TAMPA, Fla. – The USF Bulls (7-3, 3-3 AAC) will head to Philadelphia for a Saturday game against Temple (6-4, 5-1 AAC).

Quick Facts

  • USF has lost three straight games for the first time since September 2015 (Florida State, Maryland and Memphis).
  • The Bulls have not lost 4 consecutive games since the 2013 season when they lost six straight to end the season.
  • USF is 0-2 all-time up in Philadelphia playing Temple.

Torello is Thinking Out Loud

USF fans cannot seem to grasp the fact that their beloved Bulls have lost three straight games. The reason behind this is simple: They are still a work in progress and the foundation is being laid for 2019 and beyond. I know no one likes to hear that. Buts it’s the truth.

When you have over a dozen young guys playing key spots and minutes it is tough to see a season where the team has more than seven or eight wins. Heck, most are lucky to win five games. Some lose them all (see Central Florida 2015). The world is not over and the sky is not falling because of the recent three-game losing streak for USF.

They are being beatean by better teams. More sound and developed teams. I agree with fans calling for some types of changes. Maybe a coordinator (or two) will be changed in the offseason. But this team is stil 7-3 and fighting to find a way to win on the road this weekend.

Charlie Strong: “We have to play together and get our (bee) stinger back. We took off at 7-0, but still we had a lot of work to be done. We weren’t blowing people out (in these wins).”

Freeze, Offense!

The Bulls managed just 313 total yards against Cincinnati last week on a frigid night in Ohio. Give the guys credit – especially Sickles alum Chris Oladokun, who was sacked four times.

The running game was limited (to say the least) as Johnny Ford led the team with just 63 rushing yards, followed by Jordan Cronkrite who had 36 yards on the ground. The offensively line needs to get bigger and stronger, especially on the interior. The Bulls have given up 28 sacks this season, which is the 3rd worst in the American.

The real question will be how the team responds to a second week of cold weather. The good news is this game isn’t at night. It’s a noon kickoff in Philadelphia (on ESPNews). USF faced the best defense in the American last week in Cincinnati (allowing only 279.8 yards a game) and now they will face the second best defense in the conference. Although the Owls give up about 100 yards more per game than Cincinnati.

Defense is Warm Butter

Slice right on through it, baby! The Bulls are 122nd in the FBS in rush defense. There are only eight teams in back of USF. That’s not good. The prize this week for USF: Ryquell Armstead who just set an American record with six rushing touchdowns in one game to go along with 210 rushing yards on 30 carries. The Owls just scored 59 points in a win over Houston. Remember Houston, the team that put up 57 on USF? This is going to be a tough day for USF.

Prediction Time

Ryquell Armstead is going to have a great day.

Temple 48, USF 24

And then we move on to UCF’s week long takeover of Tampa.