Jump to content
  • USF Bulls fans join us at The Bulls Pen

    It's simple, free and connects you to other South Florida Bulls fans!

  • Members do not see this ad, Register

  • Men's Basketball
    Great Season Bulls!
    nit3.jpg

    Sun 3/24, 7:30 pm ESPNU

     
      1 2 Final  
    VCU 32 38 70  
    Bulls 30 35 65  
    📻 Listen 📊 Live Stats 📺 ESPNU  
    Prediction Contest - In Game Thread 
    Last:  Romped over UCF 83-77
     
     

Still giddy after this season, here's a REALLY crazy prediction


Recommended Posts


  • Group:  Member
  • Topic Count:  85
  • Content Count:  2,019
  • Reputation:   303
  • Days Won:  2
  • Joined:  10/22/2011

USF should win the bowl game no matter who we face... that means a 5 game winning streak to end the year.

Next year, USF will be returning so many talented players... plus plugging a lot of gaps with transfers who sat out this year...

Assuming we can keep the coaching staff MOSTLY intact... and that may be a very big IF...

USF could easily go 12-0.  Look at this for a second:

Out of conference: Towson, Northern Illinois, and Florida State at home and Syracuse on the road.  

As with this year, FSU will be the hardest game of the year... and they may actually be better than 2015 team! Their depth chart for last night has 28 players listed on offense, 1 of whom is a senior, and 28 players listed on defense, 9 of whom are seniors.  If no one leaves early, 46 out of 56 on their "two deep" will be back next year. Yikes!  (USF returns almost the same ratio... and the game is at Raymond James).

I think we can agree the other three games are well within reach of these BULLS.

American Conference games: UCF, U Conn, Navy, and ECU at home and Memphis, Temple, Cincinnati, and SMU on the road.

Out of these teams, Navy graduates just about everyone (they had 1 offensive starter who was not a senior this year), Memphis will lose Fuentes and Lynch, UCF is rebuilding.  ECU will get their best QB back (he missed this year with an injury during camp).  U Conn will be better on offense, with most of the team coming back, but will take a step back on defense as they graduate more than half.   Temple graduates almost everyone, although Walker and Thomas return.  SMU might be the toughest road game next year, although they will have more holes to fill on an already weak defense.

Look at that schedule for a minute and tell me any game you would put down as a loss right now.  FSU? @ Cincy?  I just don't see it.  All of those games -- ALL of them -- are winnable.

Next, and this one will really throw you for a loop... our offense only loses three projected starters in 2017... and we play:
 > OOC Home: Stonybrook, Illinois, U Mass
 > OOC Away: Northern Illinois
 > AAC Home: Cincinnati, Houston, Temple, Tulsa
 > AAC Away: UCF, UConn, ECU, Tulane

-----------------------------------------------

If we can keep the coaching staff together for two more seasons... and we can avoid any major injuries like we did this season...

USF has the POTENTIAL to go 24-0 over the next two regular seasons...

Ponder that as you think back to where we were on October 4th.

Bold. I like it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Group:  Member
  • Topic Count:  23
  • Content Count:  3,681
  • Reputation:   1,182
  • Days Won:  14
  • Joined:  01/19/2011

Would be a dream come true.  But it would be a MAJOR (note all the capital letters) upset if we beat FSU.  Regardless, I agree that all of the remaining games are there for the taking if we play like we have the last three games of this season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would be a dream come true.  But it would be a MAJOR (note all the capital letters) upset if we beat FSU.  Regardless, I agree that all of the remaining games are there for the taking if we play like we have the last three games of this season.

This was the point of my OP.  This team isn't playing 100% perfect football... because no one does.

But if we keep the coaches and the team avoids injuries... nothing is off the table any more.

  • Upvote 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Group:  Member
  • Topic Count:  2,324
  • Content Count:  21,234
  • Reputation:   898
  • Days Won:  10
  • Joined:  01/02/2007

This was the point of my OP.  This team isn't playing 100% perfect football... because no one does.

But if we keep the coaches and the team avoids injuries... nothing is off the table any more.

First time in a long time I have optimism for next year.   I am with you Jim.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Tell a friend

    Love TheBullsPen.com? Tell a friend!
  • South Florida Fight Song

     

  • Files

  • Recent Achievements

    • Westcoast004 earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Westcoast004 earned a badge
      First Post
    • Sarah T earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • COBBULL went up a rank
      Explorer
    • Evan Holden earned a badge
      First Post
  • Popular Contributors

  • Quotes

    "There is no inherent fear among this group of players. The fear of failing drove the program from day one - the fear of failing the coaches, the fan base, the university, each teammate, themselves. Now, as we head into the biggest game in our history at home on a national stage against the highest ranked team to step on OUR field, the players are taking an introspective look at themselves. Unfortunately, I don't know if they get it. They lack the fear."

    Terry Lucas, 09/26/22  

×
×
  • Create New...

It appears you are using ad blocking tools.  This site is supported through ads.  Please disable in order to enjoy full access to The Bulls Pen.  Registration is free and reduces ads.