My first bet: Early picks for College Football Playoff national championship - ESPN

The 2025 College Football Playoff national championship is finally set. Ohio State defeated Texas in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl to advance to the championship game and face Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who beat Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Orange Bowl. The Buckeyes opened as 9.5-point favorites over the Fighting Irish, tied for the second-largest spread in the CFP national championship game and fourth largest in the CFP/BCS era.

Both Ohio State and Notre Dame suffered double-digit upsets during the regular season with the Fighting Irish on the losing end of the largest outright upset of the season as a 28.5-point favorite to Northern Illinois. The Buckeyes lost their final game of the regular season against rival Michigan as 23.5-point favorites, before rallying for three straight wins in the playoff to reach their first CFP championship game since 2021 when they lost to Alabama. Notre Dame reaches their first championship since 2013 and for the first time under third-year head coach Marcus Freeman.

Joe Fortenbaugh, Pamela Maldonado and Tyler Fulghum take an early look at the odds to find value before lines move later in the week.

All odds are accurate as of time stamp. All times Eastern. For the latest odds go to ESPN BET.

8-seed Ohio State Buckeyes (-9.5, 45.5) at 7-seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Monday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Records: Notre Dame 12-3, 4-1 vs. AP top 25 teams; Ohio State 11-2, 3-1 vs. AP top 25 teams
Opening Line: Ohio State -9.5, O/U 46.5
Money line: Ohio State (-300); Notre Dame (+300)
Over/Under: 45.5 (O -115, U 105)

FPI Projection Ohio State by 1.9 points (55.3% chance to win)

Anything inside of -10 is a buy on Ohio State, thanks to a defense that is surrendering a paltry 17.3 points per