Ryan Day's job was in jeopardy just over a month ago. Now he's preparing to lead Ohio State against Notre Dame in the CFP National Championship Game on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as an 8-point favorite.

• Our Ohio State vs. Notre Dame player prop picks focus on an unsung hero who's a key reason the Buckeyes are the college football championship odds favorite
• As detailed in our Ohio State vs. Notre Dame preview, Fighting Irish QB Riley Leonard is set to endure a difficult time against the Buckeyes
• We expect a significant game from Jeremiah Smith, which is why our Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks peg him to take home the MVP Award

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame college football player prop picks: CFP National Championship

College football picks made Friday; odds subject to change. Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

• TreVeyon Henderson touchdown prediction: Anytime TD scorer () ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Riley Leonard prop pick: Under 178.5 passing yards (-115 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Jeremiah Smith prop pick: Over 79.5 receiving yards () ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame touchdown prediction

TreVeyon Henderson anytime TD scorer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +105 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 48.78%

There are a couple of different Buckeyes that you could target to find the end zone against Notre Dame, but Henderson is offering by far the best value at our college football betting sites.

While Smith (15) and Quinshon Judkins (13) have logged more TDs this season than Henderson (11), the Buckeyes' senior running back has turned it on during the CFP. He's scored in all three of Ohio State's College Football Playoff games and leads the team with five postseason scores.

Henderson has looked fresh and explosive in the CFP after splitting the backfield with Judkins for the entire season. He's averaging an impressive 121.6 yards from scrimmage on 10.6 touches per game in the playoff.

While Notre Dame boasts a top-notch defense, Henderson's combo of burst and contact balance should create issues. He's a dynamo in space with five runs of 15-plus yards in the postseason to go with 169 rushing yards after contact, according to .

The best odds for Henderson also pay a $10.50 profit on a $10 winning bet as opposed to Smith's (-115) and Judkins' (-105).

Best Ohio State vs. Notre Dame prop picks

Riley Leonard Under 178.5 passing yards ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -115 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.49%

The most obvious reason Ohio State is more than a touchdown favorite against Notre Dame is because of the Fighting Irish's one-dimensional offense. While Leonard has showcased his ability as a runner, he's been unpredictable as a passer this season. 

The Duke transfer has thrown for fewer than 179 yards in nine of 15 games (60%) and has more turnover-worthy plays (three) than big-time throws (two) in the College Football Playoff. It doesn't help his case that Notre Dame's pass-catchers struggle to separate and not one of them ranks in the top 200 in the country in yards per route run.

Now he's taking on the No. 1 defense by  which allows the fewest passing yards per game in the country (161.1). To make matters worse, Notre Dame is playing with a banged up O-line against a pass rush led by Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, who have a combined 108 pressures this season.

Jeremiah Smith Over 79.5 receiving yards ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -115 via bet365 | Implied probability: 53.49%

When Texas held Smith to just one reception for three yards in the Cotton Bowl, Longhorns defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski utilized a strong game plan that involved bracketing him with a safety to give Jahdae Barron and Malik Muhammad help.

It sounds as if Notre Dame may not play Smith the same way, with cornerback Leonard Moore  the Irish will predominantly be in man coverage, much like they have been all season. That's part of the reason I'm not worried about Smith being shut down again, and the other is that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has benefitted from over a week to figure out how to get his star the ball.

Last time Smith was quieted in a marquee game was when Michigan kept him to 35 yards. The next two games Smith was fed and proceeded to record 290 yards and four scores on 13 receptions against Tennessee and Oregon during the first two games of the CFP.

He should clear 79.5 receiving yards for the 10th time this season and turn a $10 bet into an $8.70 profit.

CFP National Championship Game odds & game info

• When: Monday, Jan. 20
• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• How to watch: ESPN
• Weather: Indoors
• Favorite: Ohio State -8 (-110 via Caesars)

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