College football

Scouting reports

By Times staff writers
Published November 19, 2005

USF vs. Cincinnati, noon

The Bulls (5-3, 3-1 Big East) can clinch bowl eligibility with a win against the Bearcats (4-5, 2-3), who handed them a 45-23 loss last season. USF needed double overtime to beat the Bearcats in 2003 in Tampa, but the Bulls are 20-point favorites. Senior running back Andre Hall needs just 12 yards to reach 1,000, and he will be one motivated runner, saying this week that Cincinnati running up the score last year "put anger in my heart." The Bearcats piled up 577 yards last year, a USF opponent record. But quarterback Gino Guidugli has graduated, replaced by Dustin Grutza, who is tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions. The Bulls are ranked 10th nationally in turnover margin, and Cincinnati has committed 11 in its three road losses. The Bearcats rank last in the Big East in scoring defense, allowing 30 points per game, and pass defense (226.9 yards), which should allow the Bulls better offensive balance than in recent weeks. Look for junior Pat Julmiste to find 6-foot-5 receivers Johnny Peyton and Amarri Jackson, who had just one catch for 20 yards between them last week. The Bulls haven't played at home since a Sept.24 upset of then-No.9 Louisville, a span of eight weeks. Representatives of the Car Care Bowl in Charlotte and Motor City Bowl in Detroit will attend.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

The Hurricanes (8-1, 5-1 ACC) are in prime position entering tonight's game, which was rescheduled due to Hurricane Wilma. "Even if we had beaten Florida State, where would we be ranked (now)?" coach Larry Coker said this week. "Third." The scenario is simple: win the next two weeks and play FSU in the ACC title game for a BCS berth, which could be the national championship Rose Bowl if top-ranked USC or No. 2 Texas lose. The Hurricanes have been hitting on all cylinders recently. Last week, Kyle Wright tossed five touchdowns to five receivers. Charlie Jones has been strong since replacing the injured Tyrone Moss in the backfield, and the defense has risen to No. 1 in the nation. But Georgia Tech (6-3, 4-3) should provide a tougher test than Wake Forest last week. Reggie Ball is third in the ACC at 235 passing yards per game. Sophomore Calvin Johnson leads the conference with 82.7 yards per game and has 44 receptions for 766 yards and five touchdowns. Ball also is a threat to run, and senior P.J. Daniels (744 yards) is one of the top backs in the conference. Miami again will be without dangerous return man Devin Hester because of strained hamstring, but should have defensive lineman Bryan Pata (leg) back. Temporary lighting has been installed at the Orange Bowl to make up for the light towers damaged by Wilma.

- MICHAEL SNYDER, Times correspondent

Both are out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference race and I-AA playoff picture. But there is plenty to play for in the 26th Florida Classic as Bethune-Cookman goes for an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory over FAMU. FAMU (5-5, 4-3) has had a tough season at times, especially on offense. But if quarterbacks Josh Driscoll and Albert Chester are healthy, the different styles they bring could prove effective against the Wildcats (7-3, 4-3). The Rattlers' big weapon is Roosevelt Kiser, who had five receptions for 197 yards against B-CC last year and leads the MEAC in receptions per game and punt returns. Senior Rashard Pompey is averaging 112.2 rushing yards. B-CC quarterback Jimmie Russell had 426 yards of offense and two touchdowns in last year's Florida Classic, helping the Wildcats rally from a 45-24 third-quarter deficit and win 58-52 in overtime. Eric Weems is the second big weapon in the Wyattbone offense with 14 touchdowns this season. FAMU leads the series 43-14-1 and had won seven in a row before B-CC's current win streak.

Thanks to Southern Miss' loss last week, UCF (7-3, 6-1 Conference USA) controls its future. A victory today guarantees a spot in the Dec. 3 C-USA title game. Rice (1-8, 1-5) ended a 14-game losing streak last week, using the option to roll up 392 rushing yards and beat Tulane 42-34. UCF, which has won six of seven, leads the conference in turnover margin (plus-14). Last week, the Golden Knights trailed UAB by 11 points in the second half but forced four turnovers in the fourth quarter to win 27-21.

FIU (2-6) had had a rash of injures in practice. Still, Western Kentucky (6-4) isn't the same team that beat FIU in Miami 35-14 last year. The Hilltoppers were ranked No. 1 in I-AA last month but have lost three straight and fallen out of the playoff picture.

- SHARON GINN, Times correspondent

[Last modified November 19, 2005, 01:08:18]