The biggest college football game in the University of South Florida's brief gridiron history takes place on Friday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The winner of the game between No. 5 West Virginia MountaineersUSF Bulls (3-0) gets an early lead in the Big East standings and would have to be considered the league favorite. And USF will have the crowd on its side, as the school is expecting a sellout at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' stadium, which holds more than 65,000 people. A typical Bulls home game draws around 35,000.
"Some people will be experiencing our football games for the first time on Friday night, and it's going to be a blast," USF Senior Associate Athletic Director Bill McGillis said.
USF is a bit new to the national stage, receiving votes in The Associated Press preseason poll for the first time this summer and making its initial appearance in the Top 25 last week after upsetting Auburn. In addition, the Bulls went into Morgantown last season and upset then-No. 7 West Virginia 24-19. That victory ended the Mountaineers' eight-game home winning streak and is their only loss in Morgantown in nearly two years. And it gives WVU plenty of added motivation on Friday night.
"I said, 'You all know who is next.' They blurted it out," Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez said Saturday after his team defeated East Carolina 48-7. "People talk about revenge, but that's not a great motivator. They are excited about trying to play better than we did against them last year."
In that loss to South Florida, West Virginia's Steve Slaton - the nation's No. 2 rusher at the time - had his streak of six straight 100-yard games snapped as he ran for just 43 yards. The Mountaineers didn't score their first touchdown until midway through the third quarter and were limited to 132 yards rushing.
"We are focused right now. Its business," West Virginia wide receiver Dorrell Jalloh said Saturday."We can't fool around."
The Bulls will again have to stop one of the nation's fastest teams, especially on the ground. Behind Heisman candidates Pat White and Slaton, WVU is averaging 47.2 ppg and 525.0 total ypg; the rushing attack is averaging 357.0 ypg on 7.2 yards per carry.
"West Virginia has speed, lots of speed," said USF's George Selvie, the nation's leader in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (15). "I'm hoping to play fast ball and be relentless and swarm to the ball."
Meanwhile, the Bulls have a star of their own in QB Matt Grothe. The sophomore has thrown for 652 yards and completed 60.4 percent of his passes this season, with four TDs and no interceptions. He also has rushed for 88 yards and a TD. USF averages 30.3 ppg and 373.3 total ypg.
Grothe completed 22 of 30 passes for 279 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in last year's meeting, while White went 14-of-22 for 178 yards with two TDs and two picks.
West Virginia, though, has improved against the pass. The Mountaineers are allowing 186.3 passing yards per game after giving up 243.3 last season - 109th in the nation.
"We have to get pressure on (Grothe) but we also have to make sure he doesn't get loose on us. We will have to be disciplined," Rodriguez said.
Since joining the Big East for the 2005 season, South Florida is 11-2 at home.
"We know we're playing a great, great team coming in here. We're excited about the challenge," coach Jim Leavitt said. "We're going to have to play awfully good football to have a chance."
South Florida is a 7-point underdog on WagerWeb.com. I look for the Mountaineers to eke one out in Tampa on Friday night, but for the amped-up Bulls to cover or, at worst, make it a push.
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(4-0) and No. 18
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