Ohio State vs Notre Dame Odds: Spread Shrinking Ahead of Top-10 Showdown

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish haven’t beaten the Ohio State Buckeyes since 1936, a span of five matchups. They’ll look to end that streak when the college football powerhouses square off Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET) at Notre Dame Stadium.

The betting public seems to like Notre Dame’s chances. The No. 6 Buckeyes opened as 7-point favorites but are now down to -3 (-110), including -150 on the moneyline. Meanwhile, the No. 9 Fighting Irish are +3 (-110) on the spread and +130 to win outright. The projected total is 55.5 (-110 Over, -110 Under).

Can the Fighting Irish pull off the upset? Read on as we break down the Ohio State vs Notre Dame odds in our game preview.

Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 3-6 against the spread over their last nine games. The total has gone Over in 11 of the Buckeyes’ last 14 contests. Meanwhile, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 4-1 ATS in their last five games. The total has gone Over in 10 of the Fighting Irish’s last 11 games. In their last 20 games as a betting underdog, they are 6-14 straight up. That’s important to remember when assessing the Ohio State vs Notre Dame odds.

Hartman’s Heisman Stock Rising

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish narrowly missed covering the 27.5-point spread against Central Michigan last week. Despite that, the Fighting Irish comfortably moved to 4-0 (3-1 ATS) while maintaining their place among college football’s best teams. Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman passed for 330 yards and three touchdowns in the 41-17 victory, per college football scores. Afterward, the Fighting Irish stayed No. 9 in the AP Top 25 NCAA football rankings.

Hartman is off to a brilliant start with Notre Dame, having thrown for 1,061 yards, 13 touchdowns and no interceptions. His 71.1 completion percentage is a career high. In the process, Hartman, widely regarded as the top transfer on the market, has seen his Heisman Trophy odds grow from +1600 to +1000.

He’s currently fourth on the oddsboard, trailing only USC quarterback Caleb Williams (+380), Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (+500) and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (+600). With some big matchups ahead, Hartman has an opportunity to keep improving his stock.

As it is, Hartman holds the key to Notre Dame’s national championship hopes. Currently, the Fighting Irish are +375 to make the College Football Playoff and +1600 to win it all, right alongside No. 7 Penn State. The schedule is daunting — the Fighting Irish also have games against No. 18 Duke (Sept. 30) and No. 5 USC (Oct. 14) — but they certainly look the part as a top contender.

Notably, Hartman has gotten plenty of help from running back Audric Estime, averaging 8.3 yards on 63 carries. Estime’s rushed for 521 yards and five scores.

Smooth Sailing So Far

The sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) displayed their big-play capabilities last week, pummeling Western Kentucky 63-10. The Buckeyes, 29.5-point favorites, opened a 42-10 halftime lead and finished with 562 total yards of offense. It was their first time covering the spread this season.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — the son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison — caught five passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Harrison Jr. is now +2800 to win the Heisman Trophy, the best odds of any non-quarterback.

Oddsmakers understandably remain bullish on the Buckeyes. On the heels of a trip to the CFP semifinals, the Buckeyes were projected for 10.5 regular-season wins. They remain among the favorites to win the Big Ten, with +210 odds (Michigan is currently +140) and are +1000 to capture the national championship. Only two schools have shorter odds: Georgia (+240) and Michigan (+400).

Can they cash in on those expectations? That’ll largely depend on Kyle McCord. After an inauspicious debut against Indiana, McCord has turned it on the last two weeks. Granted, the competition has been inferior. But the Buckeyes will need the very best from C.J. Stroud’s replacement to maintain their place as a legitimate contender. Anything less won’t cut it. Keep that in mind when analyzing the Ohio State vs Notre Dame odds.

Handicapping the Game

Judging by history, the deck is stacked against Notre Dame. Ohio State has won five straight in this series. Furthermore, the Fighting Irish are just 3-12 against AP top 10 opponents over the last decade.

That said, this is a resume-building opportunity for Notre Dame. A win here will go a long way toward establishing themselves as a national championship contender. It’s undoubtedly a tall order, but the Fighting Irish are well equipped with Hartman under center. Marcus Freeman’s team obviously has a decided edge there, as McCord has only one road start under his belt.

If the Fighting Irish can contain Harrison Jr. — and that’s a big if — they have the right pieces to cover the spread and perhaps even pull off the upset.

For the best college football bets, odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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