USC QB Max Wittek guarantees defeat of Notre Dame

Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

USC redshirt freshman quarterback Max Wittek isn't shying away from Saturday's big stage. In fact, Matt Barkley's injury replacement is thinking big: Wittek is guaranteeing a win against Notre Dame.

"We're going to win this ballgame," Wittek said of the Trojans' season-ending date with the Fighting Irish in an interview with an ESPN Radio affiliate in Los Angeles.

As if Saturday's game needed another story line.

Wittek is stepping in for Barkley, who suffered a potentially season-ending shoulder injury during Saturday's 38-28 loss to UCLA. Wittek has completed eight of nine passes this season for 95 yards, including all three of his attempts for 40 yards during the fourth quarter against the Bruins.

Wittek is expected to battle with incoming freshman Max Browne for the starting job in 2013, after Barkley moves on to the NFL, so this week's experience might come in handy.

A full transcript of Wittek's comment:

"We haven't got the full game plan yet, but from what I can tell, we're going to play our offense, whatever coach (Lane) Kiffin feels comfortable giving me. If he wants to air it out, let's air it out. If he wants to pound it on the ground, let's do that. Like I said, I'm going to go out there, I'm going to play within myself, within the system, and we're going to win this ballgame."

Despite his lack of experience, Wittek is talking like a seasoned veteran. "You really can't ask for a better opportunity to show what you've got," he told Rich Hammond of The Orange County Register.

But beware: Notre Dame ranks sixth nationally in total defense, first in scoring defense and 11th in pass efficiency defense. What will Manti Te'o and friends think of Wittek's guarantee? (Personally, I love his confidence.)