USF Vs. West Virginia: 5 Bold Predictions
Tonight at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia, the South Florida Bulls will be coming into enemy territory as the home team starts up their 2010 Big East schedule.
The Bulls have always been a tough draw for the Mountaineers, with the team from Tampa having won four of the last five meetings.
The Mountaineers are the 25th ranked team in the country this year at 4-1, with their only loss coming against a tough LSU Tiger team. The Bulls have stumbled to a 3-2 start, with losses coming at the hands of the University of Florida Gators and the Syracuse Orange.
Here are five bold predictions for what is, year in and year out, a hotly contested and exciting game.
B.J. Daniels Will Have 100+ Yards Rushing
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To call B.J. Daniels a dual threat quarterback would be high praise at this point in the season and something of a misnomer.
The fact is, Daniels has been pretty average when throwing the ball, having thrown seven picks to only four touchdowns. His completion percentage is also a dismal 52.7%.
If the Bulls are to have any chance against the West Virginia D, they'll have to rely on the legs of Daniels. He's already rushed for over 100 yards in a loss against Florida this year; look for him to crack the century mark once again.
Noel Devine Will Have Three Rushes of Over 30 Yards
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Noel Devine is one of the most explosive backs in the country. He is 10th in rushing in the NCAA and he should have a huge day against the South Florida defense.
He is known to break off big runs at any time with his blinding speed, and since 2004, only his former teammate Pat White has more rushes of 30+ yards.
South Florida is known for allowing big days to running backs with high top end speed. Jeff Demps needed only 11 carries to rush for 139 yards earlier this season against the Bulls.
Look for Devine to eclipse White today and run wild in what is sure to be a cold, wet atmosphere.
Keith Tandy Will Have a Pick (or Two)
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As one of the most opportunistic defensive backs in the country, Keith Tandy can only be described as a ball hawk.
His three interceptions this year are leading the team, and when he does pick somebody off, it's usually off a deflection.
B.J. Daniels is no stranger to throwing picks with seven this year; look for the tall defensive linemen of the Mountaineers to get their hands up and tip some balls in the air for Tandy to settle under.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
USF Will Not Score an Offensive Touchdown
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South Florida is ranked 65th in FBS with 27.4 points per game while the West Virginia defense is the 7th ranked unit in the land, allowing a paltry 13.6 points per game.
Between the dominance of the West Virginia D and the sluggishness of the South Florida scoring offense, the Bulls will be unable to score on offense.
They were unable to score an offensive touchdown against Syracuse, so there's no reason to expect them to score one tonight.
Perhaps they'll net a TD on special teams or defense, but this offense will be stymied by the pressure that the Mountaineers will bring.
The Combined Score Will Be Under 35
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With rain in the forecast and a game time high of 43 degrees, the offenses will have trouble getting off the ground.
Combine that with relatively stingy defenses on both sides of the field, and there's no reason to think that the teams will combine to score more than 35 points.
Final Score: USF 13 WVU 17
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
