There's no good reason Miami should struggle against a team that was blanked by Rutgers, 31-0. But then, South Florida has more to play for than the 8-3 'Canes, who have only pride and a better, non-BCS bowl berth at stake after dropping out of the top 10 and ACC races.
USF, however, is still searching for a place among Florida's big three and a chunk of its fertile recruiting grounds after a decade of football. They've made plenty of progress with a foothold in the Big East, signing a few big names from Miami's backyard, and earning a big 17-7 victory over Florida State earlier this season (if the Florida State football program was a man hanging from a ledge by his fingertips, USF was the unlikely person who stepped on his hands).
This game, says UM receiver Leonard Hankerson, is "like a Super Bowl up there for them."
Indeed. "It's a big opportunity for us [recruiting-wise]," says USF defensive line coach Kevin Patrick, who played for the Hurricanes from 1989 to 1993. "I'd be a fool to say that it wouldn't have a tremendous impact."
Raymond James stadium is sold out, just the third such game in USF's history -- and we don't even need to mention how rare that is around Miami Gardens. To be sure, Miami's gotten up for its biggest games (see: Oklahoma, Florida State, Georgia Tech), but how big, exactly, will they consider USF?
We'll find out -- it's a statement game, whether the Hurricanes want it to be or not.
O-line hokey pokey: Saturday at 3:30 will find both trenches in shakeup mode: the Bulls' most experienced offensive lineman RG Zach Hermann is out with injury, and likewise Miami's most experienced offensive lineman -- and best hope against USF's two-time All-American DE George Selvie -- senior Jason Fox will miss what would have been his 48th career start. Fox was taken to hospital on Wednesday with an undisclosed illness. Rumors range from heat stroke to heart murmur, but either way: 'Canes fans, having seen what happens when Jacory Harris doesn't have time to throw, are puking where they stand, which will only make Fox hurl, which will make fans blow chunks again in turn. So expect the unexpected, with Orlando Franklin sliding over from the left tackle slot, RS freshman Ben Jones assisting, and true freshman Brandon Washington replacing Franklin, and perhaps wear a parka.
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So fresh and so clean: USF rolls out Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul up front, Kion Wilson in the middle, and a secondary featuring Jerome Murphy and Nate Allen -- all of whom have helped USF to a Big East-leading pass efficiency defense rating. What to do? Help Jacory Harris by establishing the run, which Miami can do easily with a rotation of Damien Berry, Graig Cooper, and Javarris James. Berry especially has the physicality to barrel into whatever green monsters dare cross his path, and though Randy Shannon likes to save him for later quarters, Miami is stacked enough in the backfield to pound the rock all game.
Not so fresh: the Miami defense, which is holding its own but hobbled badly by injuries. Enthusiastic freshman safety Ray Ray Armstrong is back in the mix, along with speedy senior and first-time corner Sam Shields, though both are likely to have a rookie mistake or three. And meanwhile, someone has watered B.J. Daniels after midnight: the Bull's replacement for Matt Grothe is coming off a game at Louisville in which he became the first Big East quarterback to throw for over 300 yards and run for 100.
Bottom line: This will boil down to two young quarterbacks and how each handles the pressure, physically and mentally. The mental money's on ice-cold Jacory Harris, but he may turn the ball over too much thanks to pressure from USF's feisty defense and a nagging thumb injury. Stop redshirt freshman B.J. Daniels, however, and USF will peter out on offense.
Prediction: Miami 24, USF 17
