South Florida Bulls Have a Better Chance At Florida

In less than 48 hours, the University of South Florida will arrive at the moment it has waited for its entire football life.

This band of Bulls rebuilt and refurbished by their new commander—Skip Holtz, will venture into one of college football's most advantageous home fields—The Swamp. Many enter, few leave with victory.

A year ago this looked like it could be a blowout. After Florida's face-flop against Miami of Ohio last Saturday, suddenly there appears to be a blip of hope on the radar for USF.

Twelve bad center snaps by the nervous Mike Pouncey last week saw to that.

These are not Tim Tebow's Gators. These were a bumbling band of Gators, a team unsure of itself, a team that produced less than 30 yards of total offense in three quarters against a team that was severely out-manned.

Unfortunately for USF, Florida isn't likely to repeat the offensive ineptness it showed last week, a display that horrified its fans and prompted Urban Meyer to describe his team's performance at halftime as "awful!"

Awful was a kind description. Beyond awful was more like it.

Which leads us to high noon, Saturday, back in The Swamp.

What does South Florida need to do to win this game?

That's easy. The Bulls have to play the perfect game and they need for the Gators to help them out a bit. Florida gave Miami of Ohio a LOT of help. USF could use a little of that.

USF needs Florida fumbles, perhaps just a few bad snaps, an interception or two wouldn't hurt and the Bulls need to watch out for Jeff Demps. Speed kills, always has. Demps is the fastest man in college football. You make one mistake, show up a yard out of position and the result is mayhem, a long run, a probable touchdown run.

USF needs for B.J. Daniels to have a spectacular day. He has those in him. He needs to channel his performance at Florida State last season. He needs to make great decisions, no mistakes. This Florida defense turns mistakes into touchdowns.

Hopefully USF didn't dwell on the Florida video against Miami of Ohio. Don't want the team getting overconfident.

The Bulls had their moments in rolling easily over Stony Brook, but they had plenty of mistakes that need correcting as well, like a reliable punt returner.

USF needs a running game against Florida and it is so hard to tell what they really have.

Stony Brook was a poor measuring stick.

So was Florida's performance last Saturday.

The talk a few months ago was that USF could get blown right out of The Swamp.

But after last week, there is hope.

Hope for now.

Reality checks in on Saturday.