BULLS START BOWL SEASON OFF FOR BIG EAST

December 2008


It was not the season South Florida Bulls' fans might have envisioned, especially when the Bulls began the season 5-0 and ranked in the top 10 of the country.

However, USF ended the season on a positive note with a 41-14 win over former conference USA rival Memphis in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

The win got the Big East off on the right foot in the 2008-2009 NCAA Bowl games schedule. Matt Grothe threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns and ran fot an additional 83 yards as the Bulls dominated the Tigers, outgaining them 496 to 238 in the contest.

For the season, the Bulls went 6-0 on non-Big East games, but were a disappointing 2-5 in Big East action, with wins over Syracuse and Connecticut at home. With a conference schedule of four home games and three on the road, many predicted that USF and WVU would meet in Morgantown on December 6th to settle the conference title. However, that title match-up never materialized as both teams had seasons that missed expectations.

With spring football practice less than three months away, the Bulls can already look forward to next season. The St. Petersburg bowl win over Memphis will leave them with a better taste in their mouths from a season that was disappointing overall.

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WVU-USF: NOT QUTE FOR ALL THE MARBLES

December 5, 2008


When the Big East schedule came out, December 6th at 8 PM was when the schedule makers were hoping the Big East title would be decided. Morgantown was set to be the scene of the big match-up when South Florida came to town. However, along the way, neither team was able to hold up their end of the bargain.

Both teams enter the season-ending contest with identical 7-4 overall records, so there are still some NCAA Bowl Game implications on the line. Especially for the Bulls, whose 2-4 conference record is a big disappointment for the team that started off 5-0 and was once ranked in the top 10 in the country. A loss, and a 7-5 record is definitely bowl-eligible, but at 2-5 in the Big East, they distance themselves even more from the other teams that are bowl eligible.

West Virginia will look to finish their Big East schedule at 5-2, good for at least some form of a share of second place in the conference. as one of th ebest traveling schools in college football, the Mountaineers will likely receive the plum bowl invitation outside of conference winner Cincinnati with a win.

The game is also the last home appearance for record-setting quarterback Pat White, the catalyst of the WVU success the last few seasons. Look for the Mountaineers to make every effort to send their quarterback out on top for his home finale.

NCAA Football Odds have WVU as a 7 and a half poitn favorite. Nightime in Morgantown is a tough atmosphere for an opponent, look for WVU and their crowd to be revved up and ready to roll in this one.

Prediction:
West Virginia 34
South Florida 21

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