How the Buckeyes will beat USC (I hope..)

With Saturday night's showdown in the Horseshoe less than two days away, I feel it's time to try and infuse some optimism into the OSU fanbase. OSU is quite capable of handing the Trojans a loss, but I'd be beyond delusional to say it will be an easy task. Here's how the #7 team in the nation, a 7-point home underdog, can come out of Saturday's battle with National Championship hopes intact.

1. Win the turnover battle.

It's the reason Ohio State was able to hold off a spirited Navy squad, and it will be one of the determining factors in OSU coming out on top Saturday.  Last week, safety Kurt Coleman's interception and two forced fumbles made all the difference in the outcome, and that doesn't include Brian Rolle's game-changing pick-two that prevented Navy from tying the game at 29. The Buckeyes won the turnover battle 3-1, in effect 4-1. Meanwhile, USC fumbled the ball twice against San Jose State and forced two as well.

Make no mistake, OSU's defense isn't as highly touted as last year's with the losses of Laurinaitis, Jenkins, and Freeman, but they have just as much speed, if not more. With guys like Brian Rolle and Jermale Hines getting time at linebacker (Hines has become a starter at safety), Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson on the defensive line, and Kurt Coleman and Chimdi Chekwa in the secondary, the team has guys with that big-play potential.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that OSU needs to score a defensive touchdown, much like USC LB Rey Maualuga did in Los Angeles last season on a pick-six from Todd Boeckman in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 21-3.

2. Terrelle Pryor's coming out party

Is there a better game for Terrelle Pryor to show the nation he is more than just a high-profile recruit? Pryor has all the tools necessary; he just needs to put them together in one complete performance. Considering the OSU O-line's subpar performance, Pryor could be on the move outside the pocket for most of the game, and he'll have to make plays on the run. Not only will he almost assuredly run the ball more than the six times he did against Navy, but he'll have to make a few big completions downfield as well. There's a lot riding on #2's shoulders, but he is a big-time player capable of elevating his game on the highest stage.

To be victorious, Pryor must trust his head and his arm as well as his legs. If I were Coach Tressel, I would give Pryor some free reign to make the big plays that could win the game for the Bucks. Pryor may need three scores (whether in the air or the ground) to get the job done.