The USF Bulls are riding high atop the AAC, tied for first with a 2-0 conference record and 5-1 overall record. The Bulls still have all their postseason goals in sight, including a conference championship and a possible berth in the College Football Playoffs.
It’s homecoming at USF this weekend and the Bulls will take on their bitter conference rival, FAU, at 7:30 Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium.
The Bulls come into the game favored by 21.5 points, but you can throw past results and favorite lines out the window in this rivalry game.
The Owls are coming off a massive win over UAB, 53-33, while the Bulls went down to Texas and returned home with a 63-36 drubbing of North Texas.
Quarterback Caden Veltcamp has had a great start to his tenure at FAU. Veltkamp leads the AAC in passing with 1,781 yards and 14 touchdowns. He directs an FAU offense that is fourth nationally in passing yards at 322.8 per game. He also leads the nation in completions per game at 27.3. Wide receiver Easton Messer has been Veltkamp’s go-to guy, having 52 receptions through six games.
First-year FAU head coach and the youngest FBS head coach Zach Kittley has FAU moving at a high tempo and fast. The Owls throw often, relying on that tempo to pressure opposing defenses. This game has the potential to be very entertaining as both offenses like the hurry-up, fast-tempo offense. USF and its secondary have been suspect at times this season, so this matchup could be a shootout on Saturday.
The Bulls’ defense has bent at times but has not broken. They lead the nation with 16 turnovers and have created a turnover in 14 straight games, the longest active streak in the country.
Coach Alex Golesh is big on being process-driven, and as long as the team follows that process, he says they will be fine. “We don’t have to do anything extraordinary. We just have to do the little things better than everyone else.”
FAU’s pathway to a win will be to air it out. The Owls can move the ball in chunks. If their offensive line can hold up, FAU could sting the Bulls with some big plays.
The FAU defense must contain Byrum Brown and prevent him from beating them with long runs. No team has been successful in shutting down Brown yet this season – an exception being the Miami defense. However, the Bulls have a dual-threat offense, and the balanced attack of running and passing could wear down the FAU defense over four quarters.
Although the FAU offense can score many points, the defense also gives up a lot of points against good competition. The Owls gave up 39 points against Maryland and 55 against Memphis.
One thing the Bulls must guard against is looking ahead to the game the following weekend in Memphis. Take care of business on Saturday, then turn your attention to Memphis. FAU may not have a great record, but this team can be dangerous, and the Bulls cannot take them lightly.
-Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown has been named to the Davey O’Brien watch list, which honors the top quarterback in the country.
-LB Mac Harris ranks No. 2 in the country with .50 forced fumbles per game.
-LB Jhalyn Shuler and DE Ira Singleton rank No. 3 in recovered fumbles with two each.
-Head coach Alex Golesh has been named to the Paul Bear Bryant Coach of the Year watch list.
-LB Mac Harris has been named to the Sporting News Midseason All-American Team.