.
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Nationals OF prospect Robert Hassell III went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run for Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
The eighth overall pick from the 2020 MLB Draft is now hitting .289/.340/.387 with three home runs and eight steals in 38 games at Triple-A this season. He also has 30 strikeouts and 19 walks, so his overall plate discipline has been pretty solid. The Nationals are starting Jacob Young in center field, and while he plays elite defense, he is also hitting just .216 in 119 plate appearances this season. There will come a time in the summer when the Nationals decide it’s time to turn center field over to Hassell, who is one of the big-name prospects who came over in the Juan Soto trade.
Nationals 3B prospect Brady House went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
The former first-round pick is hitting .286/.346/.476 with six home runs in 38 games at Triple-A this season. He does have 45 strikeouts to just 14 walks, so the plate discipline is likely something that the Nationals want to see the 21-year-old continue to work on, but he’s nearing a call-up to the big leagues.