Despite Playing a Backup QB, The Buckeyes are Still Massive Favorites Against USC

The new-look Ohio State Buckeyes are going to head west at the end of this week for a primetime showdown with the USC Trojans inside the LA Coliseum. This game is between two of the biggest brands in the entire world of college athletics and should be a great matchup, even with a lopsided outlook.

Even with Ohio State being down their starting quarterback, they are still projected as massive favorites. As it stands on Monday, Ohio State is a 7.5-point favorite over the Trojans. 

The line has bounced around pretty significantly over the past two weeks. Ohio State was a 7.5-point favorite before Julian Sayin was lost for the year. It moved down to 6.5, and then the Trojans put out an absolute stinker last week against the Wisconsin Badgers, and the number jumped back up.

On the Trojans' side, they got into an old-school wrestling match against Wisconsin, and it didn't go well for the LA boys. They were outgained on the ground by over 200 yards, and the Badgers needed to throw for just 54 yards to get the win. 

For the Buckeyes, this is such a great opportunity to get the running game back on track. The rushing attack for Ohio State has been up and down this year, and most recently, it has been in a slump. 

Against Indiana, Ohio State rushed for just 78 yards on 37 carries. Those numbers do factor in big quarterback sacks. Sayin's numbers were five rushes for -26 yards on the day, but that is still part of the point.

This game on Saturday is a huge opportunity for the Buckeyes to control the line of scrimmage in a big way, something that they haven't done in weeks.

It is equally important because it will take the stress off of Luke Fahey. Fahey is going into his first start against a team that can't stop the run. The Buckeyes could, and should, look to establish the run and allow Fahey to throw only when he needs to.

I'l be very curious to watch that line throughout the week to see just how much it moves. Even at 7.5, I think that the Buckeyes, even with a backup, should be more between 10.5 and 13.5. 

Ohio State is by far and away the better team in each and every phase. They should go out to LA and be able to bully the Trojans around, no matter what the spread is.