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00:00A national championship at stake tonight in Atlanta, Georgia
00:04in the first ever 12 team college football playoff
00:07between Ohio State and Notre Dame. We get you set for the national title tonight
00:13in the ATL over the next hour plus here on the early line. We will do a triple
00:19option a little bit later on with our picks and best bets for tonight's action as well.
00:25But let's start our breakdown by looking at the numbers.
00:28The Buckeyes an eight and a half point favorite against the fighting Irish. A total at 45
00:35and a hook. DRS what are those numbers telling you about what we can expect tonight in Atlanta
00:40with a national championship on the line? The numbers are telling me that we might not be in
00:46for an ultra exciting game and not because you see the eight and a half point number it's you
00:51see the 45 and a half point number which I'm fine with here because there are arguments to be made
00:55where man college football is five wide everybody goes real fast nobody plays any defense and it's
01:00just like you know street football. They're not going to get that here. You got two really good
01:04and talented defenses here. You have two veteran quarterbacks in the pocket. One team likes to
01:09operate with getting it in on the ground which is Notre Dame and making plays when you need to in
01:13the passing game but you also have that ultra explosive team and Ohio State both the run game
01:18and the passing game which should be fun. Also understand this a little bit more extra time to
01:22prepare for a national championship game to get your p's and q's down banged up players that might
01:26have a little bit of nicks and injuries that they have. They should be more healthy for this game
01:30but for me it is going to take a monster effort to win this game by Notre Dame. Now granted we've
01:37seen it play out before. Injuries happen during games. Turnovers happen during games. It's a one
01:42game playoff. It doesn't need a seven game series as opposed to some other leagues and sports that
01:47they have but for me I don't think Notre Dame has to play its best game to keep it close here.
01:53I don't think they can win this game Ben but that's a lot of points in a national championship
01:58game with a quality team to give them on a neutral site. I completely agree DRS. You have probably
02:04heard from me here on the early line in the last week and a half which is basically the time we
02:09have had off from the college football playoff semifinals to where we are on this Monday with a
02:15national championship. Way back in early October before the first matchup between the Buckeyes and
02:20the Ducks of Oregon inside Autzen Stadium on October 6th I bet on Ohio State to win a national
02:28championship at a plus 290 price. Feel pretty good about where I stand right now. When the college
02:33football playoff bracket was unveiled on Selection Sunday I found the Fighting Irish path to be
02:39favorable. I bet on Notre Dame at a plus 550 price to win a national championship. I feel pretty good
02:47about where I am right now. To Donnie's point I think the ticket that actually cashes tonight
02:53is Ohio State winning this game outright in Atlanta but an eight and a half point spread
02:59seems a little bit lofty. As we dive into the total 45 and a hook DRS would match the lowest
03:05number we have seen throughout the entirety of this first ever 12 team college football playoff.
03:11Notre Dame under in its first two matchups over because of a high scoring fourth quarter against
03:17Penn State. Ohio State over in its first two college football playoff games but under in the
03:23cotton ball two Friday nights ago against Texas with a dominant defense. Ohio State best scoring
03:29defense in all of FBS college football this season. Notre Dame not all that far behind.
03:35Third best scoring defense in CFB throughout the entirety of this year and so if we don't see all
03:43that much scoring tonight and even if we trend to the over DRS I'm not expecting 55 to 60 points
03:51tonight in Atlanta. It makes the burden on the Buckeyes to cover as more than a touchdown favorite
03:57even that much higher. Yes and the M.O. would be you want to jump out with an early lead for
04:02Ohio State get Notre Dame out of what they want to do. Be more functional in the backfield. Make
04:06passing plays when they need to. Keep that clock rolling along. Use the legs of your starting
04:11quarterback and maybe hang around this game enough long enough to force turnovers. We've
04:15seen big upsets in national championship games before and we're not talking about a 16 and a
04:19half point line. It is under 10 here but the fact of the matter is we can't argue this.
04:24Man for man. Player for player. Pound for pound. Ohio State is much more talented at just about
04:29every single position than the Notre Dame Fighting Irish but the reason that Notre Dame is here which
04:34is what we love. It's a playoff. You can't say that Notre Dame's a national team. Look at that.
04:40They just put them in the playoff. There's only two teams here and this is what we ended up in
04:43the final. They earned their way in this game by winning games and quite frankly I bet against them.
04:47I thought Penn State was the better team and for the majority of the game they were but the Irish
04:51knew how to pull that game out in the end and make the plays when they needed to and that's
04:54what I'm expecting tonight. When you need plays to be made Notre Dame has made those plays outside
04:59of the NIU game. They've been fantastic this season. Same thing for Ohio State outside the
05:04Michigan game. We will talk about these two teams and where they trend entering tonight
05:11in the first ever 12 team college football playoffs national championship game. We'll do
05:16that up next when Hour 3 begins on TEL. We welcome you to our third and final hour live
05:23right here on this Monday on the Early Line on Sports Grid. He is Donny Rightside. I am Ben
05:29Stevens. A very significant day on this Monday. Inauguration Day. A holiday weekend for most of
05:36you out there. It is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and of course it is a national championship at
05:43stake on this Monday night in Atlanta between Ohio State and Notre Dame and throughout this final
05:49hour most of it will be dedicated to a preview of that national title matchup between the Buckeyes
05:56and the Fighting Irish. We'll hear from the people. We'll look at the actual people that
06:00will play in the game otherwise known as the player prop market. We'll talk some hardware.
06:06We'll run a triple option. Our favorite bets for a national championship game on this Monday.
06:12D.R. has so much to dive into here in this final hour on TEL. Exactly but by the way outside the
06:19X's and O's Ben are we going to have to get some divine intervention in this game because two
06:24quarterbacks here that put their faith in God and who does God like more? Does that play into it
06:29tonight? That's what I'm thinking about as well Ben. Defense, offense, and God. Three factors here
06:34not special teams included into that equation so we got some extra curriculars that we have to
06:39break down including that point spread and that total and those prop bets. Only one stadium has
06:46the figure of Jesus looking over it that would be touchdown Jesus of course in South Bend. Cold and
06:52frigid temperatures in the greater Atlanta area but we're playing inside Mercedes. Come on we've
07:00got two northern teams playing in a back-to-back national championship game for the first time
07:06since the mid-70s when it wasn't the same two teams each and every season. The SEC out of the
07:14national championship game despite the fact this game will be played in Atlanta Georgia. So those
07:20two teams from the great midwest the states of Indiana and Ohio bringing the frigid cold
07:26temperatures to Georgia tonight. How does the people how do the people I should say see this
07:33game playing out on a Monday? We had to learn what the best bet was. We'll do that right now and fade the public.
07:48At Sports Grid on Twitter what is the best bet for tonight's national championship game?
07:54Is it the Buckeyes as a hefty favorite laying eight and a half points? Is it the Irish as the
07:59hefty underdog catching eight and a half? Is it the over of a smaller total at 45 and a hook or
08:07will it be the defensive struggle we expect based on those pre-game odds and under 45 and a half?
08:14Most of the public DRS more than 40 percent back in the Buckeyes willing to lay more than a touchdown
08:21eight and a half in favor of Ohio State. Second most selected option is Notre Dame as the underdog
08:2829 percent of the votes as well. Yeah you take a look at Ohio State but by the way both of these
08:33pathways to victory have been extremely tough like Indiana quality ball club you got that victory for
08:38Notre Dame even the Georgia game you take a look at that you would like to see Carson Beck but
08:44obviously you're getting a backup quarterback still beat a quality opponent and then you have
08:47the Penn State game which they were down late quality oh they they sort of snuck by some of
08:51those games not necessarily there but when you do take a look at Ohio State and the firepower they
08:56have it wide receiver and it running back and on their defense everybody seems like a superstar
09:01and their pathway was a big-time team from the SEC really humbled them Oregon which is supposed
09:06to be the best team in the country really humbled that football team and then you saw Texas at 28
09:10to 14 which that score was a little bit non-indicative of what that game actually was it
09:14could have been tied up late which ended up a 14 point line but maybe let's just say a sexier path
09:19to victory for Ohio State so the public is going to take that into account as you enter into this
09:24game and also if you're just saying Donnie no spread pick the winner you'd be a fool not just
09:28to pick Ohio State because what the odds are absolutely representing but Notre Dame outside
09:32of the NIU game which was bad and Marcus Freeman brought this up on a joint interview with Ryan
09:37Day which I thought was interesting we've been in playoff mode since the NIU loss like we never
09:43once during this season thought we could have afforded another loss when you look at Ohio State
09:47the one point loss on the road to Oregon didn't even matter if they actually beat Michigan as a
09:52three touchdown favorite we knew they were already going to the college football playoff so there is
09:56something that Notre Dame has been basically in playoff mode for the entire season and look at
10:00their records playing major division one college football Ohio State 13 and 2 Notre Dame 14 and 1
10:06so Ohio State has lost twice and has lost to an inferior opponent so when I look at the actual
10:11breakdown of where the public is batting or should I say voting in this I can't fault them because
10:16Ohio State is the better team and if you think they're going to win you think they're going to
10:19cover as well but I went opposite of that like I picked Notre Dame because I just have seen the
10:23MO for Notre Dame is count them out always bouncing back and that's going to be a positive for them
10:29entering into the game tonight against Ohio State again I have a national championship ticket on
10:34both teams to win a title tonight I am feeling good I expect my Ohio State ticket that I bet
10:41much earlier this year back in early October to be the one that actually cashes and wins
10:47on this Monday evening but I also bet Notre Dame plus nine and a half when this lot opened up I
10:53believe the fighting Irish defensively can do enough to keep Notre Dame in this football game
10:59and I believe the Irish on the ground actually have more of an advantage than we are really
11:05giving them credit for Ohio State has been the best scoring defense all year long as we saw at
11:12the end of the Cotton Bowl against the Longhorns the Buckeyes have been the best red zone defense
11:17in all of college football this season but there have been a few games this year when you look at
11:24the game against Michigan the regular season outing against Oregon college football playoff
11:30game against Tennessee regular season game against Indiana where the Buckeyes have allowed some yards
11:36on the ground and that is still where the Irish want to excel and establish things offensively
11:43DRS let's also not forget about Notre Dame's defense third best scoring defense in the country
11:49third best passing defense in college football yeah they did allow some yardage on the ground
11:55to Penn State but they allowed fewer than 70 against both Georgia and Indiana and when it
12:02comes to taking the football away nobody is better than Marcus Freeman's fighting Irish
12:0832 total takeaways this year most at the FBS level in college football 151 points off said takeaways
12:18that is why I think Notre Dame keeps this game within margin because of a defense that I think
12:23will answer the bell once again tonight in a national championship yes and also there is an
12:29MO out there to say okay look at Ohio State in their season they basically roll just about
12:33everybody but that Michigan game is an outlier 13 to 10 lower scoring here running the football
12:40playing great defense lengthen excuse me shortening that game as opposed to lengthening it here but
12:44just by making sure that you use all three of your downs to get the first down and just keep that
12:49clock turning and keep the pressure on Ohio State because the one thing we know when you are talented
12:53you like to get out there and rev that engine early and show the passing game is there and
12:58Jeremiah Smith is dominating and Quinn Sean Judkins is hitting on long runs at this point
13:02you slow that down and you start to create doubt which means Ohio State will start to press then
13:08you might get an advantage for Notre Dame but as I said key in this football game is the start for
13:13both of these teams if Notre Dame could have the lead at halftime watch out Ohio State but this
13:19doesn't feel like one of those games Ben where it's 21 to 10 Ohio State at the break I don't
13:24think Notre Dame can come back from that it doesn't sound crazy even though it's only 10
13:28points you get a good play here there I just don't think the mo of this game is Notre Dame must delay
13:33this game as long as possible to frustrate Ohio State that first half total 23 and a hook if you
13:40aren't expecting the defensive struggle then a full game number of 45 and a half would indicate
13:46you needed to be a slow scoring start tonight in the a and probably stay under that number
13:53Penn State and Notre Dame in the orange ball went over the same exact total 45 and a hook because of
14:00a high scoring fourth quarter it was 10 to 3 at the half in Miami but it was a Notre Dame field
14:07goal late and an opening possession in the second half touchdown that allowed the Irish back into
14:13that game Notre Dame has been great at the end of the opening half in the start of the second
14:18here throughout the college football playoff Ohio State has never trailed in the CFP out scoring
14:25opponents 111 to 52 that's an average margin of victory 19.7 points per game a national
14:35championship game tonight on a Monday in Atlanta between Ohio State and Notre Dame eight and a half
14:41points spread in favor of the Buckeyes a total of 45 and a half we have talked spread we have
14:48talked total we will continue to do so throughout this third and final hour as we get you fully set
14:54for tonight's national championship game but DRS now it's time to get to the individuals
14:59that will impact tonight's outcome and we start with Ohio State offensively in arsenal for Chip
15:06Kelly that really you can attack any defense even the best defenses in the sport and find success
15:13Will Howard's number 241 and uh-huh Treveon Henderson and Quenshawn Judkins have both been
15:20incredibly productive throughout the college football playoff Treveon a slightly higher number
15:25by only two yards in front of Quenshawn Jeremiah Smith coming off the worst game of his young Ohio
15:32State career against Texas just one grab for only three yards but the veterans Emeka Egbuka and
15:39Cornell Tate both very very stout against Texas when you look at the numbers for Ohio State
15:47which prompt do you think is most impactful and which one gets your intrigue the most
15:53well if we're looking at that total right mid-40s it doesn't really say to myself well let me go to
15:58the receiving props let me go to the quarterback props to sort of throw it all around the barn now
16:02having said that we are playing at a dome we are going to be on a fast track that is an electric
16:06team and it wouldn't surprise me hey by the way Will Howard threw for 275 is that so crazy to
16:10think about or Jeremiah Smith had a big day or Egbuka had a big day no that doesn't surprise me
16:14at all but I just look at the game myself and say if it is going to be lower scoring in two good
16:19defenses does that lend yourself to a little bit more handoffs than possibly passes in this game
16:23so you go right for Judkins and Treveon Henderson on those numbers and they're almost identical 56
16:29and a half and 58 and a half and you can't really say like you look at him like well Judkins is the
16:33more explosive guy I've seen Treveon Henderson bust a lot of long runs this year in critical
16:38situations so for me I tend to lean if I'm saying who do I want one player from Ohio State tonight
16:44I usually lean with I think I know I'm getting 10 to 13 carries out of Henderson with the chance to
16:48bust a long run and look at the spread itself Ben you have to do this it's paint by numbers if that
16:54is close to a 10 point spread what's theoretically the option in the fourth quarter Ohio State
16:59protecting a lead which mean more runs to me Treveon Henderson probably the guy I would look
17:04to tonight if I'm picking any one of the player props just on yardage from an Ohio State perspective
17:10I have loved betting Treveon Henderson's number throughout the college football playoff he has
17:15been Ohio State's leading rusher in all three games Quinn Sean Judkins did score twice on the
17:21ground against Texas the 75 yard screen pass with 13 ticks remaining in the opening half to Henderson
17:28also hitting Pater but Judkins has had 36 attempts to only 24 for Treveon Henderson to
17:36Donnie's point Henderson a little bit more explosive the odds makers expecting a bounce
17:41back for Jeremiah Smith after his career low just one grab in only three yards against Texas
17:49but I would keep an eye on Emeka Ibuka that number up by the way from 55 and a half earlier in the
17:55week to now 59 and a hook Ibuka in all three college football playoff games exactly five grabs
18:03with at least 51 receiving yards Carnell Tate the Chicago kid Ohio State's leading receiver
18:09seven catches for 87 yards against the Longhorns Notre Dame third best passing defense in the
18:16country they have been a top five passing defense all three seasons under Marcus Freeman and if
18:22Will Howard gets a little bit shaky tonight Notre Dame will sit back there and eagerly look
18:29to take the football away but Donnie there has to be a thought here for the Irish if they are
18:34going to stay within striking distance not only does the defense have to be sound does the ground
18:39game have to be good but they are going to need a lot out of Riley Leonard what do the Irish need
18:46out of their signal caller tonight to keep this game close and maybe even pull off the upset to
18:51win a national championship unless you're looking for like a miracle win and cover like Penn State
18:56Miami in 86 where Miami just turns the football over five times you have to do all that much
19:01Riley Leonard can't throw front like is in what world then do we win a national championship
19:05tonight against Ohio State where Riley Leonard throws for 165 and so when when I sometimes look
19:11at game scripts the way they're supposed to be able to hide like there's a chance that Notre
19:14Dame can win this football game if Riley Leonard throws for 200 yards right like hey he had a
19:19pretty good game there's also game scripts where they get beat up and he just has to throw twice as
19:23much in the second half than they normally have to and he throws for 200 yards and they lose
19:28I don't see any game script that has Riley Leonard at 150 or so and they win this football game
19:33unless as I said again five ridiculous turnovers to none let's just say by Ohio State in this game
19:39so Riley Leonard I think he has to throw 180 or more for them to be in the ball game with a
19:44realistic chance to win we'll talk more about those prompts you saw 178 in a hook for Leonard
19:50a very key number on the other side of the break we continue to preview the national championship
19:56game between Ohio State and Notre Dame with an eye on the prop market as well DRS we were just
20:03discussing Notre Dame starting quarterback in Riley Leonard what do the Irish need out of their
20:09QB tonight to even keep this game close against Ohio State's best scoring defense in all of
20:16college football this year 178 and a half is the passing yards prop second highest rushing yards
20:22total 36 in a hook is the number for Leonard against Ohio State tonight 18 carries for 35
20:30yards and a touchdown against Penn State 14 carries 80 yards in that Sugar Bowl quarterfinal
20:37victory against Georgia but in terms of the passing attack Riley Leonard has thrown for at
20:42least 178 yards in seven of the previous 10 games for Notre Dame including 223 against the Nittany
20:50Lions Donnie if Notre Dame is going to cover they need to be stout on the ground if Notre Dame is
20:55actually going to win a national championship Riley Leonard needs to put together a performance
21:00for the ages tonight inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium he does and the only thing that usually trips you
21:06up in college is you see those great numbers like hey man Riley Leonard's probably going to get 10
21:10carries tonight well the fact is he can get 10 carries in 50 yards and sack four times for minus
21:1422 yards and you don't end up hitting your prop at those are the tough ones you're right though
21:18everything does fall but when you look at other rushing props you for Notre Dame outside the
21:22quarterback and you see Jeremiah Love you just saw that graphic pop up at 40 and a half he's
21:26already up to 42 and a half because it's a correlation like is anybody that's backing
21:30Notre Dame go yeah you know what Jeremiah Love has a bad game I'm not worried about it like no
21:34he's your explosive guy and the problem here is he's not fully 100 percent even though he gave a
21:39yeoman's effort and that last game made some plays when he needed to included that touchdown which he
21:43just would not be denied there you take a look also down the list Judarian Price at 25 and a
21:48half he's an electric running back as well he's got to hit his numbers but I'll tell you the one
21:52guy that you look at and I don't know if it's whether it's in the passing game or the rushing
21:55game Aeneas Williams is that key third down Austin Eckler type back where you could miss badly on him
22:02where he doesn't have a catcher or run but there are games like this one where if you expect them
22:07to be down he's going to be much more involved and also if you're looking at Jeremiah Love the
22:12chance of playing on turf and banging up that knee again and not getting those full carries you
22:16might be seeing more Williams stuff so I know we're going farther down that ladder but you see
22:21him at seven and a half rushing yards that's one handoff on a third and 13 play where they're just
22:25playing field position or if you're looking from the passing game one or two screen passes enough
22:29to get through that number so there are hidden talents there on that Notre Dame team but when I
22:34just look at the correlation it seems simple like Jeremiah Love rushing for 22 yards that's not a
22:39good sign for Notre Dame Judarian Price only getting three carries because they're down and
22:43only needs 26 yards 25 and a half yards that's not good here so I just look at the correlations if
22:48they're going to win they better at least get around those numbers to give them a chance if
22:53they're below them Notre Dame's not going to even cover this game Ben. DRS we are expecting a
22:58defensive grind it out style two of the three best scoring defenses in college football all
23:05year long and there is natural handicapping thought for an underdog to keep a game close
23:12and within margin you keep the total under less available points to be scored less of an
23:18opportunity for said favorite to run up the score in cover by double digits which is basically what
23:24the Buckeyes would need as an eight and a half point favorite but as we have seen throughout the
23:30college football playoff if you are going to have an underdog cover or even win outright the total
23:37needs to go over we have seen two underdogs cover a number throughout the college football playoff
23:44so far in our 10 total games in the 12 team era both of the underdog covers the total went over
23:53Notre Dame a very slight underdog by the time we got to kick two Thursday nights ago in Miami
23:59but they won outright against Penn State that game went over Arizona State into overtimes
24:07covering as a 13 and a half point dog against Texas the offense needs to be efficient for the
24:14fighting Irish tonight to keep this game within striking distance and Notre Dame is not hoping
24:19for a cover in a national championship matchup tonight Notre Dame is helping for an outright
24:25victory in the program's first national title since 1988 Ohio State hoping for the same in the
24:33first ever college football playoff back during the 2014 season Ohio State won a national championship
24:39will history repeat itself for the Buckeyes in the first ever 12 team college football playoff
24:45tonight and of course DRS the Buckeyes a hefty favorite and we can look at offensive MVP awards
24:52we can look at defensive MVP awards and of course the short favorites the guys with the shortest
24:59prices they play in the scarlet and gray for Ohio State offensive MVP will Howard a minus money
25:07favorite I'm not so sure that's the greatest bet with so many offensive pieces that can tell the
25:13tale for the Buckeyes tonight no and you're right and it doesn't really correlate to the total like
25:18usually pick the quarterback benefits 58 and a half because that means a lot of people got involved
25:23but who is the centerpiece it's the quarterback 22 of 29 3 10 3 touchdowns you give it to him
25:30but in a game that's posted in the mid 40s you could legitimately have Will Howard 13 of 21 for
25:37168 but Jeremiah Smith got 121 yards of the 168 or so of that and the one touchdown steals it so
25:44I don't know about Will Howard I'd be more likely to go with maybe a Travion Henderson
25:48and or Jeremiah Smith because the chances of getting multiple touchdowns and being the focal
25:53point even though the line excuse me the game script should be a little bit slower with that
25:5645 and a half that's the way I play that one out so no I wouldn't just go quarterback in this spot
26:01I'd look for a player with a chance for a long gain and a long touchdown in a lower scoring game
26:05to have that advantage higher scoring game of course it's going to go to the quarterback if we
26:09play this game into the 40s I don't think it's going to be a quarterback 289 yards for Will
26:15Howard in the cotton ball in that CFP semi against Texas a touchdown albeit with an interception
26:22as we said Jeremiah Smith had his worst career day for Ohio State in that matchup but Will Howard
26:28is thrown for 260 yards or more five times this year 280 plus four times all three games in the
26:37college football playoff in addition to the regular season matchup against the Ducks in the previous
26:44four games that Will Howard had thrown for at least 260 Jeremiah Smith had at least 87 receiving
26:51yards the odds maker is expecting a bounce back he has the highest number tonight for Ohio State
26:56I still think you are getting a slight discount on the guy that has the most receptions now this
27:00year for the Buckeyes the veteran in the wide receiver room that's Emeka Ibuka for this Ohio
27:06State offense but I do believe you are finding some good value offensively on Travion Henderson
27:13or Quenshawn Judkins on the ground in terms of those MVP prices Riley Leonard at a five to one
27:19number for a Notre Dame team that's plus 310 in the money line not a bad look either defensively
27:26again DRS heavily skewed to the Buckeyes a team that has totaled 16 sacks throughout the college
27:34football playoff in three games they only had 35 in 12 regular season games as a group in a play
27:42made by Jack Sawyer on a Friday night in a semi-final matchup that will be remembered forever
27:49in Columbus the scoop and score in the 83-yard touchdown run in that return against Quinn Ewers
27:56in Texas yeah I'll tell you who won't win it that's Igbenosin here maybe for most penalties
28:01in a national championship game maybe him for tackling wide receivers left and right but also
28:05understand this like we look at the offensive and defensive MVPs and we do line it up like oh it's
28:10gonna be Ohio State because they're supposed to win the football game and I get that but sometimes
28:14we act like Notre Dame doesn't have like a legitimate offense where they won every game
28:1817 to 12 all the way through this team has lit that scoreboard up before and has the potential
28:23to do it even look the playoffs like where the quality steps up and some of those games played
28:28outdoors in colder conditions 27 points 23 points 27 points this isn't a team that struggles to get
28:34into the 20s so that's what we're looking at maybe a key indicator on where we're going to go with our
28:39pick threes coming up here and some best bets to give away but I do like that notion of oh Ohio
28:44State you know Ohio State can really move the football but Notre Dame can't do anything out
28:48here I like that notion 13 games for the Irish this year against non-MAC opponents 8 of the 13
28:56to the over Notre Dame at the end of the college football regular season 39.3 points per game that
29:02was their scoring offense the first time in two decades the Irish should have been a top five
29:08scoring offense nationally a pick three or a triple option pick three live right here on this
29:16Monday on the early line on sports grid a national championship tonight in the first ever 12 team
29:22college football playoff in Atlanta Georgia Ohio State and Notre Dame the Irish seeking their first
29:29national championship in nearly four decades since 1988 Ohio State won the first ever college football
29:37playoff back in the 14 era in 2014 trying to win the first ever 12 team college football playoff
29:45now just over a decade later eight and a half point spread in favor of the Buckeyes total 45
29:53and a hook and as Donnie said it is now time for your national championship pick three otherwise
30:00known in college football as the triple option our favorite side total and prop for tonight's
30:07national championship game the RS Ohio State outscoring opponents by on average by 19.7
30:15points per game throughout the three games so far in the CFP more than a touchdown favorite
30:21to win a national championship tonight will the Buckeyes cover will this game be closer than we
30:28expect what is your favorite side for tonight's title game in Atlanta there's only two sides to
30:33go with I'm going to take the points with the Notre Dame fighting Irish here and why am I picking
30:39Notre Dame because I do think that offense can be opportunistic when it needs to and I know there's
30:43a lot of slander on how much better Ohio State is man for man which is correct here but you look
30:48at the length of the season the teams that they played and the points that they scored for Notre
30:53Dame and the defense they play there's no reason to believe that Notre Dame won't be involved in
30:57this game with a legitimate chance to win even though I don't think they will but I'm certainly
31:00not going to pass up eight and a half points on a neutral site with a football team that's built on
31:05good defense and a ground attack and a veteran quarterback that can make plays when he's need to
31:10and it's already come back from a deficit against Penn State in the final moments of the game to
31:15rise and shine that's where I'm going in this one don't love them to win the game with a legitimate
31:20chance to actually pop the upset but there's no reason to believe this game won't be a one
31:24possession game in the fourth quarter and I'll take my chances with the eight and a half points
31:29I've said it many a time I'll say it one final time I have a national championship ticket on
31:33both teams that will square off to be crowned a national champion tonight I feel good about where
31:39I stand I do believe that ticket on Ohio State that I bet back in the first week of October
31:45will be the one that actually wins this evening but much like Donnie I think Notre Dame's defense
31:50is good enough to keep them within striking distance of this game and I think the fighting
31:55Irish offense that is predicated on establishing that run like we are doing here in the triple
32:01option will do enough to keep the Irish within that margin Notre Dame plus eight and a half
32:08and Donnie I think we have a correlated thought on how that might go with a total of 45 and a hook
32:14against the nation's best scoring defense in Ohio State if the Irish is the key pace they need to
32:20score and be successful offensively what is your favorite total tonight in the national championship
32:27I'm gonna go with the team total and one of those team totals was Notre Dame here at 17 and a half
32:32the other one was Ohio State hovering around that can we score close to four touchdowns I thought to
32:36myself I just go back game by game script by script and say Notre Dame to get to 20 points
32:40which is essentially what you're asking for they should be able to do that here even in a blowout
32:45Ben even in a close game where they're still under wraps at this point they haven't shown any
32:49propensity to be a really bad offensive team and also I get how good Ohio State is still quality
32:55offensive players at running back quarterback and a good offensive line for Notre Dame they should
32:59be able to put points up you don't have to win the game or cover enough for them to think they
33:03can cross over to 18 plus points in this game so for me I just want to take the simple route I'm
33:08going to get an honest effort out of Notre Dame and you're always in this now of course if they
33:12have three points in the fourth quarter that's going to be some tough doing but in what shape
33:16are you saying that Notre Dame won't even be competitive enough to have double digits by the
33:20time they enter the fourth quarter I'm not buying that give me Notre Dame's team total over 17 and
33:24a half there have been times this year where Ohio State has allowed yardage on the ground of course
33:32that would be heavily beneficial for this fighting Irish offensive scheme tonight coordinated by
33:38Mike Denbrook, Riley Leonard, Jeremiah Love, Jedarion Price getting back in the fold after a quiet game
33:45against Penn State and Aeneas Williams out of the backfield Ohio State only allowed 58 rushing
33:52yards to Texas just about two yards per carry but they did allow Jaden Blue to have a receiving score
33:59in two receiving scores I should say in Quentravion Wysner for Texas to be heavily
34:04involved in the pass game as well that's where I think you look to Aeneas Williams tonight
34:10for Notre Dame yeah Donnie I'm not thinking this game is a shootout I don't think we see 60 points
34:15I don't think we see 70 points heck we might not even see 50 but I do believe we can go over 45
34:21and a half also because Ohio State offensively has been elite throughout the college football
34:27playoff but I do believe Notre Dame to keep this game even remotely competitive is going to have
34:33to score over 45 and a half is how I look at it this is not a Notre Dame team that has gotten
34:40here because they win games 17 to 14 all year long this is a Notre Dame team that ranked third
34:46in scoring offense this season in points per game the first time in more than two decades
34:53the Irish have been a top five scoring offense nationally in college football so DRS as we look
35:00now for our favorite prop to route out the triple option what gets your attention in the national
35:06title game let's have a fun one here at the Fandula Sportsbook how about fourth quarter
35:10points total over 10 and a half we usually know the fourth quarter even if it's close
35:15still tends to get squirrely at times you have teams that might be blowing the team out giving
35:19up easy yardage and easy points going one direction and also the ability for one team
35:24technically running out the clock hitting home runs on the ground with very good running backs
35:28like Ohio State and the one thing I do understand about this I've said during the year multiple
35:32times sometimes not about style points like in the playoffs men survive in advance you see style
35:37points a lot in national championship games this is the last go-around for some of these players
35:41if they're up 14 points on the 18 yard line with four minutes to go Ryan Day's punching
35:46at another touchdown and vice versa for Marcus Freeman let's go over 10 and a half for the fourth
35:51quarter 31 total points in the orange ball in the college football playoff semifinal in that fourth
35:58quarter between the Irish and Penn State 14 points all scored by Ohio State in the fourth quarter
36:04of the cotton ball I'll talk more about my prop on the other side but it is a Mecca Ebuka over
36:1059 and a half one of the tough things about not living in the Great Garden State you can't bet
36:16college football player props in New York this number was 55 and a hook earlier this week when
36:23I gave it out on SportsGrid with our partners Sling TV DRS stay up late tonight my friend
36:30enjoy the national championship we'll talk again on Wednesday enjoy the money line as well more
36:35on the early line next a national championship game on a Monday night in Atlanta Georgia for
36:42one final college football game this season Ohio State and Notre Dame two blue bloods in this sport
36:49two standard bearers at this level of national prominence but two teams that have seen national
36:56championships most recently in a very different amount of time Notre Dame seeking that first
37:02national championship since 1988 nearly four decades ago in college football this the first
37:09ever 12 team college football playoff Ohio State is playing in a national championship game in the
37:15first ever college football playoff to begin the four-team era in 2014 who was crowned a national
37:23champ that would be the Buckeyes of Ohio State eight and a half points spread in favor of Ohio
37:29State tonight in Atlanta a total at 45 and a hook I did mention I would talk more about my prop my
37:36favorite one for tonight that's a Mecca Ebuka but one of the leading wide receivers for Ohio State
37:42entering this game a lot will be said about the 2021 recruiting class for Ohio State tonight if
37:49they can end their tenure in Columbus atop the mountain in college football Ebuka one of those
37:56guys JT Tuimolo another one of those guys Jack Sawyer another one of those guys you look up and
38:02down the list double digit guys for Ohio State have played in at least 50 football games during
38:09their college careers and hoping that the one additional game tonight in a national championship
38:15will end with that title by the way for Ebuka throughout the college football playoff exactly
38:21five receptions and all three games for Ohio State 51 receiving yards or more over this number even
38:28a 59 in a hook in both of their opening two against Tennessee and Oregon Jeremiah Smith
38:35correctly so gets the accolades as the outstanding true freshman but a Mecca Ebuka
38:41in that wide receiver room and what he is meant for this Ohio State program is often looked to
38:48as the leader and has the most targets and catches this year from his quarterback Will Howard Ohio
38:55State will enter next year as a national championship favorite as well plus 450 for the
39:02odds for the 2025 college football season of course that will be crowned in the calendar year
39:082026 Texas has Arch Manning returning tied for the second best price alongside Oregon at plus 650
39:17Georgia seven to one and Penn State has a ton of returning talent coming back to Happy Valley
39:23at a plus 850 price to round out the top five as we get ready to end one college football season
39:30our eyes will quickly shift toward the future there have already been some conversations this
39:36week in Georgia about a change to the college football playoff format moving forward in 2025
39:42and beyond still even if it remains at 12 teams will we get rid of those guaranteed buys for the
39:50highest ranked conference champs or would it just be a buy through the opening round based on your
39:56ranking from the college football playoff selection committee I'm not sure we're going to
40:01get there as we have learned through reports group of five programs big 12 and ACC commissioners not
40:08necessarily in favor of giving up a free weekend for that automatic bid and the guaranteed buy of
40:15being one of the four highest ranked conference champions I do think we have seen though in the
40:2212 team era a statement made this year that as we look to expand college football playoffs as we
40:29look to provide opportunity we are seeing that between these two teams and I don't think you
40:35can question that Ohio State and Notre Dame are not the two best teams still standing in college
40:42football if Ohio State wins tonight they would be the third ever two loss champion in college
40:48football in the modern era since 1936 when the AP got involved in rankings and handing out
40:55national champions the first since 2007 if Notre Dame wins tonight they would be the second ever
41:02college football national champion at the FBS level to lose outright in a game is more than
41:09a three touchdown underdog and still end up a national champ the opportunity has presented
41:16this stage I'll talk about something else in just a moment but you should know on this MLK day
41:23we celebrate a great leader in America who of course stood for some big things and as we get
41:29ready for some action in the association they will celebrate the holiday as well a slew of NBA games
41:36tipping off at noon eastern time and as for that national championship game myself Kevin Walsh and
41:44Joe Lisi the college football today crew live at 7 30 p.m eastern time for all of your national
41:50championship coverage tonight on sports grid