In Game Updated! The TBP Official In Game Thread: USF Bulls at Cincinnati Bearcats

[MikeG]

Welcome to

TheBullsPen.com's

Game 6

South Florida Bulls (1-4, 0-1)
vs
Cincinnati Bearcats (4-1, 1-0)

October 8, 2022

 

    

2:30 PM 

 Nippert Stadium    Cincinnati, OH

 

 

This will serve as our official  in game thread for in game discussions and commentary.  Stand alone topics should still be posted in a new thread.  The board functions work well on mobile phone, tablet or desktop.  The BullsChat chat room is also available.

 

GAME DAY vs. Cincinnati

USF will play its fourth straight game away from Tampa when the Bulls travel to Cincinnati for the 20th series meeting, the most-played in program history. USF is 2-7 all-time at Cincinnati and has lost its last two trips by 12 points or more. The Bulls suffered back-to-back road losses at SEC (Florida) and ACC (Louisville) programs before opening the program’s 10th AAC season in a relocated game in Boca Raton vs. ECU. The Bulls will not play a home game for a month, until facing 4-1 Tulane at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 15. The Bulls last win at Cincinnati came when a Quinton Flowers led USF posted a 45-20 victory in Nippert in 2016 on its way to a program record 11-2 season and final Top 25 ranking. The victory was part of a 35-6 record for the program from mid-2015 to mid-2018 that saw the Bulls spend 20 consecutive weeks in the Top 25 and earn four straight bowl bids. USF has not defeated a ranked opponent since 2016. The Bulls will be looking to end a 14-game road losing streak that dates to an Oct. 28, 2019 victory at ECU (45-20).

ROAD 4-PACK: Due to Hurricane Ian, USF will play four straight games away from Tampa for the first time in program history. The Bulls have previously played three straight games away from Tampa just once in 2006, as the Bulls fell at No. 10 Louisville (31-8), won at No. 7 West Virginia (24-19) and won a neutral site gave vs. ECU (24-7) in the Papa Johns Bowl. The Bulls seven road (6)/neutral (1) regular season games in 2022 are the most ever for the program in a regular season. The Bulls are now scheduled for five home games, with four road and three home remaining.

BOHANON BREAKS OUT: QB Gerry Bohanon posted his first touchdown pass in a USF uniform with a 91-yard play to Jimmy Horn. at ECU. Bohanon passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 74 and a touchdown, giving him 331 total yards on the day for his best performance to date at USF.

 

SERIES: UC leads, 12-7, most played series
IN TAMPA: Tied, 5-5, Lost, 45-28 in 2021
IN CINCY: UC leads, 7-2, last, UC won 28-7 in ‘20
STREAK: UC has won four straight
LAST USF WIN: 33-3 in Tampa in 2017
VS RANKED: 11-35, lost last 13; 4-16 on the road

TV: ESPN+: Richard Cross (PXP) & Taylor McHargue (Analyst)
RADIO: 102.5 FM/102.5 HD2
AUDIO STREAM:  TuneIn -Bulls Unlimited 1  LISTEN

USF RADIO NETWORK
FLAGSHIP: 102.5 FM & 102.5-HD2 (BAY AREA), TUNEIN RADIO (DIGITAL) - BULLS UNLIMITED; Jim Louk, play-by-play Sam Barrington, analyst Joey Johnston, sideline
PREGAME SHOW (2 HRS PRIOR TO KICK): Jim Lighthall & Darek Sharp
USF FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW: Wednesdays, 6-7 p.m. on 102.5 HD-2 & Bulls Unlimited

TheBullsPen.com: Major In Game Twitter Feeds   Football Page 
Bulls on Social Media
Twitter: @USFFOOTBALL, @Coach_JeffScott
Instagram: USFFOOTBALL
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthFloridaFootball
Hashtags: #GoBulls; #HornsUp; #US2F, #Bullieve

USF official site:  https://gousfbulls.com/sports/football

Cincinnati official site:  https://gobearcats.com/sports/football

 

 

Live Stats

South Florida Game Notes - South Florida Depth Chart - South Florida Stats

Cincinnati Game Notes  - Cincinnati Depth Chart - Cincinnati Stats

 

GoUSFBulls.com GAME DAY CENTRAL

 

Go Bulls!

[Brad]

 

[Brad]

 

[Boomer]

7 hours ago, Brad said:

 

Looks like Brady’s shared his ball inflation standards with the team. 

[Brad]

 

[Mango028]

Watching tcu vs kansas and it just seems bkth defenses have guys in positions to tackle and when people play us guys are wide open and running free most of time were not even close. I cant help but think today will be no different

[Brad]

Bulls Look For Faster Start At Defending AAC Champion Cincinnati

October 07, 2022

Joey Johnston Athletics Senior Writer

Story Links

 

USF (1-4; 0-1 American) at #24/- Cincinnati (4-1; 1-0 American)
Saturday, Oct. 8 • 2:30 P.M. • Nippert Stadium (40,000) • Cincinnati, Ohio
SURFACE: Turf
TV: ESPN+: Richard Cross (PXP) & Taylor McHargue (Analyst)
RADIO: 102.5 FM/102.5 HD 2
AUDIO STREAM: TuneIn - Bulls Unlimited 1
SERIES: UC leads, 12-7, most played series
IN TAMPA: Tied, 5-5, Lost, 45-28 in 2021
IN CINCY: UC leads, 7-2, last, UC won 28-7 in '20
STREAK: UC has won four straight
LAST USF WIN: 33-3 in Tampa in 2017
VS RANKED: 11-35, lost last 13; 4-16 on the road
USF GAME NOTES (PDF)

CINCINNATI — When the Bulls face the No. 24-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday afternoon at Nippert Stadium, there's an obvious focus for improvement.

The Bulls (1-4, 0-1 AAC), who will take on a program-record third ranked opponent in the season's first six games, could use a jump-start, a spark, a bolt of immediate lightning … anything to get going quickly against the two-time defending conference champion Bearcats (4-1, 1-0 AAC).

Slow starts have plagued the Bulls in the first half.

"If you look at our keys to victory this week, the first three are Start Fast, Start Faster and Start Fastest,'' defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said. "I think we have played against some really good quarterbacks so far and some top-50 offenses. This week is the same thing. But it's no excuse.

"We have to play better. We have to get off to a better start. That's certainly on me. We can't keep spotting these teams significant chunks of yards at the beginning of the game.''

If the Bulls could break out against Cincinnati, it would do a world of good for USF's confidence. A three-and-out by USF's defense. A kickoff return for a score. A sustained drive or even a quick strike. Any of it would work nicely.

Head coach Jeff Scott was asked if the Bulls should take the ball — instead of deferring for the second-half option — if they win the opening coin toss. USF did just that against Howard University, then Gerry Bohanon was intercepted on the game's first play. Scott said that doesn't make him gun-shy, but added that he likes getting the ball to start the second half.

"So how do we get off to a better start? Trust me, I'm the first one who wants to see that happen,'' offensive coordinator Travis Trickett said. "We've got to play better. We've got to hold onto the ball and not miss any opportunities. Unfortunately, we're playing a team that's extremely disruptive. They're a little bit of a different animal than we've seen. We've got to put our stuff together and be ready because it's going to be a fist fight.''

Bearcat Challenge

You don't have to exaggerate to praise Cincinnati, which has won 29 consecutive home games, while defeating 17 straight opponents in the AAC.

Trickett said he watched film of every Cincinnati game in 2021, when the Bearcats (13-1) won the AAC championship and made the College Football Playoff, along with their five games this season. He said he believes the Bearcats are even better in 2022.

Scott said Cincinnati's defense might be the best he has faced since he was on the staff at Clemson, when the Tigers played top-ranked Alabama for the national championship. Cincinnati's defense leads the nation in sacks (23), tackles for a loss (50) and defensive touchdowns (four) and ranks in the top 25 in total defense and turnovers gained.

Meanwhile, Shoop said Bearcats quarterback Ben Bryant (65.2 percent completions, 13 touchdowns, four interceptions and 1,383 yards) looks just as formidable as Desmond Ridder, last season's AAC Offensive Player of the Year.

So, Cincinnati had nine players drafted in the NFL … and got better?

"They do a great job of recruiting and developing players,'' Scott said. "They are one of the best teams in the nation, no question.''

"You might see that in Tuscaloosa (Alabama) or Athens (Georgia), but not too many other places,'' Trickett said. "We will have our hands full with that defense.''

USF's offense scored on its first three drives of the second half in a 48-28 defeat against East Carolina at Boca Raton. The Bulls were led by Bohanon, who threw three touchdown passes, and sophomore wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who had a career day with eight receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

 

LINK

[Brad]

1 minute ago, Mango028 said:

Watching tcu vs kansas and it just seems bkth defenses have guys in positions to tackle and when people play us guys are wide open and running free most of time were not even close. I cant help but think today will be no different

For many, including me, it's the week to week improvement that MUST be apparent.  It's improve or exit.  If you can't get it done, retire.

[Mango028]

2 minutes ago, Brad said:

For many, including me, it's the week to week improvement that MUST be apparent.  It's improve or exit.  If you can't get it done, retire.

I sure hope so. I cant take another 28-0 first half. It‘s flat out embarrassing to us and it has to be for the kids as well.  

[zarnozdabull]

FYI, the line is at -16.5 Cincy for the first half