South Florida Bulls @ Syracuse Orange Football Recap

South Florida 37, Syracuse 17

Everyone could see this coming. Everyone, that is, who was lying through gritted teeth. Just another weekend in the Big East Conference delivered yet another set of upside-down, black-is-white scores. Teams that had been making such pronounced progress were stopped in their tracks in week 11 of this college football season, while teams that had been floundering suddenly found a fountain of revivifying waters.

Just ask the respective squads from Syracuse and South Florida. A few weeks ago, Syracuse showed signs of being ready to take over the Big East, while South Florida didn't look like it would win a single game in the league. In week 11, though, these sides engaged in a display of role reversal which squeezed the life out of the Orange while giving the Sunshine State a chance to add another bowl team this season.

The South Florida Bulls almost never win on Thursdays, but Friday nights are just fine. Making a weeknight trip to the Carrier Dome to face Syracuse, the Bulls offense finally showed some of the life that was evident early in the season to lead the team to a 37-17 win. BJ Daniels continued to be the cog that makes the Bulls offensive engine go, carrying the ball 21 times for 117 yards and a touchdown while completing 23 passes for 254 yards and another touchdown. When Daniels wasn’t running the ball or throwing it, he relied on tailback Demetris Murray who was filling in for the dinged up Darrell Scott. Murray rushed for just 86 yards but added two touchdowns and kept the defense from focusing solely on Daniels. The win was South Florida’s first Big East win of the season and first win since beating UTEP at home in September.

For Syracuse, the loss continues what has been a terrible three week stretch. Since beating West Virginia handily at the Carrier Dome, the Orange have lost to Louisville, Connecticut, and South Florida. The onu will once again fall on an offense that ranks near the bottom of the nation in nearly every category. Against the Bulls, Syracuse averaged just three yards per carry on the ground and quarterback Ryan Nassib was forced to throw the ball 49 times as the lead was extended. For Syracuse to have a chance in games such as these, it must maintain offensive balance and it wasn’t against South Florida. The Orange will try to earn a bowl berth again in two weeks when they travel to face Cincinnati.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer