Primetime College Football: Bulls vs Bearcats
This game goes down on the ESPN2 network and it features the University of South Florida Bulls taking on the University of Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium.
Head coach Skip Holtz, who is in his first year of coaching the Bulls after guiding East Carolina to consecutive Conference USA titles, brings his team into this Big East matchup 3-3 overall and 0-2 in conference. The Bulls are coming off a terrible showing against West Virgina in which they lost 20-6 in Morgantown.
The Bulls enter the game still looking for some consistent identity with the offense. The offense continues to struggle with sophomore quarterback B.J. Daniels, 803 yards 4 touchdowns 10 INTs, under center where he can only complete 56.0 percent of his throws. Daniels inconsistent efforts show why the team ranks 107th in the nation in passing at 157 yards per game.
The rushing attack is the only real way the South Florida has moved the ball on offense. The Bulls can thank senior running back Moise Plancher, 352 yards 4 touchdowns, and sophomore Demetris Murray, 253 yards one touchdown. The Bulls are averaging 157.7 yards per game on the ground.
The defense has clearly been the strength of the Bulls this season as they only allowing opponents to score 16 points per game on them which ranks them 18th in the nation.
Back to back Big East champions, the Bearcats have gotten off to a rocky start under new head coach Butch Jones who has already lost three games this season. Cincinnati is doing all it can to rebound their season and have won its last two games to know be 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the Big East.
The Bearcats are really finding their rhythm on offense and junior quarterback Zach Collaros, 1455 yards 17 touchdowns 3 INTs, has been finally able to have enough time behind a shaky offensive line. Collaros is completing 63.4 of his throws and often looks cutting across the middle of the field for junior wide receiver D.J. Woods, 550 yards 6 touchdowns, or senior wide receiver Armon Binns, 525 yards 7 touchdowns.
The rushing attack was a huge missing piece for the Bearcats during their losing streak as they where without junior back Isaiah Pead, 547 yards one touchdown, who is returned after missing two games with a knee injury. Pead is averaging 8.8 yards per carry since his return for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati owns a 5-2 edge in the all-time series with South Florida and has won the past four meetings.
PICK: University of Cincinnati Bearcats



