The College Football Playoff National Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame has arrived. Here is how to compete in DFS for Monday night’s championship game.
DraftKings has one of their biggest college football DFS contests of the year for the final game of the season with the CFB Showdown $500K Champ Bowl with $100,000 going to first place. You can enter the contest for just $20.
Captain’s Pick
Will Howard ($17,700 CP) – Will Howard has been playing on another level in the College Football Playoff. Howard was more of a game-manager who made the occasional big play throughout the regular season for Ohio State. However, he has found a new gear in the postseason. Howard is averaging 306.3 passing yards per game in the CFP, compared to 238.3 passing yards per game in the regular season. Howard also has a 6-to-2 TD/INT ratio through three games and has only taken two sacks. This Notre Dame passing defense is one of the best in the nation, but they have taken some damage so far in the CFP and in their regular season finale against USC. Ohio State has the best skill position players by far of any team that Notre Dame has faced this season. Howard should be able to create some explosive plays down the field to Jeremiah Smith ($10,800) and work the ball to his tight ends and running backs in the screen game, as he did so effectively against Texas. Howard could also have a big game with his legs if Notre Dame sells out to take away the passing game.
UTIL Picks
Studs
Jeremiyah Love ($9,000) – Jeremiyah Love got injured in the CFP quarterfinals and was questionable to play against Penn State in the semifinals. However, Love ended up suiting up and, while he didn’t put up crazy numbers, he still went for 46 yards and a touchdown. Love also pulled off a ridiculous hurdle that would imply his knee is healthy enough. The long rest between the Penn State game and this game should have Love feeling even healthier and ready to go. Love has been a touchdown machine this season, scoring at least once in every game he’s played in except the quarterfinal game, which he left early with an injury. Ohio State has a great defense, but they are more vulnerable against the run than the pass, ranking third in EPA/pass and 18th in EPA/rush. Love should get a lot of carries and find the end zone like he always does.
TreVeyon Henderson ($8,600) – TreVeyon Henderson has been one of the standout players for Ohio State in the CFP. The running back duo of Henderson and Quinshon Judkins ($8,200) has been a force all season. However, Henderson has been the one to come up with the huge plays so far in the postseason. Henderson had 134 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee, 114 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Oregon and 117 all-purpose yards and a touchdown against Texas. Henderson’s incredible 75-yard touchdown on a screen pass to end the first half was the game-changing play against Texas in the semifinals. Ryan Day will look to get the ball in Henderson’s hands early and often in this game to try to break down the Notre Dame defense.
Value
Jordan Faison ($6,400) – Jordan Faison has been Notre Dame’s best receiver in the postseason. Faison had a minimal role in the regular season but has been Notre Dame’s leading receiver in two of their three playoff games so far. Notre Dame is a run-first offense but there is a path where Ohio State jumps on them early and they need to be aggressive through the air to keep up with the Buckeyes. That would lead to a lot of targets for Faison, whose quickness could make him a tough cover for the elite Ohio State secondary. Most importantly, Faison is the type of receiver who could find some space in the Buckeyes’ secondary and pick up a lot of yards after the catch.
Mitch Jeter ($4,400) – Mitch Jeter has been one of the postseason heroes for Notre Dame. Jeter transferred last offseason and found immediate success, kicking the game-winning field goal against Texas A&M in Week 1. However, Jeter suffered an injury early in the season and that sent the Notre Dame kicking game into a spiral. Notre Dame was the worst field-goal-kicking team in the country during the regular season. The backup kickers for the Irish had no success and that required them to rush Jeter back from his injury. Jeter was clearly still hurt while trying to kick later in the regular season and it led to his numbers being really bad, as well. However, Jeter used the time off before the CFP to fix his hip problem and he has been nails for the Irish ever since. Jeter is 7-for-8 on field goals through three playoff games, including hitting the game-winner against Penn State. Jeter is a perfect 53-for-53 on extra points this season and has hit some deep field goals in the CFP, so he is a great value addition to any lineup.
Carnell Tate ($3,200) – Carnell Tate is the somewhat forgotten WR3 of this Ohio State offense. Jeremiah Smith is a superstar and Emeka Egbuka ($7,800) is the veteran presence and Tate is the clearly behind those two. However, at times Tate can benefit from the amount of attention his teammates get from opposing defenses. It was very clear against Texas in the semifinals that the Longhorns would not let Smith beat them after what he did in the first two playoff games for Ohio State. They took Smith out of the game and he was a virtual non-factor. However, that opened up space for Carnell Tate to operate in single coverage and led to Tate having seven catches for 87 yards. With 50 catches and nearly 700 yards on the season, Tate is as good of a WR3 as you will find in the country. If Notre Dame adopts a strategy similar to Texas’, it could be a monster day for Tate in the National Championship.
