Season

[USF Bulls Football]

In all honesty, what do y'all think our final record will be this season? Of the 4 games against the ranked teams, I think we can beat two of them. I can also probably see us losing a game we should win. Therefore, I see a 9-3 season, good for third in the BE. What do y'all think?? By the way, its nice to be part of the Bullspen.

[tampaboi07]

10-3 after the bowl.

we  might hit 11-2 with a bit of luck.if we split our big 4(aub,ul,wvu,ru) and play pitt in some non freezing weather well be  good.

most ppl think Aub will be to tuff for us(i dnt) but Ill count it for a lost.We get WVU and UL at home and theres no way we lose to both of those teams at home.So maybe well split those two.Even tho we visit RU I think they are overrated this year and well beat them this year.Were better than Pitt but playing in the cold will give them a chance to win.

[bullgator85]

I agree with you tampaboi. Cinci is better than pitt in my opinion. Pitt recruits at a high level but they will need another year. If you look at cinci's record last year they were pretty good. They held their own against ohio state, va tech, and lousiville. For those who watched the games know what i am talking about. They beat us and Rutgers. They lost to Pitt but at the begining of the year they were actually a good team. I think they are getting a good transfer QB this season and their new coach is supposedly pretty good too.

Also while i truly respect Auburn and think they are a top team, they won't be as good as WV. I am afraid of their backfield if they play well this year. Does anyone know what the deal with gwantley is? I could only imagine how good white, slaton, devine, gwantley, and schidt would be if they were all playing this year.

[usfgrad84]

I normally hate making projections on entire season, but I am clamoring some for football talk. 

I think we go 9-3.  I'd love it if we beat Auburn, but I don't see it happening.  UL and WVU I am counting as losses.

I don't think we lose the dreaded "game we are supposed to win".  This is a different team than the last 2 years. We have a lot more depth than we did against UCONN 2 years ago.  We aren't as one dimensional as were then either.  The people that say that we almost lost to FIU and that we shouldn't have lost to Kansas last year simply don't understand the development of this team.  FIU was just a stupid game that I believe the team looked past and combined with no running game and the fact that Grothe was making his first start almost lead to disaster.  Against KU we were agains killed by the fact we had nor running game from the backfield ( a total of 15 yards from the RBs is a joke).  I also think Grothe making his first real road game start had some affect.  there are no more "firsts for grothe this year.  Experience and some help in the backfield will definitely make us a different team.

The only real concern for me is the kicking game.  Rutgers and KU become different games simply by virtue of a kicking game.  UCF game is not close without the stupid play that Alvarado made.  FIU scored on a punt return and a freshman mistake by Grothe. 

Throw in better special teams play and the ability to actually kick field goals consistently, combined with more depth and a more balanced offense, I don't see how we lose any games we are supposed to win.  however, you still have to play the games.  Although I don't see it, you never know if we come out flat in one of those games.

[Held_AccountaBull]

13-0, 1st in big east

play Michigan in the BCS championship game and win 31-30 on a field goal try as time expires. we then go partying all night long in new orleans.

[AndytheBull]

13-0, 1st in big east

play Michigan in the BCS championship game and win 31-30 on a field goal try as time expires. we then go partying all night long in new orleans.

I dont know if Michigan will be able to make it.

[Guest]

My rough early analysis of the games...

Elon - The Phoenix will be a good warm up game, better than a scrimmage.  I don't expect a 50-0 blowout, because the play calling will be limited, with a heavy emphasis on the run.  Moreover, Leavitt understands the need to give younger players some experience -- to be better prepared to step up in case of an injury.  The team could also be a little flat because they are looking ahead.  USF 31 - Elon 10.  (1-0, 0-0)

Auburn - I'm willing to think the players are really looking at this game, even now during unofficial 7-on-7 workouts.    This game will be a lot like Penn State two years ago, if not a little more challenging.  The Tigers have a couple of holes to fill on offense, especially their OL; but they have some studs on defense.  USF's game plan will have to focus on stopping the run on defense, and being innovative and mixing it up on offense.  Ultimately, this game will come down to special teams - field positions and field goal kicking - which doesn't bode well for USF.  Auburn 20 - USF 17.  (1-1, 0-0)

North Carolina - USF will get two weeks to stew in their "what could have been" juices.  New coach Butch Davis will have the Tar Heels ready, but their QB's weren't steady last year and they seem to have holes at RB - and they only return four starters on defense.  USF handled them in Chapel Hill last year, they'll do the same in Tampa, in a game that isn't as close as the score appears.  USF 34 - UNC 17  (2-1, 0-0)

West Virginia - A showcase game for the Bulls.  To be sure, Rich Rodriguez will have the Mountaineers pumped up for this game, looking for revenge.  With former USF coaches Greg Frey and Rod Smith on the opposite sideline, I expect Leavitt and company to have fun with misdirections and some trickery.  USF knows how to stop Slaton and White, and will do it again.  USF 30 - WVU 20  (3-1, 1-0)

Florida Atlantic - It can be nice to have an intermission during the season.  To be sure, FAU will be pumped up for this game, looking to make a statement like FIU wanted to last year.  However, USF will pull away and we can see the 2nd or 3rd team players by the end of the 4th quarter.  USF 37 - FAU 14  (4-1, 1-0)

Central Florida - The 3rd game in this un-rivalry will look a lot like the first two.  The no-longer-golden-Knights will rely on their stud RB and a decent defense.  It won't be enough, however, to overcome the Bulls defense.  USF 24 - UCF 13. (5-1, 1-0)

Rutgers - A short week.  A road game.  National television.  These facts add up to big problems for USF.  However, USF is on a two-game winning streak in games away from Raymond James on national television.  Moreover, the Scarlet Knights no longer have the variety on offense with Heisman candidate Rice carrying the load.  Still, this will not be easy - and might be as hard as the Auburn game.  In the end, I think Grothe and company will overcome the State University of New Jersey.  USF 28 - RU 24 (6-1, 2-0 #24 AP poll)

Connecticut - Ten days between two road games is enough to rest, recover, and prepare for the Huskies.  They will have a new QB, but have a good RB returning.  Their DL was pushed around a lot last year, and if USF's OL develops its run-blocking, the game could be ugly.  No need for any voodoo on this trip to Hartford.  USF 38 - U Conn 26 (7-1, 3-0 #22 AP)

Cincinnati - The Bearcats come back to Tampa to be the Bulls Homecoming opponent.  They have a new coach who likes the spread offense.  Their OL was bad last year, and our DL will be licking their chops at the thought of more sacks.  That being said, this game will be closer than anyone really wants it to be.  USF 24 - Cincy 20  (8-1, 4-0 #20 AP)

Syracuse - Two years ago, USF went to Syracuse as the Orange's homecoming opponent, and the Bulls were the only ones who scored.  This year, USF is not the Homecoming game for Syracuse, and they will be looking to avenge two straight losses.  The team is still rebuilding under 3rd-year coach Greg Robinson, but they still have problems on both sides of the ball - especially in the defensive backfield.  USF 40 - SU 24  (9-1, 5-0  #16 AP)

Louisville - If the season breaks right, this game could be for the Big East Championship and a BCS slot.  The largest crowd to ever watch a USF football game, more than 50,000 fans, will see the Bulls face the Cardinals in a slugfest.  The Par-tay at Ray-Jay will be a game to remember.  Brian Brohm and the receiving corps are far and away the best the Bulls will face all year - matching L'ville's strength (passing offense) with USF's strength (passing defense).  It's a Clash of the Titans.  Rocky Balboa vs Apollo Creed.  USF 39 - UL 36  2 OT  (10-1, 6-0 #10 AP, Big East Champs)

Pittsburgh - Thanksgiving weekend in the cold.  This is yet another proving ground game for the Bulls.  Can they finish off the season? Can they win in the cold?  With a BCS bowl game locked up, and no real chance for the National Championship game, could this be a lame-duck game?  Pitt could be playing for their post-season life, where USF will be looking to come home undamaged.  Still, a win over the Panthers would solidify USF's national reputation and position.  USF 24 - Pitt 16  (11-1, 7-0, #8 AP)

Sugar Bowl - It's hard to make any prediction on the Bowl game given we don't really know who the opponent will be... It could be LSU or Florida, if they don't make the National Championship game.  It could also be an at-large team from the Big 12 or Big 10 (Wisconsin or Oklahoma).

---

Yeah, the glasses could be a bit Green and Gold here.  The WVU, UL, and Rutgers game could go either way.  So could Auburn and Pitt for that matter.  USF could be 12-0 or 7-5 at the end of the regular season... I'd rather be positive and hope for the best on this.

[Sunil]

10-3 after a bowl sounds about right. Between Auburn, UL and WVU...I think we can definitely win 1..maybe 2 if the running game gets cranked up early at home. Other than that...@Rutgers and @Pitt are games that will be big road tests...but luckily later in the year. Uconn, FAU, UCF and 'Cuse are all games in which there is no excuse for losing. I'd be more concerned with Cincinatti if they didn't face as many losses from players as well as their HC.

Provided we win the games in which we are favored..wouldn't be shocked if we ended up with 2 losses.

[Grateful Dad]

Jim, excellent analysis.  I don't see us beating Louisville and Pitt (well, not Pitt but the cold) scare me.  But great reasoning in your predictions.

Sugar Bowl?  Just thinking we would be playing in the SB is football Viagra!

[USFan]

10-3 with bowl win....