Riley Leonard bold predictions for Notre Dame-Ohio State CFP title game

The national championship matchup is set. The Notre Dame football team will take on Ohio State next Monday night in Atlanta with everything on the line. Both the Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes were tested in the semifinal round as Notre Dame narrowly outlasted Penn State, and a heroic play from Jack Sawyer lifted Ohio State past Texas in the final minutes. Both semifinal games were terrific matchups that came down to the wire, and we can only hope that the national title will be the same. It is shaping up to be a fun matchup.

Ohio State is definitely the favorite coming into this game as they have had the more difficult road to the national title game, and they have also looked more dominant. However, the Fighting Irish have more than earned their right to play in this game, and they are ready to give the Buckeyes a good battle.

Before we get into some predictions for this game, let’s take a deeper look at both the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish.

Ohio State is the clear favorite

Unless you’re a Notre Dame fan, you’re probably picking Ohio State to win the national title game. The Buckeyes went down to the wire against Texas, but they dominated in their first two games of the playoff and they have definitely looked like the best team in the field despite being the eight seed.

The Buckeyes have looked good, and they are loaded with weapons unlike any other team in the country. This team is riddled with NFL talent, and that talent is taking them far. Ohio State didn’t have the regular season that they were hoping for, but they are making up for it in the playoff.

Ohio State failed to accomplish goals of beating rival Michigan and winning the Big Ten, but winning a national title will certainly make Buckeyes fans feel better about that.

Can Notre Dame pull off the upset?

Ohio State is a big favorite in this game, but Notre Dame is actually the team with the higher seed. It’s a bit of a surprise to see the seven seed and the eight seed in the national title game, but these teams are ranked higher than some teams that ended up being seeded ahead of them because of the way that the format works. Still, not a lot of people had the Fighting Irish making it this far, and they are hoping to prove some more people wrong.

Notre Dame has won three playoff games to get here, but this will definitely be their stiffest challenge yet. It wasn’t easy getting past Georgia or Penn State, but the Buckeyes definitely have more talent than those two squads, and this will be a big challenge for the Fighting Irish. It is going to take a great performance to pull off the upset.

The Fighting Irish are going to have their hands full in this one, and it is going to be tough to capture a national championship. In order to win, they will need a big performance from quarterback Riley Leonard. Here are three predictions for his performance:

Riley Leonard will throw three interceptions

Notre Dame has struggled to get their passing attack going this season, and they are going to need it against Ohio State. The Buckeyes are able to score in bunches, and the Fighting Irish won’t be able to keep up by just running the football. They are going to be forced into trying to make big plays through the air, and that isn’t their game. It will cost them as Riley Leonard will end up turning the ball over a couple times.

Riley Leonard will throw zero touchdown passes

If the Notre Dame football team does find the end zone in the national title game (and that is a big if as the Buckeyes have a terrific defense) it will be on the ground. Running the football is the strength of this Notre Dame offense and they are certainly going to try to establish that part of their offense early in the game. If they can get it going they will a chance in this one, but expect Ohio State to sell out to stop the run because of the lack of a passing threat from Riley Leonard and Notre Dame.