OGS Spotlight Game Of The Week: Ohio State At Wisconsin

By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season

Terrelle Pryor as an X factor?

Yes, that's exactly what he'll be in Ohio State's first road test this season at Wisconsin Saturday night.

Usually, the X factor is a lesser-known player or an inconsistent element about a particular team, not a high-profile Heisman candidate.

For example, you might hear something as specific as "Their kickoff coverage will be the X factor" to describe a squad that's allowed too many big plays on special teams as it prepares to face an opponent whose roster boasts some dangerous return specialists.

Declaring Pryor as an X factor might be surprising because, this season at least, you know what you're going to get with him: an athletic quarterback who has the feet to run past you, but also boasts new confidence in his ability to beat you with better decision-making in the pocket and a stronger arm. Trevor Matich has broken things down smartly on ESPN this week, saying Pryor's decision-making wasn't necessarily bad in his first two years; it was just a little tardy sometimes. It's true; many of his interceptions or incompletions were well-thrown balls that just arrived late, missing the window during which his intended target was open.

But this year, Pryor has improved his accuracy, thanks in part to making his throws earlier and often with more zip. Even ABC's Bob Griese said on a recent OSU telecast that Pryor has made a few throws this year that he wouldn't have made in 2009. Pryor is more comfortable in the pocket, so perhaps his rushing totals are down a touch, but knowing that that part of his game is still a strength keeps it difficult for opposing defenses to prepare for him.

Another reason why I think Pryor is the X factor is one that I'm surprised not many people are talking about. As a 19-year-old true freshman playing in his sixth college game, he led the Buckeyes to two fourth-quarter scoring drives to lead Ohio State to a huge road win at Wisconsin under the lights in 2008. He was 3-of-4 passing for 59 yards on the game-winning drive, a 12-play march that covered 80 yards and more than five minutes, and culminated in TP's 11-yard go-ahead touchdown run with 1:08 left. I've got to think that will be one of the first things he remembers when he takes the field for warm-ups before things get rowdy at Camp Randall Stadium Saturday night.

Neither team puts great pressure on opposing quarterbacks, so if both Pryor and Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien have equal amounts of time to make plays, who would you take? I'd take Pryor every time even if I didn't know that Ohio State's defense is third in the country in turnover margin, pass defense, pass efficiency defense and total defense; fourth in scoring defense and rush defense; and tied for fifth in interceptions. I don't think Ohio State will blow the Badgers out, but Tolzien is in for a long night. OSU wins it, 23-16.