Who are the Rutgers coaches?

Head coach Greg Schiano (Picture: www.nj.com)

Rutgers has a solid coaching staff, led by head coach Greg Schiano. Schiano has been at Rutgers for 11 seasons now, making him the longest tenure coach in the Big East. He has led his Knights to bowl games 5 times out of the last 8 seasons, including 4 straight appearances, so winning has become a habit in New Jersey. Schiano runs a solid program, both on the field and off the field. On the field, he prefers the old school smash-mouth football, running the ball, control the clock, and play hard nose defense. Off the field, his players continue to excel in the classroom, graduating at a high rate. He is a solid coach and is the perfect fit for this program.

USF Ties Rutgers, Wins Red Division

After being snowed out on Sunday, the Bulls battled Rutgers to a double overtime tie, 0-0. The tie gives USF a regular season record of 12-2-3 (7-0-2) and gives them the outright Red Division of the Big East, making it the second title in program history.

Who is Rutgers?

Freshman quarterback Gary Nova leads Rutgers (Picture:  Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Football is finally back for the Bulls as they travel up north to take on Big East foe Rutgers.  After a shocking loss to Cincinnati two weeks ago at Homecoming, USF 4-3 (0-3), will try to notch Big East win number one on the road and get closer to a bowl game.  It won't be easy facing a Rutgers team that plays well at home and has a few playmakers that will make life hard.  

Rutgers enters the game at 5-3 (2-2).  They are coming off of an emotional loss to WVU where they had the lead, but fell apart late in the snow.  They typically play well at home and after losing two straight games, they will be looking for a big win to remain in the conference race. 

Five Scariest USF Players of all Time

It's Halloween and time to have a little fun after a long month (glad to put October behind us). Over the years, a lot of players have suited up for the Bulls and some have made long lasting impressions because of their actions. We are going to look at 5 of the scariest players from the past few seasons and see what kind of fear they put into their opponents. We will also look at a few players that put fear into the fans.

Results from Big East Week 9 Picks

Another week is in the books for the Big East and with only 3 games on the schedule, there was not a lot of room to improve in the standings. Mike continues to lead the race, while Jim sits only a game behind in the standings from myself. Let's see if anyone improved this weekend.

Rush Through the Roster: Caitlin Rowe

Time to rush through the women's 2011-2012 basketball roster. Coach Jose Fernandez has a solid team this season and will look to improve on last year.

First player on the list is center Caitln Rowe. Rowe joins the Bulls after playing last season at Gulf Coast Community College.

USF Volleyball Falls to Cincinnati

Another day, another tough loss for the USF volleyball team. The Bulls rallied in the second set, but dropped the next two to fall to 9-14 (5-4) on the season. They were able to hang in there for each set, but couldn't put the Bearcats away and get the win they needed.

J'beria Davis had 7 kills and 6 digs. Kayla Walton had 7 kills. Valerie El Houssine had 14 kills and 5 digs on the afternoon (playing unreal this season). Shelbie Dailey had 39 assists and 8 digs. Janice Rivera had 2 assists and 19 digs to lead the team. Caitlyn Breen had 6 kills as well.

This is another rough loss for the ladies as they try to stay up in the standings, but losing these key games at home is not the way to get it done. The Bulls will try to get back to winning when they take on Villanova on Friday night (game is at 7PM).

Season Outlook for Mens Basketball

The 2011 season is getting closer, it's time to take a look at what to expect from this team. The Bulls are picked to finish 14th this season, but can they finish better than that? Let's break down some of the key games and players for the season to decide what will happened.

USF vs. Rutgers Game Postponed Due to Snow

The highly anticipated game between USF and Rutgers scheduled for 1PM today has been postponed due to snow in the New Jersey. Yes, a snow storm during Halloween has caused the game to be pushed back. No official make-up time has been announced for Monday, but stay tuned. When news break, we will keep you covered.

USF Soccer Takes on Rutgers

The USF men's soccer team, 12-2-2 (7-0-1) won at least a share of the Big East Red Division regular season title with their 3 to 0 win over Cincinnati last Wednesday night, but they want the outright title but Rutgers stands in their way. The Scarlet Knights of Rutgers are their final opponent of the regular season (game starts at 1PM).

Rutgers enters the contest with a record of 9-5-2 (6-1-1) including 6-2-1 at home this season, so it will be a difficult game for the Bulls. USF needs to win or tie to get the outright title, let's see what they will be up against in this game.

USF Volleyball Takes on Cincinnati

The Bulls lost a hard fought game on Friday night, dropping their second straight game in Big East. The ladies, now 9-13 (5-3) will look to rebound against the Cincinnati Bearcats (game starts at 2PM). The Bearcats are 14-8 (5-2) on the season, but are just 5-5 away from home, another team that USF must beat.

Rush Through the Roster: Augustus Gilchrist

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The roster break down continues as we take a look at the leading returning scorer for the Bulls, senior forward Augustus Gilchrist. Gilchrist was the most consistent scorer for Heath last season despite missing some time due to some off the court issues. He nearly left for the NBA, but decided to return for his final season and adds tremendous skill and size to the paint for coach Heath.

Rush Through the Roster: Martino Brock

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The Bulls added another transfer this summer with guard Martino Brock. While he has to sit out this season, he will be a key member in 2012 and add perimeter shooting and solid defense.

USF volleyball falls to Louisville

USF showed a lot of heart on the court tonight, but it just wasn't enough.

The USF Bulls lost a tough game to the Louisville Cardinals on a historic night that saw a lot of former players return to campus to honor the Bulls on the Halloween weekend. 

USF looked bad in the first two sets, but were able to rally in the third set until the Cards fired back to drop USF in straight sets.  The Bulls are now 9-13 (5-3) on the season and will need to get it together on Sunday afternoon.

Kimika Rozier had 5 kills on the night.  Kayla Walton had 10 kills on the night as well.  Andrea Rodriguez Gomez had 5 kills and 1 dig.  Valerie El Houssine had 18 kills (led team) and added 3 digs.  Shelbie Dailey had 33 assists on the night and 7 digs.  Janice Rivera. 

USF had their chances but couldn't rally late to get to win a set, being swept for the second straight game.  The Bulls will have to put this game behind them and prepare for Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon (game at 2PM) at the Rec center. 

Rush Through the Roster: Ron Anderson Jr.

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The USF front court will have plenty of experience this season and one of the key players will be senior Ron Anderson Jr. The former Kansas State transfer made a solid impact last season and will continue to rebound and anchor the paint this season.

WVU to the Big 12, What Does it Mean for Big East?

News is breaking today that the Big 12 is officially inviting WVU to join and will accept the offer, according to multiple sources. Louisville had been rumored as well, but it appears the Big 12 will stick with 10 members. What does this mean for the Big East?

USF Volleyball Takes on Louisville

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The Bulls, coming off of a defeat to Notre Dame, are looking to rebound at home as they take on Louisville in another key Big East game (game starts at 7PM). USF enters the night at 9-12 (5-3) and in need of a conference win. While the Cardinals enter the contest at 16-6 (8-1) but are just 5-4 away from home, so the home crowd will play a part as USF faces off against one of the best in the conference.

Rush Through the Roster: Lavonte Dority

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The series rolls on as we take a look at sophomore guard LaVonte Dority. Dority came off the bench only a few times last season with Anthony Crater running the show for most of the season. But now that he is gone, Dority will have a chance to compete for playing time.

Two Mores Injuries for USF Football

From Greg Auman - Two more Bulls are injured according to Auman tonight. Key reserve cornerback Ernie Tabuteau, who has been hampered by injuries all season, is being shut down for the year according to Holtz. This news comes right after Ricardo Dixon went down with a torn ACL for the season. This leaves the secondary very thin. JaQuez Jenkins and Quenton Washington have both dealt with injuries all season and now with this depth news, it means other players such as Spencer Boy will have to step up when called upon.

Wide receiver Chris Dunkley, who is sitting out this season, injured his wrist Wednesday and could require surgery on it, which would slow him down during the practices. While Dunkley cannot play this season, getting time to practice and acclimated to the playbook is key, so seeing him go down for any time is not a good sign. We hope he doesn't require surgery and heals quickly.

Season Wrap-up for Women's Soccer

The 2011 season came to a disappointing end for the ladies last week. The Bulls entered the season with hopes of reaching the Big East tournament and continuing to the NCAA tournament. But a record of 6-8-4 (2-6-3) halted those plans for the team, a team led by a strong senior corps.

The Bulls had a frustrating season, playing in 7 straight over time games. They could not get the big goals they needed and fell so many times in close games.

Rush Through the Roster: Anthony Collins

The Bulls will have a new point guard in the backcourt this season and it's possible a freshman could get a lot of playing time early and often. Guard Anthony Collins, part of the 2011 recruiting class, has a chance to make an impact in his first season with the Bulls.

Rush Through the Roster: Alberto Damour

It's Alberto Damour's turn on the count down, but we will keep this one short. Since he only appeared briefly last season, there isn't too much to report about him.

Alberto Damour - 6-5 225-pounds - Senior - Forward

Damour walked onto the team last season and only saw action briefly in 3 games (grand total of 4 minutes played). There isn't much to say about Damour. He seems to have good height and size and with a thin front court for USF this season, there could be a chance he can get onto the floor. We hope he gets a chance to do something and get his first career bucket in his senior season.

USF Soccer Wins Huge Game Over Cincinnati

Dom Dwyer is good at soccer.

The Bulls won a share of the Big East Red Division regular season title last night with an impressive 3 to 0 win over Cincinnati. USF is now 12-2-2 (7-0-1) and will face Rutgers on Sunday afternoon (game is scheduled for 1PM) to decide the outright title winner (USF needs to win or simply tie to get the outright title).

Rush Through the Roster: Toarlyn Fitzpatrick

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The roster break down continues as we take a look at one of the key role players for this team, forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick played in all 33 games last season, starting 6 games and coming off the bench to give Heath valuable minutes.

Quick Notes from USF Practice

Linebacker Michael Lanaris and wide receiver Joel Miller both missed practice today, but the injuries are not considered major.

From Adam Adkins - As the Bulls prepare for Rutgers during this bye week, a few notes from the field have emerged.

Wide receiver Terrence Mitchell, who has missed a month recovering from a concussion, has returned to the field, returning punts and playing offense. This is a huge pickup for the team after losing Griffin for the season. Offensive tackle Jake Kaufman was also back out there after being out with back issues.

Two new injuries emerged today. Middle linebacker Michael Lanaris and wide receiver Joel Miller were both held out of practice due to nagging injuries. Holtz stated they were "banged up" and are day to day. At this point in the season, bumps and bruises will mount up and taking a few days to recover is probably the best thing for the players.

Spencer Boyd, who had been working at safety, has moved back to cornerback to help add depth with Ricardo Dixon going down with a torn ACL.

USF Soccer to Honor Seniors Tonight

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

As the Bulls prepare for another big game at Corbett Stadium (game starts at 7:30PM) they will also be honoring 4 graduating seniors from the 2011 squad. While only a handful of players are playing their last regular season game in front of the home crowd, each player has played a huge role during their time at USF.

USF Soccer Takes on Cincinnati

The USF Bulls are ranked 6th in the country and are playing the last regular season at home tonight (game starts at 7:30 PM). The Bulls enter the night 11-2-2 (6-0-1) and are hoping to protect home field at Corbett against the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Cincinnati enters the night 5-10-1 (1-6-0) and 1-5-0 away from home, so the home field, senior night, and aggressive attack of USF will be on display in this game.

USF Lands 2012 Defensive Tackle Commitment

From Greg Auman - The Bulls finally got some good news this month with the verbal commitment of Olympia defensive tackle James Hamilton. The 6-4 325-pound tackle out of Orlando, Florida had been a commit to FSU, but flipped last night and is now heading to Tampa. His cousin, Corian Hamilton (currently redshirting this season), committed to USF last season.

Hamilton is rated as a 4-star prospect according to ESPN (24th best defensive tackle prospect) and a 3-star prospect according to 247, Rivals, and Scout.

This is a huge signing for the Bulls. Hamilton is the first defensive tackle of the 2012 recruiting class and helps fill a need on the roster. He will join the team and immediately join the competition for playing time. If he is able to develop, he could join Elkino Watson and provide a strong front for the Bulls (once he signs).

Frustration Mounting for USF and the Fans

3 straight losses. The Bulls started the season with 4 wins, all impressive on their own, but there were signs that trouble was coming. The defense gave up a lot of yardage against Notre Dame and the offense had issues starting with the UTEP game, but they still won. Now that they have hit the Big East schedule, the issues have become full blown problems and the same old October collapse is happening again.

Rush Through the Roster: Blake Nash

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The series continues this week as we break down the 2011-2012 men's basketball roster, getting you prepared for the big season ahead. This time we come to a player that will make a big impact this season in his first year, guard Blake Nash. Nash is one of the top junior college players and will play a key role from the start for Coach Heath.

Big East Week 9 Picks

Week 9 is already here and we continue our competition to see who can guess the right games. Mike still leads with a record of 36-12. I sit in second at 33-15 while Jim is 32-16, gaining some ground. Let's see who can draw closer this week with the picks.

Other Receivers Must Step up with Griffin Out

With Griffin lost for the season (could return for a bowl game, if the Bulls get to a bowl game), the young USF receivers will have to step up and raise their level of play if the passing attack is to be successful.

Victor Marc is now the leading receiver for the Bulls (statically). He has 18 receptions for 205 yards and one touchdown, half the numbers that Griffin had before the injury. Evan Landi has 15 receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. The wide receiver/tight end will have to step up even more and become a vertical threat in the middle of the field. Deonte Welch has 11 receptions for 213 yards. He had 130 yards in the loss to Cincinnati and needs to continue to step up his game and provide a solid target. A.J. Love has 7 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. He has been limited this season with nagging injuries, but as the most experienced receiver for the Bulls, he has to step up when the team needs him the most.

This is a big loss for the offense. Griffin is the primary target for Daniels, giving him a reliable receiver with above average speed. Losing a player that leads the team in every statistical category is huge. And seeing the numbers of the other receivers, it shows his importance and production level for the offense.

The Bulls will have two weeks to figure out the offense, get healthy (T-Rex), and figure out who will become the primary receiver with Griffin out.

Griffin and Dixon Out for the Season

Bad news for USF football fans this morning. Coach Holtz was on the Dan Sileo radio show this morning and stated that sophomore wide receiver Sterling Griffin will miss 6-8 weeks with a fracture in his right ankle, the same ankle he injured in 2010. He suffered the injury against Cincinnati, but there were hopes it would only be a sprain. However, he did break a bone and now will probably miss the rest of the season.

Rush Through the Roster: Jordan Heath

The series rolls on as we take a look at a young player that has a strong connection to the head coach, his son, Jordan Heath. Heath walked-on to the team and redshirted last season. It is not certain how much playing time he will see, but he does add depth at the guard position.

Heath Lands Shooting Guard Commitment for 2012

From Greg Auman - Coach Heath got a big time commitment today as prep shooting guard JaVontae Hawkins committed to USF, the 3rd member of the 2012 recruiting class.

Hawkins, the 6-5 180-pound guard out of Flint, Michigan, is a big time commitment for Heath as he continues to add talent to the team.

Hawkins is a 4-star prospect according to several sites, making him one of the highest ranked recruits in USF basketball history (if and when he signs and makes it completely official).

Hawkins was recruited by some of the best programs out there such as West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Arizona State, among others. This is a huge get for Heath as he puts the finishing touches on his 2012 recruiting class.

JaVontae joins JUCO forward/center Waverly Austin and JUCO guard Musa Abdul-Aleem. If he signs, it would leave Heath with just one more scholarship for the 2012 class. Expect him to sign a post players, a rebounding forward, to finish out the class.

This is big for USF. With the Muma Center open for business and the new Sun Dome coming in 2012, there is optimism for the basketball program and this signing class, with Hawkins, could help turn the losing trend around. The 2012 team could have Nash, Rudd, Hawkins, Austin, Omogbehin, Brock, and others. Very exciting to think about.

Griffin Injured, Could Be Out for a Few Weeks or Longer

(Picture: www.tbo.com)

From Greg Auman - As if the loss to Cincinnati was tough enough, the Bulls might have lost their best receiver for the rest of season (at least a couple weeks).

Sophomore wide receiver Sterling Griffin left the game on Saturday with a sprained right ankle, but there is fear there could also be a break in the bone as well. This is the same ankle Griffin injured in the Summer of 2010, forcing him to miss the entire season. Doctor's are still awaiting the MRI results, but it is very doubtful Griffin will be available for the next game (in two weeks).

Freshmen Receivers Shining

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The Bulls suffered their third straight loss on Saturday, but one highlight from the game was the emergence of the freshmen receivers, Deonte Welch and Andre Davis.  While Sterling Griffin continues to lead the team in receptions and other veterans like A.J. Love get the majority of the playing time, the freshmen stepped up and gave a glimpse of their potential and the bright future ahead of them.

Results from Big East Week 8 Picks

Another week is in the books and with only three games on the Big East schedule, there was not a lot of room to make a move in the standings, but someone gained a little ground. Let's see who came out ahead of this weeks picks.

USF Volleyball Swept by Notre Dame

The Bulls had a rough afternoon as they fell 3 to 0 to Notre Dame in a critical Big East matchup. The loss sends them to a 9-13 (5-3) record and into 6th place in the conference.

Kayla Walton had 7 kills and 1 dig on the afternoon. Valerie El Houssine led the team with 15 kills and added 7 digs as well. Shelbie Dailey had 21 sets and 10 digs on the day. Janice Rivera had 2 sets and 16 digs. Jessica Burghart had 10 sets and 3 digs as well.

Notre Dame controlled the game from the start, winning the first set 25 to 23, after that, USF could not get anything going as they fell in straight sets. The loss puts them in 6th place, but they return home for four straight games. The first game is Friday night at 7PM against Louisville. It will be a key moment in the season for the ladies as they try to keep pace in the Big East and notch wins at home.

Inside the Numbers: USF Falling to Cincinnati

The Bulls battled, but it wasn't enough in the end (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

Yesterday afternoon was a disheartening day for USF and the fans. The Bulls led the Cincinnati Bearcats heading into the 4th quarter and took the lead late in that quarter, but somehow, someway, they found a way to lose the game. USF has lost 3 straight, 3 straight conference games, and now sit at 4-3 (0-3) in the basement of the Big East, seeing their conference championship dreams vanish and their bowl chances getting even slimmer.

USF Volleyball Takes on Notre Dame

After a big conference win over DePaul last night, the USF ladies, 9-11 (5-2) hit the road as they face Big East opponent Notre Dame in a huge conference matchup (game starts at 2PM).

Notre Dame enters the match with a record 11-8 (4-3) so far. They are also 6-4 at home, so USF will be facing a tough, hostile road environment again.

Rush Through the Roster: Jordan Omogbehin

We continue to rush through the roster and this time we take a look at a player that won't suit up for Heath this season, but will sit on the sidelines, cheering the team on and learning the system, Jordan Omogbehin.

Omogbehin comes to USF from National Christian Academy, but won't be able to play due to NCAA transfer rules regarding his classes. The issue has been resolved, but the big man will have to redshirt this season and watch from the bench.

The Difference Between USF's Losses to Cincinnati and to Connecticut

I know many USF football fans are disheartened after such a promising start to the 2011 season and being let down in October as usual. But I'm here to shed a little light on both of USF's most recent losses to Connecticut and to Cincinnati, and hopefully give you, the loyal fans, a little shred of optimism for the rest of the season coming off this rough past month of October.

USF Women's Soccer Drops Final Game to Marquette

The long 2011 season came to an end tonight for the USF ladies as they dropped the final game of the year 0 to 2 to Marquette. The Bulls finish the season with a mark of 6-8-4 (2-6-3), finishing a disappointing season that had a lot of promise and expectation entering the year.

USF Soccer Beats Villanova

The USF soccer continues to roll as the notched a come from behind win tonight, winning 2 to 1 over the Wildcats.

Nova jumped out to a 1 to 0 lead in the first 17 minutes of the game. USF wouldn't answer back until the second half when Ben Sweat assisted Dom Dwyer for his 14th goal of the season (leads the Big East in goals this season). 21 minutes later Brenton Griffiths tacked on another goal to give USF the huge victory. The win runs their winning streak to 6 games. They are now 11-2-2 (6-0-1).

The Bulls will take on Cincinnati on Wednesday night at 7:30PM on senior night. Make sure to get to Corbett Stadium for this big game and honor the team as they continue to win.

USF Women's Soccer Takes on Marquette

The USF ladies, 6-7-4 (2-5-3), are still fighting for their postseason lives, but will need a huge upset win on the road as they powerful Marquette team. The Golden Eagles are 16-2 (9-1) this season, including 10-0 at home. They are loaded with offense and have a lot of defense, so the Bulls will need a miracle in this game (game starts at 6PM).

Rush Through the Roster: Shaun Noriega

The series roles on as we count down the roster, this time we take a look at sharp shooter Shaun Noriega. Noriega had a huge season, raining down threes all season and improving his overall game. Coach Heath has stated he has made the biggest leap this off season and could be ready for a big year.

Game Day: Cincinnati

The Bull are home and are looking for a huge win in this game. They lost 10 to 16 last week and have dropped two straight games, dropping them to 4-2 (0-2) on the season, making their Big East dreams fade away.

It is homecoming and the high powered Cincinnati Bearcats are in town, looking to repay the defeat the Bulls gave them last season. The USF passing attack will have to be better in this game and attack down the field against a weak secondary in the Bearcats. Whether it is the offensive playcalling or the play of B.J. Daniels, they will have to get it together.

The defense will also have to attack and play like they did against UCONN. Ryne Giddins woke up with 2 sacks and the secondary played well, they will have to do the same against the spread offense and the running ability of Zach Collaros, something USF has not seen this season, a mobile quarterback.

It should be a good game, we are looking for USF to win this game, but after the last two weeks, it is not as comfortable to predict them anymore. They should get the job done with the early kickoff.

USF Soccer Takes on Villanova

Corbett Stadium will be rocking tonight for the Bulls as they take on Villanova.

The USF men's soccer team, 10-2-2 (5-0-1) takes on Big East foe Villanova today at 7:30PM (plenty of time to get to this game after the big football game and win over Cincinnati). USF is playing their best soccer right now and will look to continue the winning ways against the Wildcats.

Villanova enters the night with a record of 5-6-4 (2-3-1) and 2-4-2 away from home this season, so playing at Corbett with the noise and energy of the home crowd will play a factor in this game.

USF Volleyball Sweeps DePaul

The USF ladies continue their strong conference play after they swept DePaul last night to improve to 9-11 (5-2) on the season.

Kimika Rozier had 8 kills. Kayla Walton had 8 kills and 3 digs. Valerie El Houssine had 12 kills as she continues her monster freshman season. Shelbie Dailey had 28 assists on the night to lead the team. Janice Rivera had 17 digs as well.

This is a great win for the ladies as they continue to move up the rankings in the Big East. They face a huge test tomorrow afternoon when they travel to face the Irish of Notre Dame (game starts at 2PM). The Bulls will have to find a way to get a big road victory if they want to improve and continue this great stretch of volleyball.

Rush Through the Roster: Jawanza Poland

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

We now take a look at explosive guard Jawanza (JAWANA!!!!) Poland. Poland burst onto the scene last year, wowing the crowd with his incredible athleticism both on dunks and swatting away opponents shots.

USF Volleyball Takes on DePaul

After dropping a nonconference game to FGCU on the 12th, the USF ladies, 8-11 (4-2), hit the road to take on the DePaul Blue Demons in another key Big East game (game starts at 7PM).

Scouting Cincinnati: Offense

USF's defense is coming off a game where they didn't allow a whole lot of points, but the offense couldn't put the game away. But despite the relatively good showing on the scoreboard last week, USF turns around for homecoming weekend against a strong, high-powered Cincinnati team whose offense averages almost 42 points per game.

Key Match-ups for USF vs. Cincinnati

Here are some of the key match-ups to watch for during the game with Cincinnati. USF needs to get a win here and it is time for the big time players for USF to win their positions and take care of business. Here are the match-ups we will be watching during the game.

USF Homecoming Week 2011 Friday Events Schedule

It's that time of year again USF family! Homecoming Week 2011; Superbull XV! Here are a list of events going on on all campuses throughout the day for Friday October 21st, weather permitting.

USF Run Offense Faces Another Tough Test

(Picture: www.tampabay.com)

The Bulls faced the 6th ranked rush defense in the country last week and now they face the best rush defense in the Big East in the Cincinnati Bearcats.

USF attacked the Huskies rush defense with some success, but a key fumble by Darrell Scott proved to be a turning point in the game. Scott will have to find the handle on the ball and try to find the running lanes against a swarming rush defense.

Daniels had a few solid runs, but has to be more consistent in his decision making and executing the offense and the plays. Whether the playcalling or the weather was the problem, Daniels has to run the offense, run the ball, and make the proper reads in the zone read plays against Cincinnati.

Murray had some solid runs in his limited playing time, so look for him to get into the action early and often, providing a nice burst off the line in the running game. The rush attack has to get it done in this game, but so does the passing game. We will have to see what the offense does in this game.

B.J. Daniels Has to Step It Up

The frustration of the offense continues to grow as the Bulls lose close games and continue to fail to throw the ball around the field. Whether it's the playcalling, the weather, or the moons are not aligned correctly, Daniels has to step it up.

In his last two games, Daniels is 33 of 63 for 387 yards and two interceptions. The pass defense of UCONN was one of the worst in the nation, but USF threw the ball for just 164 yards, attempting only 27 pass plays the entire game. While we want more passes, the throws that Daniels made were not that great, most of them were simple underneath screens and slants that helped the percentage go up.

The offense has to get it going in the Cincinnati game. The Bearcats are another strong team in rush defense and live off of turnovers. The passing offense has to get it going, open things up, and get the points on the board, the one thing that seems to be missing the last two games. The defense is doing their job, it's time for Daniels to do his.

Big East Week 8 Picks

Rutgers at Louisville

Matt: Rutgers continues to win, despite the starting Snookis going with a freshman at quarterback. Louisville may be at home, but the lack of offense will hurt them in the end. I have to go with Rutgers again, but I am not proud about picking them. Pick: Rutgers

Mike: It looks like the oddsmakers hate Rutgers as much as we do. Despite both teams heading in different directions, they have Louisville as a 2 point favorite at home. Louisville is desperate for a win, but I think Rutgers continues to roll toward bowl eligibility.

Jim: At the beginning of the season, I would have Louisville taking the victory over Slutgers here, but it seems that Louisville has a pitiful offense and just cannot get going. Meanwhile, Slutgers made a deal with the devil which has included a few wins. Pick: Rutgers

WVU at Syracuse

Matt: Syracuse is not a good team, coming back at home a few times and living on the edge. WVU torched UCONN the other week and has too much speed and firepower to lose this game. I am sure Jim will agree with me there. Pick: WVU

Mike: USF fans will be watching in hopes for a Syracuse upset to keep our slim Big East dreams alive, but they'll be disappointed to find that SU can absolutely not play defense. I'm picking West Virginia to win by four touchdowns.

Jim: WVU is coming off an "off week" and is primed and ready for Friday night Prime Time. And, yes Matt, I do agree... WVU has too much speed and firepower to lose to Syracuse. Plus, WVU owes 'Cuse for the Homecoming loss last year. Pick: WVU

Cincinnati at USF

Matt: I don't spend too much time here breaking down the game (that's what the site is for). USF wins this game, but too close for comfort. Pick: USF

Mike: I know, I know. If it were up to us, USF would go 13-0 with our picks. But I think USF does a good job preparing for Cincinnati's STARTING quarterbacks historically. The problem would be if Collaros got injured, because apparently that's what screws us. We're 4-0 in games I attend, so I feel good. USF is going to win, 28-24.

Jim: This one will be a barnburner, and, I hate to do this to my USF friends, but I think Butch Jones' squad gets the edge here. This game will shake up the Big East title picture. Pick: Cincinnati