South Florida Bulls vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Handicapping Preview
This Saturday afternoon game presents an interesting match-up. This is not a cushy tune-up contest like several of the SEC and Big Ten often play in Week One.
South Florida (USF) Bulls at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend IN
Saturday, Sept. 3, 3:35 pm EST
NCAA Odds from Bookmaker Sportsbook:
MoneyLine: USF +350, Notre Dame -450
Spread: USF +11/Notre Dame -11
Over/Under: 47
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Notre Dame is a program with prodigious talent, but South Florida is also a tricky competitor and a proven contender in the Big East.
Notre Dame must be focused on firing on all cylinders if it is to begin the season 1-0.
The Bulls will go as far as QB B.J. Daniels takes them in 2011. He has been somewhat up and down throughout his career as a starter, but he is very athletic and has the talent to make an impact with his arm or his feet. Daniels He has undeniable yet unproven help in the backfield this year, with Colorado transfer RB Darrell Scott. Scott was the top running back prospect in the country in 2007 and has a big, powerful body that resembles an NFL starter right now, but he had limited productivity in two season for Colorado.
It will be Scott and junior Demetris Murray sharing the load behind Daniels.
Defensively, USF has sack man Ryne Giddins to create pressure and LBs Sam Barrington, DeDe Lattimore and FS Jerrell Young to shore things up behind him. One of the pluses in Tampa the past few seasons has been USF’s remarkable team speed. Notre Dame’s tailback depth is somewhat questionable, but often the best way to counter the Bulls’ speed is to run right at them.
Notre Dame’s strength in recent years, though, has been a prolific passing attack. Starting pivot Dayne Crist will have the excellent yet oft-troubled WR Michael Floyd to throw to, which has the potential to be one of the more prolific aerial connections in the NCAA. The Irish can’t afford any injuries at tailback, but the starting position is set with junior Cierre Wood.
Junior TE Tyler Eifert is also really rounding into form. The defense is led by an outstanding leader and athlete in LB Manti Te’o. Darius Fleming and Carlo Calabrese join Te’o to form a great Irish LB corps. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Safety Harrison Smith can mop things up in the back quadrant of the field and will keep Daniels and other opposing QBs honest.
This has the makings of potentially a very good Week One game. If USF can burn the Irish for a couple of big plays or if the Bulls can use their range and athleticism to force Crist into turning the ball over, USF could very well pull the upset. Yet, second-year Irish head coach Brian Kelly can start earning his prolific salary by getting production out of a talented 2011 Notre Dame team.
In South Bend, a place with prestige and high expectations, that necessity starts by Kelly’s troops beating a team they should in Week One.
Floyd should be good for a few big plays and the experienced Irish offensive line should open holes for Wood and should also keep the rhythm of the offense going provided it can contain the ultra-quick DE Giddins.
If Bulls RB Scott had a big day in a USF upset, that would be an ideal coming-out party for the enigmatic transfer player.
Still, conventional logic sees the more talented Irish roster besting the USF Bulls at home in what is sure to be a lively Notre Dame Stadium.
Trends:
Under is 8-2 in SOFLA last 10 non-conference games.
Under is 6-2 in SOFLA last 8 games on grass.
Under is 7-1 in NOTRE last 8 home games.
NOTRE are 2-8-2 ATS in their last 12 home games.
Under is 6-2 in NOTRE last 8 non-conference games.
Score Prediction: Notre Dame 21, USF 17
Over/Under Prediction: 38
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