Urban Meyer predicts outcome of Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

Vegas — and by proxy bettors — think Ohio State is a comfortable favorite against Notre Dame in the Horseshoe for the season opener on Saturday night, and former Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer agrees. He thinks it’ll be a competitive matchup, but that in the end Ohio State will pull away.

On “Urban’s Take with Tim May,” a national college football show from On3, Meyer said he thinks the offensive firepower for Ohio State will be too much, ultimately, for a strong Notre Dame defense to handle. And like a lot of Buckeye fans, Meyer is excited to see what new coordinator Jim Knowles has done to refurbish the defense.

“I think it’s going to be close. I think it’s going to be right around that number. I think Ohio State will win the game,” Meyer said. “You just can’t — the skill level right now on the offensive skill, it’s going to be hard to stop ’em. But I’m really excited to see this defense. Everything I’m hearing out of training camp and even spring practice, the installation and the way the players — you mentioned it earlier — the way they’re absorbing what Jim Knowles is teaching ’em has been, from everything I hear, it’s been outstanding. But once again, give credit to the players but also give credit to the assistant coaches on defense.”

Ohio State and Notre Dame have met six times in the history of both programs and the Buckeyes hold a 4-2 edge in the series. The two wins for the Irish came in back-to-back years in 1935 and 36. In recent memory, though, the Buckeyes own Notre Dame.

The Buckeyes took both games of a home-and-home series in the mid-1990s, winning by double digits both times. Then in 2006 the teams met in the Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State won, this time by 14. Then, in 2016, they met again in the Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State won, 44-28.