Five Ways USF Can Win or Lose to UTC

The Bulls are the heavy favorite in this game, but there is always a chance they could be upset.  Let's take a look at the 5 ways the Bulls can win this game easily and 5 ways they could be beaten in the first game of the season.

Five Ways the Bulls Win 

1. Execute the Game Plan - Holtz and Fitch will draw up the plays they want to run in this first game as they get the players use to real game speed. If the Bulls are able to execute the plays, get positive yardage, and avoid mistakes, they should be able to rack up the yards and points in this game. USF had one of its best statistical seasons last year on offense, so if they continue to progress, look for big numbers. 
2. Team Speed - The Bulls have always been known for having fast, athletic athletes and this team is loaded once again. From Griffin, Lamar, and Dunkley on offense to Webster, Baker, and Jenkins on defense, the team speed is going to be a big determining factor in the game. The Mocs have a solid team, but coming out D2, they are not use to the speed that the Bulls have and it will be a deciding factor in this game. 
3. Size - Along with being faster across the depth chart, the Bulls have the advantage of size, especially on the lines. The offensive line, for example, weighs in at over 300-pounds while most of the defensive pass rushers for the Mocs are around 230-pounds. The size advantage will help the Bulls create more holes in the running game and will help the defensive front get plenty of pressure and break up their offense. 
4. B.J. Daniels - Daniels is the catalyst for this team and entering his last year as a Bull, it's do or die for him. Daniels understands this is his last chance, along with the other seniors, to win the Big East this season and he wants to make this year a big one. He will get his chance in this first game and with his skill set and speed, he should have another career day. 
5. Depth - The Bulls have a lot of young depth up and down the roster and it will prove useful in this game. The Mocs do not have the same level of depth that the Bulls have and as the game wears on, USF will be able to rotate players in and keep everyone fresh without missing a step while the Mocs will be fatigued (leading to big plays late in the game). 

Five Ways the Bulls Lose 

1. Injuries - A few seasons ago, the Bulls saw then starter Matt Grothe go down for the year playing playing against a D2 foe. The team is hoping that no one goes down in the first game of the season. With 24 seniors and a ton of experienced juniors on the roster, the team can't afford to lose anyone in the first game.
2. Team misses the bus - It is possible that the team hotel could lose power, everyone's alarm clocks don't work and the buses leave without the team and the Bulls could be forced to forfeit the game. Wouldn't that be something? 
3. Turnovers - If the Bulls are sloppy in this game and lose several turnovers, it could allow the Mocs to score quickly and put the pressure on the Bulls. If the game is close, a key turnover could hurt the team in the end. USF has to be smart with the ball, avoid the costly turnovers, and not give the Mocs a chance to score a cheap touchdown. 
4. Penalties - The Bulls were plagued last season by bad penatlies at the worst moments in games. They killed drives, allowed opponents to keep the ball, and made Holtz lose more hair. The team has to be smart, not allow their emotions to overtake them, and play to the rules. The team cannot give the Mocs free yards and field position and expect to win the game easily. 
5. We Are NOT Losing this Game - Let's be honest, the Bulls will take care of business here. It may not be like the epic game we had against FAMU when the offense did whatever they wanted, but it should be a strong performance, the team will get into game speed, and prepare for the bigger games ahead (fingers crossed).