Who will win the College Football Playoff title game? Ohio State was favored over Notre Dame

The Athletic has live coverage of Ohio State vs. Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.

Two of college football's biggest brands will battle for a national title Monday night when Notre Dame and Ohio State meet in the College Football Playoff Championship Game in Atlanta. Who will come out on top? The AthleticsThe writers of the film make their choice for who will win the trophy.

Matt Baker: The Buckeyes were my preseason title pick because they have consistently amassed plenty of talent and will certainly break through eventually. We can conveniently skip everything I may or may not have said after the Michigan game and return to my original prediction. Ohio State has a championship-worthy roster and will win it all. Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 17.

Scott Dochterman: I picked these teams to face each other in this game, and they proved me right with their resilience and toughness. The Buckeyes have the best defense in the country and too much firepower on offense to keep up with Notre Dame. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 13.

Seth Emerson: The Buckeyes were my pick for the National Championship before the season started and went into the Playoff. It would be a strange time to abandon them. The Irish are tempting, a good combination of well coached, good along the lines and playing loose. But the general rule in college football is that the best team in the country comes out at the end, and that's what the expanded Playoff has given us: a chance for the best team to atone and then turn it in when it matters most. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 17.

Christopher Kamrani: The Irish could come up with a great game plan that the Buckeyes aren't ready for and won't be able to adapt to, but right now I don't see any team slowing down Ohio States' offense for four quarters and being able to move the ball with ease at that revived. defense. Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 16.

Sam Khan Jr.: The Buckeyes have the deeper, more talented team, and as long as they take care of the ball, they have an advantage against the banged-up Fighting Irish. Expect this to be a low-scoring slugfest, with a few explosive plays from the Buckeyes' offensive stars making the difference. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 14.

Will Howard and Ohio State have won three straight games since losing to Michigan. (Jerome Miron / Imagn images)

Larry Henry: Ohio State is the better team on offense and defense, and I don't see Notre Dame having much success against the Buckeyes. The Fighting Irish have done well to get to this game, but expect Ohio State to score early and defend the lead. Will Howard is my pick for MVP of the national championship game. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 7.

Stewart Mandel: As good as Notre Dame is on defense, Ohio State's defense is just as good or better. It will come down to whichever team can bust a few big plays, and the Buckeyes simply have more players who can do that. Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 16.

Austin Meek: Ohio State will throw the first punch, and then one of two things will happen: the Buckeyes will keep their foot on the gas and pull away, or Notre Dame will steady themselves and make it a four-quarter game. I'm going for the latter. Notre Dame won't fold, but Ohio State will make a game-changing play in the fourth quarter and complete Ryan Days' redemption arc. Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 17.

Antonio Morales: If Notre Dame were healthier, this would be a better game. Ohio State is just too much trouble. The Buckeyes offense is playing extremely well and it will be difficult to slow down a bloated defense. This is also the best defense Notre Dame has faced in the playoffs, and with the injuries on the offensive line and the lack of a passing game on the field, the Fighting Irish will have a hard time scoring. Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 7.

Grace Raynor: The Buckeyes have too much talent on offense and defense and have found a way to play angry after the embarrassing Michigan debacle. Ohio State is confident after back-to-back wins against Oregon and Texas and has proven it can find different ways to win. Day gets it done with his back against the wall. Ohio State 35, Notre Dame 28.

Joe Rexrode: How about a classic? Can we get a classic? Many of my peers see the Buckeyes rolling, and I understand, but I just can't ignore the mental strength of the Marcus Freemans team. A defense-dominated game begins in the fourth quarter as both sides tire, and a Howard throw to OSU's other first-round receiver Emeka Egbuka sets up a Jayden Fielding 51-yard field goal to win, his first of more than 50 meters. the season. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 23.

Cameron Teague Robinson: Ohio State just has too much talent here. Notre Dame has played well this year and will keep it close in the first half, but the Irish haven't seen a receiving corps, running back duo or defense like Ohio States. Ohio State's defense will make the difference. Howard may throw an interception that leads to a Notre Dame touchdown, but the defense will do enough to give Ohio State short fields, and the playmakers will make enough plays to open this game up for a comfortable fourth quarter, allowing Day gets the national championship that he has. missing. Ohio State 28, Notre Dame 10.

Ralph D. Russo: We talk a lot about the Buckeyes offense, but Ohio State's defense is the best unit in this game and where its biggest advantage lies against a Notre Dame offense that isn't particularly explosive and has a limited passing game with quarterback Riley Leonard , ranked 58th in the rankings. the nation in efficiency rating (137.80). Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 17.

Piet Samson: Notre Dame knows how to engage Ohio State in a rock fight because it has done it before. The Irish know how to limit a Buckeyes receiver because they've done it before. But this will take more than that. Notre Dame needs to score on defense or on special teams to pull off the upset, or at least give Leonard a short field. And Notre Dame has done that during this CFP run. Notre Dame 21, Ohio State 20.

Mitch Sherman: The Irish just don't have the firepower to hang with Ohio State. Notre Dame has accomplished more with the weapons on the roster this season than any team nationally. But the edge in offensive talent that the Buckeyes enjoy will take its toll, as long as Ohio State doesn't lose focus, which has happened, and deviate from watching its playmakers in the moments that matter. The Buckeyes will be intentional about taking advantage of their built-in advantage at this stage. Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 17.

Daniel Shirley: Ohio State is the favorite, and for good reason. It has the most talented roster in the country and has found its groove in the College Football Playoff with three stellar performances. But there's just something special about this Notre Dame team that will be showcased again in the championship. Notre Dame 20, Ohio State 17.

Riley Leonard and Notre Dame have won thirteen games in a row. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

Eric Single: The historical implications on both sides could hinder the pace and strategy of this battle. Freeman has passed every game management test this winter, and this could be the titanic achievement that propels the Irish coach into crossover superstardom. Notre Dame 20, Ohio State 17.

Kennington Smith III: How about a stroke? Ohio states that the team is the most talented on paper, and Notre Dame has been decimated by injuries, all things that have been true in each of the Irish Playoff games and they continue to win. Can Notre Dame get Ohio State to play its game? It can because it has done it before. Let's not forget the classic that these teams played last season. It was a game that Notre Dame missed, and Monday night will be a moment of redemption. Both teams are playing at an extremely high level, which will make for a great match. Give me credit for Freeman continuing to get the best out of his squad and winning in those situational moments that will turn the game around. Leonard will do just enough, and an MVP performance from Jeremiyah Love will lift Notre Dame to the national championship. Notre Dame 23, Ohio State 20.

Audrey Snyder: The loss to Michigan proved to be the turning point for the Buckeyes. The team we thought we'd see all season, the one with the ultra-talented roster brought here to win a national title, finally showed up in December. Better late than never. I'm having a hard time seeing how Notre Dame's offense can keep up with this elite defense unless Howard gifts the Irish with a takeaway or two. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 14

Jesse Temple: Ohio State was a juggernaut during a three-game Playoff winning streak, embarrassing Tennessee and Oregon. Notre Dame has won thirteen games in a row and had a fantastic season. But Ohio State's balance and overall talent should shine through. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 14.

David Ubben: The Buckeyes defense will win this game because it can stifle the Irish offense, create turnovers and win the field position battle. It may not shut down Notre Dame with haymakers like it did against Oregon, but it can carry Notre Dame and take control in the second half. Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 13.

Chris Vannini: Notre Dame has the ability to engage Ohio State in a rock fight. It has slowed the Buckeyes in recent meetings. But I'm concerned about the Irish's ability to score given their offensive line and running back injuries. A win is possible, but Ohio State has too much firepower and will do enough to win. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 14.

Justin Williams: This one will be similar to the Buckeyes' win over Texas, with both defenses keeping things close and low until a fourth-quarter score by Ohio State puts the game out of reach and completes a remarkable one-month turnaround by Ohio State and Day. Ohio State 28, Notre Dame 13.

(Top Photos: CFP/Getty Images)