Athlon Sports previews USF @ UNC

[TyBull]

South Florida at North Carolina

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/9626/week-7-south-florida-at-north-carolina

South Florida (4–2) at North Carolina (1–4)

Game Time: Saturday, Oct. 14 at noon ET

South Florida is headed back to play another Atlantic Coast Conference team after two unsuccessful tries last season. USF lost at Miami, 27–7, and against North Carolina State, 14–0, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

This time the Bulls seem to have a better shot. North Carolina’s only win of the season came at the expense of Furman – and even that was difficult. The Tar Heels won that game 45–42 and have lost their last two 52–7 to Clemson and 27–7 to Miami, Fla. North Carolina also lost to USF’s Big East compadre Rutgers 21–16. (RU edged South Florida 22-20)

Both teams have been averaging over 300 yards of total offense a game – and in similar ways. South Florida has been passing for an average of 220 yards behind what the school calls the top freshman quarterback in the nation, Matt Grothe. So far, Grothe has passed for 1,230 yards and eight touchdowns and run for 422 yards and seven scores. Also, USF seems to have kick-started its running game. The Bulls rushed for 205 yards, their most against a Division I-A opponent in 10 games, last week in a 38–16 win over Connecticut. Sophomore tailback Ben Williams had a career-high 108 yards. North Carolina is allowing an average of 202.6 yards on the ground and 184.4 through the air. Against Miami, Carolina allowed 324 total yards – which, surprisingly, was its best effort since holding Virginia Tech to 224 on Sept. 9.

The Tar Heels will counter with their own redshirt freshman QB in Cam Sexton, who will be making his fourth start. Sexton, though, hasn’t had the success of Grothe, completing a combined 16-of-50 passes for 232 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. Sexton will also be without wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who sprained his ankle against Miami and has been declared out for this game.

In that Miami game, North Carolina’s Barrington Edwards received the bulk of the carries and led the team with 37 yards on 10 attempts. USF’s defense has been allowing but 108 yards on the ground and 185 through the air.

South Florida by 6

This week’s StatShark Game Forecast brought to you by ZEP Manufacturing. The StatShark Game Forecast gives you the results of 10,000 game simulations and key player statistics before this week's game.

[GetAHobby]

Pretty good assesment...6 point win is fine by me