| Rutgers running back Jawan Jamison looks to prey upon a soft rush defense. (Getty Images) |
Rutgers (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
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