Ohio State vs. Notre Dame odds, prediction: College Football National Championship pick

Ohio State is the most talented team in the nation.In the past month, it has been as impressive as any team has looked at any point this season.

It is the heavy favorite to win the national championship, as it should be.But the Buckeyes know how easy it is to fall from that perch.When it won its most recent national title a decade ago, Ohio State and its third-string quarterback (Cardale Jones), entered as a six-point underdog to Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and Oregon, and left with a 22-point win.Its other national championship win of the 21st century came as an 11-point underdog, which ended Miami’s 34-game winning streak.

In between those titles, Heisman winner Troy Smith and the unbeaten Buckeyes were blown out by Florida.If Ohio State prevails, it will be the first two-loss national champion in 17 years.At their best, the Buckeyes could embarrass Notre Dame.

But it isn’t difficult to envision Ohio State failing to reach its potential, as it did during the regular season.This is a team that is one month removed from scoring 10 points as a 21-point favorite, that needed late goal-line stands to beat Texas and Penn State, that faced a fourth-quarter deficit against Nebraska.Ohio State is led by a coach (Ryan Day) with a losing record in his biggest games, whose only national championship game appearance ended with a 38-point loss.

The Buckeyes offensive coordinator (Chip Kelly) also made one national-title game appearance as a head coach, leading Oregon’s top offense to 19 points in a loss to Auburn in the 2011 title game.Quarterback Will Howard has five interceptions in the past five games.

Superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was held to one catch for three yards in the semifinals.The ground game was limited to 3.4 yards per carry against the Longhorns.The recent blueprint is a bonus.

Notre Dame has the structure and discipline to go in blind, riding the nation’s No.2 defense to 13 straight wins, while going 11-1-1 against the spread.

In the p...