Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 1

Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman wasn't lacking for motivation ahead of a marquee matchup with his alma mater, Ohio State, in Week 1. Regardless, he made sure his team has plenty of bulletin board material.

Both the Fighting Irish and Buckeyes rank in the top-five nationally, with legitimate championship aspirations. Heisman Trophy-favorite CJ Stroud leads a loaded Ohio State offense that could be even better than last season's No. 1-ranked unit, and new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles hopes to retool a talented yet underperforming defense.

After winning and covering each of their final seven games in 2021, the Fighting Irish bring back a ton of key contributors along the offensive line and defense. They'll be perhaps the best roster Ohio State will face in the regular season, and we should be in for a spectacular game.

Let's check out the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook before diving into the matchup:

Notre Dame vs Ohio State Odds, Spread and Total

Notre Dame vs Ohio State Betting Trends

Notre Dame

• 7-0 against the spread (ATS) last seven games

• UNDER is 4-2 last six games

• 7-2 ATS last nine road games

Ohio State

• 6-3 ATS last nine games

• OVER is 7-3 last 10 games

• 4-5 ATS last nine games as home favorite

Notre Dame vs Ohio State Prediction and Pick

This is a heck of a way for Notre Dame signal called Tyler Buchner to make his first ever collegiate start, eh? The Fighting Irish should be excited about the season, but they're facing a potential juggernaut in this opening matchup.

Ohio State had the nation's most prolific offense last year and I think it'll be even better now. Sure, the Buckeyes lost NFL First-Round picks Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba is who actually led the team in receiving. TreVeyon Henderson is among the nation's best running backs, and CJ Stroud can spin it as good as anyone.

It's the defensive side of the ball that will show real improvement, though. Jim Knowles led one of the country's best defenses at Oklahoma State last year (and beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl). He brought over transfer safety Tanner McCalister, and the two of them should transform a lackluster group that's always been talented.

I've got significant question marks about Notre Dame's offense, as well. Tight end Michael Mayer is a spooky monster reminiscent of Halloween legend Michael Myers, but the Fighting Irish lack proven skill players otherwise.

We know Ohio State will score. A lot. We also know the defense should be improved. By a lot. We don't know what Buchner and Notre Dame will look like, especially in a wildly hostile environment. I'll back the Buckeyes to open the season on a mission. They believe they could have (and should have) won the National Championship last year, and Week 1 is the perfect time to prove they mean business.

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.