Q: can you unlock an iPod using iTunes off your iPad?

Only if:

If you have Find My iPhone enabled, you can use Remote Wipe to erase the contents of your device. If you have been using iCloud to back up, you may be able to restore the most recent backup to reset the passcode after the device has been erased.

You need the iPod and iPad conencted to the interned and FindMyiPod turned on on the iPod an the iPad need to have the FindMyiPhone app installed. That now requires iOS 7 on the device.

otherwise

Place the iOS device in Recovery Mode and then connect to your computer and restore via iTunes. The iPod will be erased.

iOS: Wrong passcode results in red disabled screen                         

If recovery mode does not work try DFU mode.                        

How to put iPod touch / iPhone into DFU mode « Karthik's scribblings        

For how to restore:

iTunes: Restoring iOS software

To restore from backup see:

iOS: How to back up     

If you restore from iCloud backup the apps will be automatically downloaded. If you restore from iTunes backup the apps and music have to be in the iTunes library since synced media like apps and music are not included in the backup of the iOS device that iTunes makes.

You can redownload most iTunes purchases by:

Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store        

lllaass, that is the clearest explanation I have seen so far about using remote wipe to re-enable...thanks, at least I appreciate it :-)

Thanks for the comnpliment