WVU/South Florida

[fedupfisherman]

Looks like WVU has a test this Friday.

[Lasher]

1. Yep, but I think we're pretty much hitting on all cylinders now.

Friday night we'll see if I'm right. I'm up for the game, that's for sure.

If anyone on the regular season docket has the means to slow down the Mountaineer offensive attack it is the South Florida Bulls. Of the eleven defensive starters, no less than five will be playing football on Sundays in the near future.

Last season, after the Bulls topped the Mountaineers in Morgantown, Coach Rodriguez' raided the Bull coaching staff, snagging offensive coordinator Rod Smith, and offensive line coach Greg Frey. Will Rodriguez be looking to South Florida again after this season for more coaches, or will the Gold and Blue figure out how to move the ball against the speedy Bull defense? My answer: In Rod I Trust!

WVU - 27 USF - 17

http://westvirginia.scout.com/2/683454.html

[Hubert Flottz]

2. I'm praying for a helping of Divine intervention!

The kid, Noel Divine, really does run like Barry Sanders. Same blinding speed and super human like moves, that the great Barry Sanders had in his prime. Coach Rod has some fine talent up in Morgantown and the D is starting to look like the real deal too. Even the passing game is starting to come together, I was impressed with the entire team's effort Saturday.

Friday night is the big test, for sure. Should be a great game, if you like thrills and spills, pins and needles type football. This game will be good for Big East Football, no matter what the outcome. I'd love to see how Miami, BC or VT would stack up against either of these two Big East teams this year.

[Lasher]

3. Here's another game prediction: South Florida 28 … West Virginia 24

I don't like that one at all but here's the writeup:

Why to watch: The first of a handful of round-robin games that’ll decide the Big East championship, and one of ten BCS bowl berths, makes for a wild Friday night game in what’s become something of a grudge match. The Bulls became a national story by beating Auburn three weeks ago, but can become the story of the first month of 2007 by upsetting West Virginia for a second straight year. The biggest game in USF history is also expected to attract the biggest crowd in the school’s history, a likely first-ever sellout that has students camping out in tents for the few remaining tickets. In terms of electricity and anticipation for an up-and-coming program, expect a scene that mirrors last November’s game between Louisville and Rutgers. The Mountaineers are steamrolling everything in their path, winning four games by an average of 30 points with the same formula of Patrick White and Steve Slaton that continues to work so well. If West Virginia has any hopes of competing for national championship consideration, it has to handle one of the few ranked teams on the schedule, particularly with so many pollsters glued to the tube Friday night. With Louisville running a fade route, a win over South Florida would make the ‘eers the prohibitive favorite to win the conference.

Why West Virginia might win: Has anyone been paying attention to the transformation of Jeff Casteel’s defense? While the offensive stars get all the pub, the D sort of gets lost in the shuffle. The unit that was maligned a year ago has had at least three sacks in all four games and is No. 15 in the country in total defense. Led by linebackers Mortty Ivy, Marc Magro, and Reed Williams, the Mountaineers have been flying to the ball, creating turnovers, and making life easier for a secondary that’s still developing. South Florida QB Matt Grothe is a sparkplug, but his supporting cast is just average and his line will have trouble with the West Virginia pass rush. If the Mountaineers land a few blows early, the Bulls will labor to mount a comeback against an underrated defense that’s gaining confidence every week.

Why South Florida might win: West Virginia is all about the speed, but South Florida is the one program on the schedule that can neutralize the burners with a swarming D that ranks in the top ten nationally in total defense, pass efficiency defense, turnover margin, sacks, and tackles for loss. Since becoming a starter early in 2005, Slaton has been held under 100 yards rushing just four times, twice by the Bulls, including last November’s 43-yard career low-point. USF can also contain White with the shutdown tandem of CBs Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams, and the edge rushing of DE George Selvie, who leads the nation in sacks. West Virginia won’t be contained all night, but it’ll snap off half the big plays it normally creates against lesser defenses.

Who to watch: In a nip-and-tuck game that could go either way, don’t be surprised if the kickers/punters, West Virginia’s Pat McAfee and South Florida’s Delbert Alvarado, play a huge part in the outcome. Advantage Mountaineers. Alvarado, in particular, bears watching after responding to four missed field goals in the Auburn game by going 3-of-3 in Saturday’s win over North Carolina. If called upon late to win the game, can he be for USF what Jeremy Ito was to Rutgers in last year’s upset of Louisville?

What will happen: In a potential bear trap game with North Carolina, South Florida remained focused and destroyed the Heels 37-10, a clear sign that these Bulls are for real. They’ll add another brick in the wall Friday night, getting some late-game heroics from Grothe and the defense that empty the stands at Raymond James Stadium and raise the ante for the program.

CFN Prediction: South Florida 28 … West Virginia 24

http://cfn.scout.com/2/650789.html

Wrong! We're gonna kill 'em.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. That SUCKS!

WV had damned sure better bring their A game, come Friday night! The road to glory is a rough and rocky trek...as it should be. Nothing truly worthwhile is ever really cheap or easy. Here is a chance for WV and the Big East to earn some real respect, from coast to coast. I just hope the Zebras keep it clean too. I think the Bulls are the new Canes!

[Lasher]

5. Boo hoo, life has no meaning.

Think I'll go dig a hole and crawl in it, then pull the dirt in after me.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. Wait till next year!

At least I can go fishing on Saturdays the rest of the year!

I feared that the Rod had about shot his wad! When they suck they don't do a half assed job of it!

[timpat]

7. Yep. And we failed.

But all is not yet lost...

[Lasher]

8. Ain't it the truth!

But we looked pretty good yesterday against Syracuse. And this was another weekend of upsets. 5 of the 12 teams currently ranked above WVU got thumped. We'll be moving back up some.

[Staph]

9. We're back in the top ten!

#8 in the AP poll
#9 in the Coaches poll

We swapped places with Oregon in the two polls.

[Hubert Flottz]

10. I had to watch...

And it was pretty good!

Let's hope we finish out the year in the top ten!

I hope Pat White is okay...

[Lasher]

11. Ha ha, like a moth to a flame!

I thought you were going to catch a fish instead of watching.

We scored the most points Syracuse has ever allowed at home. And this is a team that upset Louisville last month.

Schmitt sure had a great day, didn't he? He sure is fun to watch play. We knew he was versitile, but a surprise punt?? And a good one at that.

Check out McAfee, a 49 yard field goal to close out the first half! He didn't look so great when the season started but no worries about him now.

And our defense looked great. Who could forget the interception and touchdown by Dykes? The 295 pound defensive lineman said later it was the longest 25 yards of his life, ha ha.

Now they're off for 2 weeks. This works out good, so that White will have time to heal up.

Now we're back up to #8 and will probably play in the Orange Bowl if we hold on. At this point it looks like LSU and Ohio State playing for the national championship but who knows? This has already been quite a year of upsets.

[Hubert Flottz]

12. The season is shaking out crazy nationwide.

I think you are probably right about LSU and O State. I tried fishing a while Saturday AM and it sucked...so I tuned in. I loved the game. The Dykes TD was great I LMAO. The D is starting to look real good. The Bearcats might be the stopper though. They look about as strong as WV on both sides of the ball. It will be one good game IMHO. I hope it will be a good outcome.