No. 2 Ohio State travels to Los Angeles on Saturday to face a USC team that dropped out of the rankings after a loss to Wisconsin. The kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on NBC, and an ESPN betting preview argues the Trojans are a more dangerous opponent than their position suggests.
USC is 6-2, with its other defeat coming against Oregon. Ohio State is 6-1 and has been counted among the national title favorites all season, though it lost at Texas in Week 2. The Buckeyes are 2-1 against AP Top 25 teams, while USC is 0-1. Another loss would complicate Ohio State's championship case.
According to DraftKings, Ohio State is a 7-point favorite. The money line is Ohio State at -265 and USC at +215, and the over/under is 51.5 points. The odds are subject to change.
The biggest question is on the Buckeyes' offense. Sayin is out, so freshman Luke Fahey will make his first start, and it will come on the road. He has only 13 pass attempts this season, which gives little evidence of how he will handle the assignment. The preview acknowledges that Ohio State has a potential Heisman winner in receiver Jeremiah Smith, but notes that someone still has to deliver him the ball.
Leaning on running back Bo Jackson is the obvious alternative, though the numbers raise questions. Jackson averages 5.9 yards per carry at home and 3.8 away this season. The preview notes that road opponents have been tougher, but says Ohio State has not shown it can run at will in a difficult matchup, and that those games came with Sayin giving defenses another threat to consider. The expectation is a simplified offense that is not necessarily an efficient one.
USC's case rests largely on quarterback Jayden Maiava and the home setting. At home he is completing almost 70% of his passes, averaging 9.2 yards per attempt, with 13 touchdowns against three interceptions. On the road those figures fall to 62.6% and 7.3 yards per attempt. His best work comes on intermediate throws of 10 to 19 yards, where he has seven touchdowns and one interception, so the Trojans do not need to depend on deep shots.
The preview's pick is USC plus 7, and it also leans toward the under of 51.5 points. Ohio State's defense is allowing successful plays on just 32% of opposing pass attempts, and USC's running game does not appear strong enough to ease the load on Maiava. The expectation is that the Trojans will have to work for their points, and that a more conservative Ohio State offense could mean longer possessions and a lower-scoring game.
There are clear cautions. USC's defense could give up easy scores, and Ohio State is 58-1 against unranked opponents under coach Ryan Day, with the lone loss coming against Michigan in 2024. Still, the preview anticipates a competitive fourth quarter. Ohio State has averaged just 6.3 and 4.3 fourth-quarter points in road games over the last two seasons, and if the game stays close, it argues, Maiava gives USC a real chance to finish the upset.
