Nolan has now had several of these games where the entire team plays well enough to win a game, and he can’t just perform average and manage that victory. Last night of course, but Washington State comes to mind last year, and even Purdue, though that was a tough situation. To have your QB, the most important player on the team, disappear entirely and even cause loses once or twice per year just isn’t going to cut it if the goal is a special season.

D was obviously excellent. Best performance by an OSU D since…probably 2006, off the top of my head. But I wouldn’t expect that every game. Last night they were amped up and trying to make a statement. The way this works is the D probably won’t show up vs Utah and Nolan will be better.

I’ve been a fan of Nolan, but now I question him. I looked back at other QBs vs USC, and they have shut down everyone they played, so it is possible USC’s D is just that good. The thing is, when watching them they don’t look that good. Fast but nothing great…guys were open all over the field and plays were there to be had. USC’s numbers are probably elevated due to playing poor QBs who can’t take advantage of those opportunities.

I’d give him a half at Utah, and if he can’t drive the ball for points just rip the band-aid off and make the change. Can’t have the most important position on the field holding back a team that is otherwise ready to do bigger things. I don’t like the idea of breaking in a new QB at this point, either, but if the rest of the team is ready to win a Pac title and the QB is playing JC level ball, then you are forced into it.

We also need open tryouts for a kicker starting today. No way Hayes can be kicking moving forward.

Early prediction: Utah 24, Beavs 14.

I’m sticking with Beavs, but I’m changing the score due to problems in the kicking game.

36-31, Beavs

Might as well put up a game week thread. I thought this was the most insightful comment from the prior thread and sums up the situation well:

USC hasn’t been in pressure situations yet, nor have they been punched in the mouth by any team yet. They are going to be similar to Carroll’s teams but more like a travel all star team. I think Williams is good to great but does get careless/greedy at times. In pressure situations he will call his own number and run . Plan for it.

I want to see how USC deals with adversity rather than being front runners.

Well said, OhioBeav.

For now I’m sticking with my pre-season prediction that the Beavs win this one. Mainly because the game is at home. This is a low conviction pick. It’s objectively hard to imagine how the Beavs will stop that QB. But as noted above, he gets greedy and careless at times, so hopefully he stops himself. Going to think about it during the week and might adjust on game day.

Beavs 31, Condoms 28

Gooo Beavs.

I’m sticking with Beavs 45, Montana State 17. Nolan 3TDs; run game 3TDs.

Post your predictions below.

Fans (and players) likely take a deep breath this weekend after getting through the toughest part of the non-conference schedule, but Montana State has outscored their opponents 103-30, so the Beavs can’t sleep on these guys. I haven’t watched a snap of Montana St football in my life, so I’m in no position to talk about them outside their impressive scoring differential. That kind of dominance says, to me, that they can beat most Pac-12 schools in any given small sample of 1 game, even though their recruiting disadvantage says they shouldn’t. Put the Beavs on upset alert if they think this is a cakewalk where they just show up. I’m guessing Smith with his Montana ties and all will be telling them not to sleep on these guys.

Beavs 45, Montana State 17