Can Ohio State cover a big number in CFP championship?

Two of college football's largest brands will meet in Monday's national championship, but oddsmakers don't expect a close contest.

The spread opened with Ohio State as a 9.5-point favorite but has since lowered to 8.5. If it closes at 8.5, that would be tied for the sixth-largest spread in national championship history.

Let's dive into the matchup and who we think will cover.

No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Ohio State (-8.5, O/U 45.5)

This spread seemed like a massive number when it opened, but Ohio State has dominated every team in its playoff path, winning each matchup by at least two touchdowns while covering every spread.

Ohio State had the most talented roster entering the season, and while there were questions after its brutal loss to Michigan as a massive home favorite, the Buckeyes eviscerated Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas on its way to the national championship.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, suffered an embarrassing loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2 as a huge favorite and responded by winning 13 straight games, including victories over Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State in the playoff.

Both groups are playing their best football at the perfect time, but, simply put, the Buckeyes' best football is better than Notre Dame's best football.

The quarterback battle will decide this contest. Each team runs the football - particularly Notre Dame - but the playoffs are showing that quarterbacks must make plays to win big games.

That's where Ohio State has a clear advantage. Notre Dame's Riley Leonard improved throughout the season and had his moments, but his performance against Penn State exposed his flaws. He threw two picks, including one in the fourth quarter that should have been costly. His team only escaped because quarterback Drew Allar played even worse, gifting Notre Dame the win with an awful throw in the final minutes.

Leonard also hasn't faced a team like Ohio State, which boasts the nation's top-scoring defense. Notre Dame has the second-best scoring defense, but Ohio State has the quarterback and weapons to defeat it. Will Howard has been incredible throughout the playoffs. He's still prone to a turnover or two, but he's making smart decisions and completing passes at a high rate, and it helps that he has elite receivers on the outside. Wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka are otherworldly talents and reliable options.

If Ohio State moves the ball through the air and successfully forces turnovers, it should rout Notre Dame. Bettors seem to agree. Almost 60% of the bets and 69% of the handle is on Ohio State to cover.

Pick: Ohio State -8.5

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.