Paul Finebaum makes prediction for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, National Championship

Paul Finebaum is locking in his prediction ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game between two traditional powers in Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Both teams expected to be here, even if they took different paths to clinch their ticket to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Spoiler alert: Finebaum believes the Buckeyes will get the win, even though he has a ton of respect for what Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish have accomplish over the course of the 2024 campaign.

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“I think, as a college football fan, I would love to see a game that looks like one of the two games yesterday, that comes down to the final drive, or the final play,” Finebaum stated, alluding to the NFL’s Divisional Round on Sunday, via McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “What I think will happen will be more of the repeat of some of the early games for Ohio State. I see them coming after Notre Dame quickly. Whether they can get away with that, I think, is still a little bit in doubt. But I see somewhere between a 10 and 17-point win for Ohio State.

“… I like Notre Dame a lot, but I just think, ultimately, they don’t have the ability to manufacture enough points, and I think Ohio State can do that easily.”

It seems like the prevailing thought is Ohio State will get the win, but that’s why they play the game. Regardless, Finebaum believes a victory is much more important for the Buckeyes, considering their preseason expectations, and how close they’ve come under Ryan Day in the past.

“I think the answer is easily Ohio State,” Finebaum added. “To me, Notre Dame has already won and I know that sounds counter to the history of the school, which is as large and as vast as any in America, but Ohio State has just been knocking on the door.

““They started the season as the most talented team. They’ve been the most talked about team because of Ryan Day and the loss to Michigan in mid-November. So, I think a win there would validate all the things that have gone into it. A win for Notre Dame would not so much be icing because I don’t think Notre Dame fans are just content to be there, but I don’t think it’s quite as important.”

Alas, kickoff for the National Championship Game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST in Atlanta tonight. Whether Paul Finebaum is right remains to be seen, but it should be an awesome battle between Ohio State and Notre Dame.