Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Betting Trends: Fighting Irish Among Largest Top-5 Underdogs Ever

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Odds

*Odds as of Saturday morning

The first full Saturday slate of the new college football season kicks off with a bang today, anchored by No. 5 Notre Dame visiting No. 2 Ohio State tonight.

It's not at all surprising to see Notre Dame, on the road, as an underdog to Ohio State.

However, what might catch your attention is just how big of an underdog Notre Dame is on Saturday night.

According to live college football odds, the Fighting Irish currently sit at +16 against the Buckeyes, putting Notre Dame in very rare company.

Using our Bet Labs software, let's take a quick look at just how unusual it is to see such a highly-ranked team as a 16-point underdog.

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Betting Trends

Since the start of the 2000 college football season, there have been just two instances of an AP top-five team closing as an underdog of at least 16 points:

• Notre Dame (+18.5) vs. Alabama on Jan. 1, 2021 (Rose Bowl)
• Tennessee (+17.5) vs. Florida on Dec. 1, 2001

At +16, Notre Dame is in line to close as the third-largest underdog for an AP top-five team since the turn of the century, and some late Ohio State money could push this spread even higher.

When it comes to the Irish specifically, Saturday night's game is also on pace to be team's largest underdog spread for a season opener over the past 50 years.

Here's a look at where Notre Dame +16 against Ohio State ranks historically for the team's season-opening games:

• Notre Dame (+16) at Ohio State on Sept. 3, 2022
• Notre Dame (+13.5) at Nebraska on Sept. 8, 2001
• Notre Dame (+6.5) vs. Michigan on Sept. 13, 1986
• Notre Dame (+6) vs. Michigan on Sept. 5, 1998
• Notre Dame (+6) at Michigan on Sept. 16, 1979
• Notre Dame (+6) at Michigan on Sept. 12, 1987

As of the time of writing, 49% of Notre Dame vs. Ohio State spread bets have come in on the Irish, suggesting that bettors are essentially split on Saturday night's matchup.