USF Temple Preview from USA Today

[Sellular1]

Preview

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/event/2015/49043/preview/top25/

Temple showed a great deal of character its last time out, recovering from a heart-breaking loss to Notre Dame by authoring the best offensive performance by an Owls team in more than 40 years. No. 21 Temple hopes to deliver another strong performance Saturday in its final road game of the season against USF.

The Owls can clinch the East Division and a berth in the first American Athletic Conference championship game with a win Saturday. They would love to match their effort against SMU last week, when they rolled to a 60-40 victory behind five total touchdowns from quarterback P.J. Walker. "Defensively, this will be the best team we face other than Florida State," USF coach Willie Taggart said to reporters this week. The Bulls are the only team with a chance to catch Temple in the division race - a position USF is in thanks to four wins in its last five games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Temple -3

ABOUT TEMPLE (8-1, 5-0 AAC): Walker has 14 TDs against four INTs this season, but Jahad Thomas is clearly the best offensive player for the Owls. Thomas has 970 yards on the ground and 14 touchdowns, including at least one rushing score in every game this season. The Owls, who are aiming to go 6-0 on the road for the first time in school history, have given up only 12 sacks all year.

ABOUT USF (5-4, 3-2): Quinton Flowers has accounted for 19 touchdowns this season - 12 passing scores - while ranking second on the team in rushing yards. Backfield mate Marlon Mack has surpassed 100 rushing yards in four of his last five outings - a key for the Bulls, who are 4-0 this year when he runs for at least 110 yards. Rodney Adams (24 catches, 428 yards) is capable of big things, as evidenced by his numbers against Connecticut last month (five catches, 118 yards, three TDs).

EXTRA POINTS

1. USF is 5-0 when scoring more than 17 points and 0-4 when failing to surpass that figure.

2. The Owls won the only previous meeting, 37-28, in 2012.

3. Temple has not won in the state of Florida since December 3, 1938.

PREDICTION: Temple 17, USF 16

 

 

[Roaming Bull]

Was that written by a temple alum? The article was a little biased....

[Sellular1]

The shutdown defense of South Florida has been the story of the season, but a change to spread formations has been able to improve the Bulls to the #21 rushing offense in the nation.

http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/11/9713022/south-floridas-run-game-is-sneaky-good

Heading into this season, it was common belief that if the South Florida Bulls did not find a way to improve on offense in 2015, the program would seriously consider making a change at head coach.

With the move to a spread style offense, led by quarterback Quinton Flowers, the Bulls have been able to improve on their four wins in 2014 and two wins in 2013. A win in one of their final three games would make South Florida bowl eligible and double head coach Willie Taggart's win total at USF from six to 12.

So what are the Bulls doing differently to make their offense tougher to stop?

By using the spread formation, South Florida has forced teams to actually respect the quarterback as a runner. Flowers is second on the team with 657 yards on the ground and a team-leading seven touchdowns. Compare that to 2014 with Mike White (now at Western Kentucky). White only had 44 positive yards rushing last season at the starting quarterback. Simply put, he did not run the ball unless he absolutely had to. By finding a way to get Flowers approximately 15 carries per game, the defensive focus shifts from completely on running back Marlon Mack to both Mack and Flowers.

Marlon Mack. His progression as a running back has been impressive to watch. As a freshman in 2014, he was virtually the only running game option for the Bulls. His 1,041 yards on the ground was impressive, but it was also 80.3% of the rushing total for the entire team. The 2014 freshman was able to still average over 5.0 yards per carry, despite the defense knowing it would be him carrying the ball.

This season has seen a significant change in the way he is used. Rather than being the only option in the backfield, he is the top option among many to run the football. Flowers (133 carries), Darius Tice (56 carries), and D'Ernest Johnson (46 carries) have all been able to find significant roles within the offense.

During a game against Connecticut, the Bulls showed off a three back set that included Mack, Flowers, and a combination of Tice or Johnson. In essence, it was a bit of an option attack from the spread formation. Putting multiple backs into play forced the Connecticut defense to play everyone honest and give up several big plays that were the difference in the game.

You can look at all of the different numbers that prove how much Mack has improved from his 2014 AAC Freshman of the Year season, but it all comes down to one number: usage rate. In 2014, Mack carried the ball on 53.7% of all run plays for the above mentioned 80.3% of all rushing yards. This season, Mack has carried the ball on only 36.4% of all rushing plays for 42.7% of all rushing yards.

As a result of being able to spread the ball around to more ball carriers, the Bulls have seen their overall yards per carry jump from 3.4 in 2014 to 5.0 in 2015. It cannot be overstated just how much of an improvement that is. The Bulls already have 658 more yards on the ground than last season with three games still left to play.

You can even make the case that Flowers has been better in the passing game than White was last fall. Much of that is due to defenses being forced into stopping the run. Flowers has been able to go over the top for explosive passes, as evidenced by the Bulls #10 ranked passing IsoPPP. Overall, the Bulls have improved by approximately 90 yards of total offense per game.

While there are significant steps that still need to be taken for South Florida to reach their potential, there is much more hope that it can be done with this coaching staff.

[BDYZR]

Temple has not won in the state of Florida since December 3, 1938.

[Bullrush33]

EXTRA POINTS

1. USF is 5-0 when scoring more than 17 points and 0-4 when failing to surpass that figure.

2. The Owls won the only previous meeting, 37-28, in 2012.

3. Temple has not won in the state of Florida since December 3, 1938.

PREDICTION: Temple 17, USF 16

 

The Curse of 17.   

[Sellular1]

The Temple Owls (8-1) and the South Florida Bulls lock horns in a key East Division showdown. Check out the Temple vs. USF prediction and game preview.
http://campusinsiders.com/news/temple-vs-usf-prediction-game-preview-11-10-2015

Temple vs. USF Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 14
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Network: CBS Sports Network

Follow and/or Contact @Rich Cirminiello
 

Why You Need To Care

Everyone assumes Temple has locked up the American’s East Division by starting 8-1, including 5-0 in conference play. Everyone, that is, except South Florida, the division’s final program with a shot to inject intrigue into the race this month. The ranked Owls have been outstanding under Matt Rhule, losing only to Notre Dame by four points two weeks ago. But the Bulls have quietly moved into second place in the division by taking four of their last five games, including last Saturday at East Carolina. And with an upset in Tampa Saturday night, USF can pull to within a game of first place with two weeks left.
 

Why Temple Will Win

Not since the Week 2 trip to Tallahassee has South Florida seen a defense as nasty as the one it’ll face this weekend. Yeah, the Owls sprung a few leaks at SMU in Week 10, but this is the same stout crew that ranks 25th nationally in yards per play allowed. The Bulls are a middling offensive team, save for occasional spurts. And their inconsistent passing game will allow Temple to press up linebackers Tyler Matakevich and Nate D. Smith and CB Tavon Young to derail RB Marlon Mack and QB Quinton Flowers on the ground.
 

Why South Florida Will Win

The Bulls have been Temple light this year—solid D to go along with a run-based offense. Since the beginning of October, USF has given up only 21 points per game. Plus, it’s No. 12 nationally in stops for minus yards, a particular problem for Temple now that all-star C Kyle Friend is out. The Owls must run Jahad Thomas to be successful. However, South Florida yields just 3.7 yards per carry, and LB Auggie Sanchez, linemen Deadrin Senat and James Hamilton and DBs Jamie Byrd and Nate Godwin are delivering underrated results.
 

Player Who Matters

Can Temple QB P.J. Walker dish it the way he did last week on the Hilltop? The Owls might need him to if South Florida keeps stuffing the run. With Thomas less than full strength in Week 10, Walker starred in an unlikely shootout, throwing four touchdown passes and no picks on only 25 attempts. While there’ll be no shootout this week in Tampa, Temple will still need Walker to make clutch throws against a speedy USF defense.
 

What’s Going To Happen?

South Florida head coach Willie Taggart has been searching for a breakthrough moment for the past three years. He’ll get it Saturday night in front of an electrified crowd. Neither team will gain much traction on offense, as the defenses set the tone. But without Friend in the middle of the line, Temple will have serious problems with USF’s inside rush. And with their offense laboring, the Bulls will use turnovers and momentum altering stops to create much-needed short-field opportunities.
 

Temple vs. USF Prediction

Final Score: South Florida 24, Temple 23, Line: Temple -3, o/u: 48.5
Must See Rating: 5: Spectre ... 1: The 33 … 2.5

[fla331boy]

The Temple Owls (8-1) and the South Florida Bulls lock horns in a key East Division showdown. Check out the Temple vs. USF prediction and game preview.
http://campusinsiders.com/news/temple-vs-usf-prediction-game-preview-11-10-2015

Temple vs. USF Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 14
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Network: CBS Sports Network

Follow and/or Contact @Rich Cirminiello
 

Why You Need To Care

Everyone assumes Temple has locked up the American’s East Division by starting 8-1, including 5-0 in conference play. Everyone, that is, except South Florida, the division’s final program with a shot to inject intrigue into the race this month. The ranked Owls have been outstanding under Matt Rhule, losing only to Notre Dame by four points two weeks ago. But the Bulls have quietly moved into second place in the division by taking four of their last five games, including last Saturday at East Carolina. And with an upset in Tampa Saturday night, USF can pull to within a game of first place with two weeks left.
 

Why Temple Will Win

Not since the Week 2 trip to Tallahassee has South Florida seen a defense as nasty as the one it’ll face this weekend. Yeah, the Owls sprung a few leaks at SMU in Week 10, but this is the same stout crew that ranks 25th nationally in yards per play allowed. The Bulls are a middling offensive team, save for occasional spurts. And their inconsistent passing game will allow Temple to press up linebackers Tyler Matakevich and Nate D. Smith and CB Tavon Young to derail RB Marlon Mack and QB Quinton Flowers on the ground.
 

Why South Florida Will Win

The Bulls have been Temple light this year—solid D to go along with a run-based offense. Since the beginning of October, USF has given up only 21 points per game. Plus, it’s No. 12 nationally in stops for minus yards, a particular problem for Temple now that all-star C Kyle Friend is out. The Owls must run Jahad Thomas to be successful. However, South Florida yields just 3.7 yards per carry, and LB Auggie Sanchez, linemen Deadrin Senat and James Hamilton and DBs Jamie Byrd and Nate Godwin are delivering underrated results.
 

Player Who Matters

Can Temple QB P.J. Walker dish it the way he did last week on the Hilltop? The Owls might need him to if South Florida keeps stuffing the run. With Thomas less than full strength in Week 10, Walker starred in an unlikely shootout, throwing four touchdown passes and no picks on only 25 attempts. While there’ll be no shootout this week in Tampa, Temple will still need Walker to make clutch throws against a speedy USF defense.
 

What’s Going To Happen?

South Florida head coach Willie Taggart has been searching for a breakthrough moment for the past three years. He’ll get it Saturday night in front of an electrified crowd. Neither team will gain much traction on offense, as the defenses set the tone. But without Friend in the middle of the line, Temple will have serious problems with USF’s inside rush. And with their offense laboring, the Bulls will use turnovers and momentum altering stops to create much-needed short-field opportunities.
 

Temple vs. USF Prediction

Final Score: South Florida 24, Temple 23, Line: Temple -3, o/u: 48.5
Must See Rating: 5: Spectre ... 1: The 33 … 2.5

Hmmmmmmm

[Triple B]

Temple has not won in the state of Florida since December 3, 1938.

Means they're due ..... **** you for bringing that up.

[BDYZR]

Means they're due ..... **** you for bringing that up.

They'll get their chance next year... at UCF.

[TheUpperHand]

What’s Going To Happen?

South Florida head coach Willie Taggart has been searching for a breakthrough moment for the past three years. He’ll get it Saturday night in front of an electrified crowd. Neither team will gain much traction on offense, as the defenses set the tone. But without Friend in the middle of the line, Temple will have serious problems with USF’s inside rush. And with their offense laboring, the Bulls will use turnovers and momentum altering stops to create much-needed short-field opportunities.
 

Temple vs. USF Prediction

Final Score: South Florida 24, Temple 23, Line: Temple -3, o/u: 48.5
Must See Rating: 5: Spectre ... 1: The 33 … 2.5

Is it bad that this is the part I find hardest to believe about any of the preview articles that have been posted so far?

Edited November 12, 2015 by TheUpperHand