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Syracuse (1-5) at South Florida
(5-1), 12:00 EST, ESPN GamePlan
Why to watch:
South Florida’s first bye of the
season couldn’t have come at a
better time. The Bulls were
coming off their first loss of
the season, a crushing home loss
to Pittsburgh, and injuries were
beginning to mount. A week away
from live action gave the
program a chance to regroup,
refocus, and get healthy. While
the margin for error in the Big
East has narrowed, South Florida
knows it’ll be in the hunt if it
can shake off its only loss of
the year. On the opposite
spectrum is Syracuse, which will
need an upset over the final six
games just to avoid a second
on-loss season in the last four
years. Actually, the Orange has
been competitive in the last two
Big East games, including a 17-6
loss to West Virginia Saturday,
but has yet to play four strong
quarters. Cheer up, Syracuse
fans. You should have a new head
coach to rally around once this
season ends. Oregon offensive
coordinator Chip Kelly would
look real nice in the Carrier
Dome.
Why Syracuse might win:
You cannot say that the Orange
has quit on Greg Robinson. Over
the last three games, Syracuse
has beaten Northeastern, held a
lead on Pittsburgh in the fourth
quarter, and trailed West
Virginia by just a point late in
the game. The defense has shown
signs of improvement and RB
Curtis Brinkley has been the
type of workhorse that’ll keep
the South Florida offense off
the field. He’s rushed for 100
yards in the last three games
and four of the last five.
Why South Florida might win:
On both sides of the ball, the
Bulls simply have too much speed
and athleticism for the plodding
Orange. With more weapons than
at any time in his career, QB
Matt Grothe will get the ball in
the hands of his playmakers,
such as RB Mike Ford and
receivers Jessie Hester and
Taurus Johnson. Up front, South
Florida will school a flimsy
Syracuse offensive line and get
constant pressure on QB Cameron
Dantley. If he forces throws
into coverage, the instinctive
Bulls secondary will make him
pay in the form of batted balls
and interceptions.
Who to watch: In order to
compete for a league
championship, South Florida
needs a healthy George Selvie
and Terrell McClain on the
defensive line. On the outside
and inside, respectively,
they’re a couple of disruptive
forces capable of blowing up
opposing gameplans. However,
both were hobbled with ankle
injuries before the break. How
much they’ll be used might
depend on whether this game is
competitive past halftime.
What will happen:
Syracuse is an ideal opponent
for South Florida to get back on
track. After a sluggish start,
the Bulls will take control of
the game in the second quarter.
Grothe will spark the offense
with his arm and legs, and the
defense will create a bunch of
short-field opportunities with
turnovers and three-and-outs.
CFN Prediction: South
Florida 44 … Syracuse 10 ….
Line: South Florida -24
Must See Rating: (5 The
Real Housewives of Atlanta
– 1 Celebrity Rehab With Dr.
Drew) … 2
-
Click here to receive ATS
Consultants FREE selections
Pittsburgh (4-1) at Navy (4-2),
3:30 EST
Why to watch: Pittsburgh
has won four games in-a-row.
Navy has won three straight. The
winner of this game Saturday
afternoon will be on a massive
roll that could lead to an even
bigger second half. The Panthers
have nudged into the Top 25 and
are zeroing in on a Big East
title run after stunning South
Florida in Tampa two weeks ago.
If they can keep improving and
grinding out wins, a January
bowl game will be their reward.
Weren’t the Midshipmen supposed
to drop a rank or two after Paul
Johnson left for Georgia Tech?
It hasn’t happened. Navy is the
same nuisance to larger programs
that it was over the last few
seasons. It’s already beaten
Rutgers and Wake Forest in
consecutive weeks, and has a leg
up on the Commander-in-Chief’s
Trophy after upsetting Air Force
in Colorado Springs.
Why Pittsburgh might win:
LeSean McCoy may be the focal
point of the Panther offense,
but this is one of those games
that the passing attack should
step to the forefront. Navy has
a suspect defense that’s
especially vulnerable to the
pass. The Midshipmen are 109th
nationally in pass efficiency
defense and have not had a lot
of success rushing the
quarterback. While Pitt QB Bill
Stull has yet to have a breakout
game, his receivers, like Derek
Kinder, Cedric McGee, Oderick
Turner, and Jonathan Baldwin,
have a significant edge in size
and athleticism. At least for
one Saturday, Pittsburgh ought
to be transformed into
Stull-town.
Why Navy might win: The
Middies have been a different
team over the last few weeks,
even when QB Kaipo-Noa
Kaheaku-Enhada has had to sit
with a hamstring injury. The
option has begun to crank out
yards and long drives in
Annapolis, fueling the nation’s
No. 2 ground game. On defense,
Navy has steadily improved since
the beginning of the year, and
is no longer a pushover,
especially against the run.
Defensive linemen Jabaree Tuani,
Michael Walsh, and Matt Nechak
should be able to get a push on
a Pittsburgh line that’s been a
liability all year.
Who to watch: Pittsburgh
LB Scott McKillop continues to
be the most dominant defensive
player in the Big East and a
strong contender for All-America
honors. His ability to track
down the ball and defend the run
will be on display all afternoon
against an offense that’ll keep
it on the ground at least 50
times. McKillop could have 10
tackles by halftime and a new
career mark when the game is
over.
What will happen: There
isn’t much separation between
Pittsburgh and Navy, two schools
used to playing in close games.
This is a nip-and-tuck,
four-quarter affair that’ll go
down to the waning moments and
be decided by special teams.
Edge to the Panthers, who’ll
survive on a field goal from
Conor Lee, who’s good in the
clutch and has missed just once
all year.
CFN Prediction: Pitt 31 …
Navy 20 …. Line: Pitt -3
Must See Rating: (5 The
Real Housewives of Atlanta
– 1 Celebrity Rehab With Dr.
Drew) … 3
-
Click here to receive ATS
Consultants FREE selections
Middle Tennessee (2-4) at
Louisville (3-2),
3:30 EST, ESPN GamePlan
Why to watch: For the
second straight week, Louisville
has a date with a non-BCS
program. Last week, the
Cardinals held off Memphis
behind the play of the special
teams to get above the .500
mark. At 4-2, they’ll have a
little momentum to carry into
the second half of the season.
Middle Tennessee State can’t
seem to figure out if it plans
to compete in the Sun Belt
Conference or not. The same team
that shocked Maryland and beat
defending league champion
Florida Atlantic has also
dropped three of its first four
games to conference opponents.
Saturday’s loss to Florida
International was particularly
costly because it probably
dashed the Blue Raiders’
realistic chances for bowl
eligibility.
Why Middle Tennessee might
win: Memphis provided a neat
blueprint last week on how to
beat the Louisville defense,
throwing for 351 yards and three
touchdown passes. The Cards
don’t a lockdown corner or a
feisty pass rush, which will
give Joe Craddock and Dwight
Dasher the time they need to
locate Patrick Honeycutt and
talented freshman Malcolm Beyah.
RB Phillip Tanner is coming off
his best game of the year, and
has the potential to give the
Blue Raiders a balanced
offensive attack.
Why Louisville might win:
Middle Tennessee State has the
potential to be balanced.
The Cardinals already are
balanced. They’re averaging more
than 200 yards on the ground and
through the air, which will
cause problems for a star-less
Blue Raider D. Louisville will
get another big game from young
RB Victor Anderson, who’s fifth
in the Big East in rushing and
has taken pressure off QB Hunter
Cantwell to be the main man on
offense. Defensively, the Cards
continue to play the kind of run
defense that’s turning offenses
into one-dimensional attacks.
Who to watch: In order to
be sure that Anderson doesn’t
burn out in his first season
action, Steve Kragthorpe will be
sure to lean on Louisville’s
depth in the backfield. That’ll
mean more carries for Brock
Bolen, the fullback with the
ability to pick up yards like a
feature back. He’s rushed for
249 yards in a reserve role, and
should be good for another dozen
or so dive plays against Middle
Tennessee.
What will happen: The
no-name Middle Tennessee State
defense will keep Louisville
from running away in the first
half. It won’t be enough,
however, as the Cardinals pull
away in the final two quarters
behind the running of Anderson
and a couple of touchdown passes
from Cantwell to Scott Long and
Doug Beaumont.
CFN Prediction: Louisville
34 … Middle Tennessee 14 ….
Line: Louisville -14.5
Must See Rating: (5 The
Real Housewives of Atlanta
– 1 Celebrity Rehab With Dr.
Drew) … 2
-
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Consultants FREE selections |