CFN: Kanas @ USF - Fearless Prediction

[Jim Johnson]

The much-maligned Big East gets two big chances to turn around its awful season as Rutgers plays North Carolina tonight and Matt Grothe's South Florida takes on Kansas on Friday. Check out all the Previews and Predictions for the Week 3 Big East Games

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Big East Game of the Week

Kansas (2-0) at South Florida (2-0), 8:00 EST ESPN2  Friday, September 12

Why to watch: ESPN2? ESPN2?! This is a BCS-caliber showdown worthy of an Orange Bowl, but it’s an afterthought on a huge weekend of games. This will be one of the big bragging right games for two conferences and two teams looking to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. The Big East desperately needs something positive to go its way after a nightmare of a start to the 2008 season, and a win over Kansas in a super-charged atmosphere would do it. USF wasn’t sharp and almost lost to a vastly inferior UCF team in overtime last week, but came through with a touchdown pass to take the lead and a hold to end the fun. Next week the Bulls go back into cupcake-land with a date with FIU, who lost to KU to start the season, 40-10. Kansas came up with a good win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, but there’s still a sense of skepticism around Mark Mangino’s club. It had one other big test last year, Missouri, and lost. However, if the Jayhawks go into Tampa and come out alive, they should end up going 6-0 before a road trip to Oklahoma.

Why Kansas might win: This is a brutally efficient team leads the nation in pass efficiency defense and has allowed just 406 total yards of offense and no touchdowns. The one touchdown given up came on a punt return against FIU. Meanwhile, the offense has gone back to last year as Todd Reesing has been ultra-efficient. South Florida has an aggressive, tough defense, but it hasn’t shown it yet this year when it comes to getting into the backfield.

Why South Florida might win: The USF run defense has been a brick wall so far, and KU is still trying to figure out its running back situation. The Bulls would’ve beaten UCF with ease last week if they were focused and didn’t turn the ball over twice. Matt Grothe has the offense humming with a nice balance; the team isn’t just about defense like it was at times last year.

Who to watch: This game is on the two star quarterbacks. Grothe was brilliant against UCF, outside of the two interceptions. The junior threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 54 yards, and threw a nice ball on the game-winning score. Meanwhile, Reesing has thrown for 668 yards and six touchdowns with an interception in his first two games. He’s a steady junior leader who can’t get rattled when the Bull defense starts swarming.

What will happen: South Florida will have the emotion and the fire, but Kansas will have the execution. It’ll be a hard-hitting battle with several big plays and lots of points, but KU will win the battle of the two star quarterbacks.

CFN Prediction: Kansas 27 … South Florida 24 ... Line: USF -3.5

Must See Rating: (5 Hole in the Wall - 1 First Blood) … 5

http://cfn.scout.com/2/776287.html

[BULLfreak]

a 5 wow i might as well stay home

[crambone]

Actually, 5 is the best.  They just used stupid movies to rank them this time.  Usually, it's an obvious choice like (5 Metallica  1 Enya) or (5 Entourage  1 I Love Money).

[crambone]

P.S. Anyone that thinks First Blood isn't a great movie can kiss off.  That movie was released the year I was born (1982)!

[Guest JulmisteForPrez]

They're picking Kansas on hour home turf (okay, well, the Bucs' home turf)?

Wow.  This makes me want to win even more.

Game should be a sellout....I don't care what anyone says or offers for excuses.

:nope

No excuse not to sell this HUGE game out.

[Bull Dozer]

P.S. Anyone that thinks First Blood isn't a great movie can kiss off.  That movie was released the year I was born (1982)!

First blood is one of the best action movies of the last 50 years. 

[Yung Money]

Lets face it guys, USF did not look great against UCF meanwhile Louisiana Tech upset Mississippi State so Kansas's performance against them looks good. I'm not shocked to see the Jayhawks favored, but I expect a Bulls victory.

[MaltLiquorBull]

P.S. Anyone that thinks First Blood isn't a great movie can kiss off.  That movie was released the year I was born (1982)!

First blood is one of the best action movies of the last 50 years. 

Hell yeah.

BTW:

USF will win because Kansas drew first blood in 06.

[Jihme]

KU winning?  I hope this makes for some great bulletin board material.  Man, the closer it gets to this game, the more and more excited I am for a crazy game!  I hope everyone in the stadium is going nuts tomorrow!  What a great atmosphere this game will have.

GO BULLS!

[TheBullies]

They're picking Kansas on hour home turf (okay, well, the Bucs' home turf)?

Wow.  This makes me want to win even more.

Game should be a sellout....I don't care what anyone says or offers for excuses.

:nope

No excuse not to sell this HUGE game out.

Who the hell <really> cares?

Win and everything will take care of itself.