Ohio State Gets Excellent Prediction Ahead of USC Showdown

The Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for a big game this weekend as the team heads to the West Coast.

After a bye week, the Buckeyes will now be facing off against the USC Trojans, giving this team another test to overcome. Ohio State remains one of the better teams in the country, but the Trojans will be a challenge.

This will be the first game between the two historic programs in Big Ten play, giving each another reason to want to win. The two programs have met multiple times over the years, and it's always been a fun matchup.

The Buckeyes did lose starting quarterback Julian Sayin, likely for the season, but this team still has a lot of talent on the roster. Ohio State believes that it can still win a title this season, and the Trojans are just the next team in its way.

As the team gets ready for the Trojans, they will be entering the game with a record of 6-1, going 4-0 in Big Ten play. USC comes in with a record of 6-2, going 3-2 in their conference games so far.

The Trojans are coming off a bad loss to the Wisconsin Badgers last weekend, giving this team all the desperation they need. The Buckeyes will need to stay focused in this game, looking at this trip as purely business.

Entering the game, the Buckeyes are still favored to take down the Trojans, even with the injury to Sayin. According to the ESPN matchup predictor, Ohio State has an 82.8 percent chance of defeating USC on the road this week.

For the Buckeyes, making sure to keep the basics the same in this game will be a key. Even without Sayin, the offense should still run through star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, giving the team a boost.

Ohio State may rely even more heavily on Smith to help whoever is under center for this Buckeyes team, giving them a reliable target. Smith is on pace for a truly special season, and the loss of Sayin shouldn't change that fact.

The Buckeyes defense will also be tasked with slowing down USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, who has thrown for 2,302 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. The Trojans rely on their offense to set the tone for the team, and the defense has been a little shaky this season.

Kickoff between the two sides is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.