Ohio State vs Notre Dame Opening Odds – Buckeyes 17-Point Home Favorites Against Irish

• No. 5 Notre Dame travels to No. 2 Ohio State in Week 1 on Saturday, September 3rd
• The Buckeyes have opened the week as a 17-point favorite in Columbus
• Read below for the full opening odds and projected line movement

It’s an epic clash between a pair of college football titans when Notre Dame and Ohio State face off in Week 1 of the 2022 College Football season on Saturday, September 3rd. The Buckeyes have opened the week as 17-point favorites.

This is only the seventh meeting ever between the Midwest bluebloods and first since the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. The Buckeyes have won the last four matchups between the programs dating back to 1995.

We layout the opening odds and tell you which direction the line is likely to move.

Notre Dame vs Ohio State Week 1 Opening Odds

Odds on August 28th at DraftKings Sportsbook.

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Note: Since this is first game of the season for each program — and a game with intense national interest — most sportsbooks set the opening line weeks ago with OSU as a 14-point favorite. As we head into actual game week, it is now officially a three-score spread for the Buckeyes.

In Marcus We Trust

The early line movement surely says more about the hype CJ Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and TreVeyon Henderson are getting than doubts over the ability of Notre Dame’s new head coach Marcus Freeman to pull off a mammoth upset in his debut. But it’s worth noting that bettors are looking past Ohio State’s early hiccup against Oregon last year at the Horseshoe.

Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees said the No. 5 Fighting Irish playing at No. 2 Ohio State in Week 1 is the type of opportunity you “live for.”

“We’re playing football at Ohio State in the first week of the season. If that doesn’t get your blood going, you got to find a new sport.” pic.twitter.com/F3xb7jbSkA

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) August 27, 2022

If Rees can scheme a fast-starting game plan — similar to the one former Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff engineered early last season on the road — there’s no reason to think this line could move back a bit.. Remember, the Bucks attempted three fourth-down conversions and missed on all three, giving UO momentum for its eventual upset. But if OSU head coach Ryan Day has the luxury of an early lead, there will be no reason for the home team to gamble early.

The Irish roster is very talented, but it’s not Ohio State-talented. Any odds movement back to the underdogs will be a belief that Freeman — in his debut — can outcoach Day.

Triplets Are Enticing

The public loves stars — and places its bets accordingly. And, boy, does Ohio State have stars. Quarterback Stroud,  wide receiver Smith-Njigba and running back Henderson are among 52 players on the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, which is given annually to the best player in college football. Only OSU, Alabama and Georgia have three players on the list.

C.J. Stroud, TreVeyon Henderson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, are on the watch list for Walter Camp Player of the Year.🌰🅾️ pic.twitter.com/ttaW0CxjDE

— BuckeyeUpdates🌰👀 (@Buckeyeslife247) July 29, 2022

For what it’s worth, Notre Dame has one player — tight end Michael Mayer — on the list.

Meantime on defense, a reconstructed OSU defense features a pair of standouts — safety Ronnie Hickman and cornerback Denzel Burke — on the watch list for the Thorpe Award, given annually to the top defensive back in the country.

Hickman led the team in tackle last season while Burke is heading into a sophomore season with high expectations after impressing as a true freshman starter a year ago.

When it comes to names on the marquee, Ohio State handily beats Notre Dame. And that matters to bettors.

Ohio State vs Notre Dame Expected Line Movement 

As noted above, this line has already ballooned from 14 points to 17 points ahead of kickoff.  Barring an injury to a key player from either team in practice this week, the current line feels secure — unless bettors take note of this nugget.

Ohio State has lost their marquee non-conference home game many times straight up as a solid favorite. Those losses include:

❌2021 vs Oregon (+14.5)
❌2017 vs Oklahoma (+7.5)
❌2014 vs Virginia Tech (+14.5)
❌2009 vs USC (+7.5)
❌2005 vs Texas

#5 Notre Dame is a 17 point dog.

— Menace2Picks (@Menace2Picks) August 28, 2022

Way early lines from April had Ohio State installed as 10.5-point favorites! This one comes down to belief in Freeman’s perceived ability to outsmart a proven commodity vs. roster talent — which is unlikely to affect significant line fluctuation.