TAMPA -- The Miami Hurricanes (5-5) and South Florida Bulls (5-4) are both looking to become bowl eligible when they face off at Raymond James Stadium this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU. The Bulls beat UM 23-20 in overtime last year at Sun Life Stadium, and trail the all-time series 2-1.
> ABOUT USF: The Bulls lost four Big East games in a row -- 44-17 at Pittsburgh, 16-10 at Connecticut, Cincinnati 37-34 and at Rutgers 20-17 (OT) -- before winning last week 37-17 at Syracuse. Offensively, USF is just one of 16 teams nationally averaging at least 200 yards rushing (205.2 yards per game, 26th) and and passing (265.4 yards per game, 32nd). Quarterback B.J. Daniels threw for 274 yards and ran for 113 at Syracuse in his last start and is completing 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,262 yards, 12 TDs and 5 INTs on the season. The Bulls have two bruisers in its backfield, 6-foot, 210-pound sophomore Demetris Murray (99 att., 432 yards, 7 TDs) and 6-1, 240-pound junior Darrell Scott (10 att., 611 yards, 5 TDs). The team's leading receiver, sophomore Sterling Griffin (40 catches, 493 yards, 2 TDs), was UM quarterback Stephen Morris' high school teammate and top receiver at Monsignor Pace. But he was lost for the season against Cincinnati (Oct. 22). Defensively, the Bulls rank 37th in total defense (351.44 yards per game), 17th in rushing defense (108.00 yards per game) and 86th in pass defense (243.44 yards per agame). Their real strength is creating trouble behind the line of scrimmage. USF is 3rd in the nation in sacks, 2nd in tackles for loss. Linebacker DeDe Lattimore leads the team with 66 tckles, 10 for loss. Defensive end Ryne Giddins has 40 tackles and leads with 11 for loss. Giddins and Lattimore share the team lead with 5.5 sacks each. The Bulls created 21 turnovers (10 INTs, 11 fumbles) and are plus-3 in turnover margin. On special teams, the Bulls own the best punt coverage unit in the nation. They've allowed six returns for -2 yards all year. Punter Justin Brockhaus-Kann is averaging 37.4 yards per punt, including 12 punts inside the 20-yard line and three punts of 50-plus yards.
> WHAT TO WATCH WHEN IT COMES TO THE CANES: Last week at Florida State, Marcus Robinson started at strongside linebacker and left early with a shoulder injury. Robinson was lasted as probable coming into the game, but it's expected that Kelvin Cain will start in his place alongside, Sean Spence (middle) and Denzel Perryman (weakside). Safety Ray-Ray Armstrong will also be back this week, but won't start after serving a one-game suspension. Still, expect Armstrong to get in there and move JoJo Nicolas back to corner, where he helps the team more. As unit, UM's defense has played much better over the past two weeks, holding FSU to one offensive touchdown and limiting big plays. But creating turnovers remain a problem according to coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. UM only has 13 turnovers and will try to create more today against USF, which has turned the ball over 18 times. Offensively, expect the Canes to try and exploit the Bulls lack of size in the secondary. Free safety Jerrell Young (6-1, 209) is the Bulls' biggest defensive back. But UM will try to pound it. The goal: average 5 yards a carry. If they do that, they'll win. Running back Lamar Miller, currently fifth all-time in UM single-season rushing with 1,108 yards, needs 93 yards to move past Clinton Portis (1,200 yards, 2001) for fourth place.
> MANNY'S PICK: UM 30, USF 27. I expect a lot of offense in this game even if it doesn't equate into a lot of points. In the end, UM will find a way to win and get a little revenge for last year.
If Golden leaves who will be a good coach? and please do not say Butch Davis because with the scandal going on here at UM and what happend at UNC i doubt they would hire him.
Posted by: matthew | November 19, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Golden wont leave, he is used to haveing weak win teams he will feel at home
Posted by: Keith | November 19, 2011 at 06:14 PM
please someone teach harris to throw the ball away and not take another sack
Posted by: robert durham | November 19, 2011 at 06:15 PM
This is horrible to watch, makes me sick!
Posted by: Gonzalo | November 19, 2011 at 06:16 PM
why is our int. d lineman making tackles 5 yrds back? shameful to get pushed that far backwards
Posted by: Keith | November 19, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Second that gonzalo LOL sad days we have in canesville
Posted by: Keith | November 19, 2011 at 06:17 PM
Face it its the whole team you cant blame just one person this whole team needs a revamp stop bringing in players who just want to see their name on the miami hurricane jersey start from the ground up because these players are just not living up to potential only one who lived up to the potential is sean spence.
Posted by: matthew | November 19, 2011 at 06:17 PM
I want to see what Golden can do with his recruits before I make final judgement
Posted by: Gonzalo | November 19, 2011 at 06:18 PM
All u idiots calling for golden's head - shut up! Morons!
Posted by: Neo | November 19, 2011 at 06:18 PM
I feel like I am watching Penn State, run, run, pass, punt!
Posted by: Gonzalo | November 19, 2011 at 06:20 PM
Neo. you still like giving a bj to your boy golden he sure looks like he need one from you
Posted by: ryan | November 19, 2011 at 06:20 PM
DOES HE NOT KNOW HOW TO EFFIN THROW IT AWAY????
Posted by: inimounts | November 19, 2011 at 06:21 PM
Let's get it straight Art Kehoe has set the Offensive line back, Kehoe sucks!
Posted by: Gonzalo | November 19, 2011 at 06:21 PM
Neo,
Are you playing in the closet on your parents computer again? We are idiots becasue you said so right? Well then it must be true :)Maybe for dfending Golden you can be his shower mate at PSU we he leaves
Posted by: Darind | November 19, 2011 at 06:22 PM
Nice Ryan, don't project your dik sucking desires on me fool
Posted by: Neo | November 19, 2011 at 06:22 PM
wow it is a sackfest they are holding a lottery over there to see who gets to sack jackory next,,, wonder how our big stud O line feels about thier play today ( what a joke)
Posted by: Keith | November 19, 2011 at 06:23 PM
See? Miller has no gas these last few fames
Posted by: inimounts | November 19, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Fire Art Kehoe, he sucks
Posted by: Gonzalo | November 19, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Games.
Posted by: inimounts | November 19, 2011 at 06:23 PM
I'm glad he caught that, i haven't seen enough pass plays from hin
Posted by: inimounts | November 19, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Wow we are going to win with a field goal!
Posted by: Gonzalo | November 19, 2011 at 06:24 PM
for him to be sacked that many time harris has a 73 percent completion percentage wow.
Posted by: matthew | November 19, 2011 at 06:24 PM
We are NOT The U, we have a long way to go Cane fans. I just hope Goldencan get it straight
Posted by: Gonzalo | November 19, 2011 at 06:25 PM
last years game was lost in over time....here we go....
Posted by: Darind | November 19, 2011 at 06:26 PM
Neo.No its just what man calls himself neo oh yeah a golden dik blower
Posted by: ryan | November 19, 2011 at 06:27 PM
After the first quarter next game and this miller should be taken out. No gas.
Posted by: inimounts | November 19, 2011 at 06:28 PM
I don't like this whole game, but i like golden and the team doing that.
Posted by: inimounts | November 19, 2011 at 06:30 PM
what a bunch of idiots. celebrating a chance? to win 6-3. how low can you go
Posted by: no-hope for miami | November 19, 2011 at 06:31 PM
Jake is a good kicker
Posted by: inimounts | November 19, 2011 at 06:31 PM
wishful thinking, I had a vision of Jimmy Johnson on the sidelines’ clapping and demanding from his players...then I face reality and there is Golden looking like a lost puppy. It was Golden and his D coordinator that had the defense doing that flip the switch stuff. Grown men acting like they are at chuckle cheese....that was embarrassing.....GOLDEN IS NOT THE GUY he is way to passive and apathetic
Posted by: Darind | November 19, 2011 at 06:32 PM
Ur wrong, no hope. Golden just gained some
With me' by starting that. Let's go 7-5 and start something for next year.
Posted by: inimounts | November 19, 2011 at 06:32 PM
Man my blood pressure is thru the roof lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Chicocane | November 19, 2011 at 06:33 PM
someone should smack that smile off his face. this team is regressing like last year, and the year before, and before that, so on disgusting embarrassing, pathetic big deal.
Posted by: no-hope for miami | November 19, 2011 at 06:33 PM
Toilet Bowl here we come!
Posted by: Darind | November 19, 2011 at 06:34 PM
WAAAH! WAAAAH!
STFU you armchair jock-sniffing pathetic pieces of sh*t.
Al Golden pisses more success than you will ever see in any aspect of your life.
Posted by: miami fans are the worst. | November 19, 2011 at 06:35 PM
the only good thing about this game, we won. NOTHING ELSE.
Posted by: mike-s | November 19, 2011 at 06:36 PM
We would lost this game last year
Posted by: Chicocane | November 19, 2011 at 06:38 PM
no-hope for miami.A win is a win i rather win by 3 than to lose by 3 and now we are bowl eligible.After this perfomance to get a win last year we would have lost.
Posted by: matthew | November 19, 2011 at 06:38 PM
Fisch never figured out the delayed blitz usf was bringing
Posted by: Chicocane | November 19, 2011 at 06:39 PM
mimai fans are the worst,
You appear to have intimate knowledge of Golden urination device, are you a PSU grad??
Posted by: Darind | November 19, 2011 at 06:42 PM
This just in, false start on 70 5 yards still third down!! A little humor to calm myself down.
Posted by: Chicocane | November 19, 2011 at 06:43 PM
matthew, i agree it always feels better to win, but mike said it right, we are regressing like previous years. we should have won last week, and this was just horrible. one thing no-one has posted, SFl. had to want this for their program also. their def is good up front.
but this should never have been this close. as always, go canes
Posted by: no-hope for miami | November 19, 2011 at 06:44 PM
A full Year?????? Cant change the talent you are given in the first year....give the guy a chance...talk to me in 4 years if he isnt producing .
Posted by: mike | November 19, 2011 at 06:45 PM
U know its a crazy week when Oklahoma St. loses 2 Iowa St. and we beat usf 6 to 3
Posted by: Chicocane | November 19, 2011 at 06:45 PM
77 percent completion with that many sacks and no ints if it was last year with whipple harris would of had 5 ints in this game.
Posted by: matthew | November 19, 2011 at 06:46 PM
Hey Darind, thanks for the inside scoop as to what goes on in practice...
Posted by: mike | November 19, 2011 at 06:47 PM
QUIT YOUR F**KING MOANING, you fake-Canes fans! I'll take this win anyday...you Miami fairweather A*SHOLES MAKE ME WANT TO VOMIT!
A win is a win is a win!!
Did anyone see that UNITY before the kick? The team, LED BY AL GOLDEN, JUMPING UP AND DOWN...led by the coach...that was awesome!!
GREAT WIN, CANES!!
Canes "fairweather" fans, GET LOST, will you...you all make me want to VOMIT all over you!!
GO CANES!!!!!!!!
Posted by: UMike | November 19, 2011 at 06:50 PM
Simply another pathetic game. My god!!! It's USF for pete sake not the national championship. They're running around including Golden like this is the greatest win of the season...give me break...
Posted by: Sonny | November 19, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Umike right on. The boat cheers on this site are hilarious. Not one compliment for the d coordinator
Posted by: ltcdolphin | November 19, 2011 at 06:52 PM
Well that was difficult to watch. At least we won.
Posted by: CANETILLIDIE....DH | November 19, 2011 at 06:54 PM