CBS Sports Takes Rutgers

[Brad]

Preview: Rutgers Scarlet Knights at South Florida Bulls

By Evan Hilbert | CBSSports.com

Rutger (2-0) at South Florida (2-0)

Kickoff: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Spread: South Florida by 8

Watchability: Considering the winner will have a leg up on the rest of the Big East, this is definitely one to watch.

Shining stars: Rutgers: LB Khaseem Greene. The reigning Big East defensive player of the year, Greene is again among the nation's leaders in tackles while anchoring one of the country's toughest defenses. Greene will be tasked with keeping the South Florida rushing attack in check, while the defensive backfield worries about Bulls quarterback B.J. Daniels and his stable of athletic receivers.

South Florida: Quarterback B.J. Daniels. USF will be somewhat short-handed on the outside due to the absence of redshirt junior Sterling Griffin, who was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in last weekend's Nevada game. Still, Daniels has a big time arm that will put major pressure on a Scarlet Knights defense that has yet to face an offense even close to the Bulls'.

Who could steal the show:

Rutgers: RB Jawan Jamison. It appears that Jamison has wrested the starting job away from Savon Huggins, and his 7.9 yards per carry have been a boon to an offense unable to establish an identity in the passing game. The South Florida rush defense has been anything but punishing in its first two games. South Florida: WR Andre Davis. The sophomore burst onto the scence last week with his 56-yard game-winning touchdown reception against Nevada, but that wasn't his only contribution. Davis finished the game with 12 catches for 191 yards, and he may be the Bulls' best hope at moving the ball against a Rutgers defense that has been stingy against the run.

You going? Ranking the road trip: A Thursday night game in south Florida -- sure seems like a good time, so long as Bulls fans aren't jetlagged from last weekend's trip out west.

Magic number for South Florida: 41. That's how many yards rushing Rutgers is giving up on average, albeit through just two games (last week's opponent, Howard, got lots of yards in garbage time). Demetris Murray and Lindsey Lamar figure to increase that number, and how much they increase it may be the game's determining factor.

Magic number for Rutgers: minus-7. In last year's overtime win, the Scarlet Knights rushed for minus-7 yards. With the state of their passing game, that will not stand this week.

The game comes down to: Scoring. Sure, that seems obvious, but if South Florida can put points on the board -- especially early -- there will be a lot of pressure on an unimpressive Rutgers offense.

Prediction: Rutgers 17, South Florida 13

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Big East, follow bloggers Evan Hilbert and Matt Rybaltowski @CBSBigEast.

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[Nuke]

I highly doubt we only score 13 points. I think it will be more like USF 31 rutgirls 14

[hbryan]

USF wins this going away. That of course is predicated on Holtz having coached them sufficiently so that blocked punts, blocked field goals and runbacks by Rutgers doesn't occur. Do you think I'm out a limb with that prediction?

[inTransit]

Clueless writer can have fun on his road trip to south Florida while the game goes on in Tampa

[charsibb]

Scared the crap out of me.

When I saw the headline, I thought it was going to be broadcast by CBSSports.com - which would mean no stream.

Whew.

It's just another talking head, but given our history with RU, I don't blame anyone for taking them. Hope everybody does, and that this pisses off our boys no end.

Go Bulls!

'Radicate Rutgers!~

[NewEnglandBull]

Another person who does not know this USF team is on its way to the BE Championship.

[lotsofbull99]

Rutgers on Thursday Night will Destroy us!

[Vroomy]

We're doomed.

[gobulls83]

USF:Rutgers::Oklahoma State:Savannah State

[blitz8ru]

you guys seem awfully optimistic...

As long as we win the TO battle, I don't see you guys scoring more than 16...

My prediction:

September 13: Rutgers @South Florida W 24-16 {3-0(1-0)}

RU: 1 Rushing TD, 1 Passing TD, 1 Defensive/ST TD, 1 FG

USF: 1 Rushing TD, 3 FGs

We already have 2 defensive/STs TDs this year and have also blocked 4 kicks (1 of them counted as a deflected punt though since it still went forward slightly) including a blocked punt for a TD in those 2 games... So watch out for that... We also have our best PR on punts (Mason Robinson) after missing the season last year due to an ACL injury... Together, Mason Robinson (PR), Jeremy Deering (KR) and Miles Shuler (PR/KR, 4.2 speed) should pose a considerable threat in the return game if you don't kick it out of the endzone or the kicks aren't blocked/deflected...

If your defense truly is weak up the middle in stopping the rush then that helps us since our strength on offense is pounding it up the middle and we've had the most success in the run game running up the middle (vs running left or right) last year and this year... If we succeed in running the ball and we win the TO battle, you guys won't get many drives to put up points since we'll continue to eat clock on offense with our run game and short passing/screen/lateral game...

Your key to winning this game is to win the TO battle because you won't be able to consistently move the ball against our D apart from the occasional big play... Our D is very stout in the redzone also...

Edited September 12, 2012 by blitz8ru