Covers.com Preseason Preview

[Buller64]

South Florida Bulls

Quarterback Matt Grothe was the story last year as he led the young Bulls to the cusp of national rankings and a win at the Papajohns.com Bowl. The story this year will be South Florida’s defensive speed. Having a pair of the conference’s top shutdown corners increases everyone else’s confidence on defense, one that already limited the Big East big boys to impressively low outputs last year.

The offense should be fine as long as Grothe stays healthy. The line is experienced, the underrated receiving corps is loaded with speed and the underachieving backfield is quietly stockpiling talent.

South Florida’s biggest scheduling problem is its Sept. 8 visit to Auburn. An upset win would do wonders, but how demoralizing would a big loss against an SEC power be? The Bulls host West Virginia and Louisville but visit its main opponent for third place in the conference with an Oct. 18 trip to Rutgers.

Predicted record: 9-3

http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=141599&t=0

[80mins]

What he calls a problem, I call an opportunity.

[crambone]

Once again, they are giving Rutgers more credit than I think they deserve.

[outrunner]

An upset win would do wonders, but how demoralizing would a big loss against an SEC power be?

Think how the SEC would feel if we beat them.

[Paisa el Toro]

An upset win would do wonders, but how demoralizing would a big loss against an SEC power be?

Think how the SEC would feel if we beat them.

I think Tampa would be buzzing if USF could pull it off. I'm hoping for the best but not expecting anything other than having a great time up at Auburn.

[BDYZR]

IF we beat them I would love to hear the 'Bama alumni! They tried to get JL, he turned them down.

So they settled for Shula. He couldn't beat Auburn, so, they fired him.

Just think of the conversation if JL went into Auburn,and beat them on the road!

It's getting closer!

GO BULLS!

[Bull Martin]

Auburn is definately and opportunity, but it is a potential problem.  If we get creamed which is possible it will keep Big Least talks alive all year if we go 9-3.  We'll have to hear all about the 'Gol'dly SEC all season again.

Though if we beat them, I will die a happy man.  If they then beat Florida, I... well I don't know, but that's my dream season.

[MikeG]

An upset win would do wonders, but how demoralizing would a big loss against an SEC power be?

Think how the SEC would feel if we beat them.

I think Tampa would be buzzing if USF could pull it off. I'm hoping for the best but not expecting anything other than having a great time up at Auburn.

so very true but here's the rub ion that little scenario....

IF/When USF beats Auburn, we will have a large number of our fans as well as our detractors waiting in the wings for any sign that this was merely a fluke. A win against AUburn is impressive but if it is not validated by a follow up win soon after, it loses it's luster.

Case in point-- the win over UL followed by weather related delays and then a loss to Miami.

Case two: Beat heavily favored Pitt in 2001 followed by the 9/11 stuff and then a loss to Memphis on the road.

we seem to be snake bit like that far more often than I want to think about.

[BDYZR]

So, by beating Auburn, we have to worry about a national disaster?

I'll take that chance.

GO BULLS!

[Guest]

so very true but here's the rub ion that little scenario....

IF/When USF beats Auburn, we will have a large number of our fans as well as our detractors waiting in the wings for any sign that this was merely a fluke. A win against AUburn is impressive but if it is not validated by a follow up win soon after, it loses it's luster.

Case in point-- the win over UL followed by weather related delays and then a loss to Miami.

Case two: Beat heavily favored Pitt in 2001 followed by the 9/11 stuff and then a loss to Memphis on the road.

we seem to be snake bit like that far more often than I want to think about.

I agree Mike.  There are a couple things in our favor this year...

1. the week after Auburn is an open date

2. the next two games are at home... North Carolina and WVU.

When USF beats Auburn, they have two weeks to come back down to earth and prepare for UNC... a tough game, but nothing like UM... and having a game should get them back in the mindset for playing WVU.

And then...

When USF beats a top 10 program at home (WVU) then goes on the road to South(east) Florida (FAU), the result should be vastly different then the last time we did that (2005 - L'ville/UM).