[QuickNick]

I have the feeling if this writer was the Def-coordinator for Rutgers, S. Fla would have been luck to score in the game. Read the last part that I seperated at the bottom right above the predicted score

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Rutgers/South Florida Scouting Report

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From Gannett News:

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../1012/SPORTS10

WHO: Rutgers (4-0) vs. South Florida (3-1).

WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m. tonight/Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

TV/RADIO: ESPN2/88.7 WRSU-FM, 710 WOR-AM, 1450 WCTC-AM.

OFFENSE

RUTGERS: Rutgers possesses the nation's fourth-leading rusher (Ray Rice and his 604 yards) and finally saw its other Heisman candidate (Brian Leonard) get untracked last week. So why is there concern over an offense that statistically ranks sixth (or third worst) in the Big East? The biggest reason is the man under center, Mike Teel, who has woefully struggled the past two weeks. The sophomore QB ranks 10th in an eight-team Big East in passing efficiency and is averaging a mere 126.5 yards per game in the air. Expect South Florida to do everything it can to contain Rice (perhaps easier written than done) and dare Teel to throw the ball. More bad news about the passing game? Teel will be without his go-to-receiver, Shawn Tucker, who's out indefinitely with a broken foot.

SOUTH FLORIDA: Asked earlier this week if South Florida QB Matt Grothe merits a spy, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano acknowledged the need to shadow the Bulls' dual-threat playmaker. Not only has Grothe passed for 843 yards and six TDs, the redshirt freshman also has rushed for a team-leading 279 yards and ranks 10th nationally in total offense overall. The Bulls use a running back-by-committee in the absence of graduated tailback Andre Hall, the Big East's second-leading rusher in 2005. But neither Benjamin Williams or Walt Smith are game-breaking threats. While Ean Randolph (15 catches, 206 yards) has been Grothe's favorite target, 12 different players have at least one reception.

EDGE: Rutgers.

DEFENSE

RUTGERS: What a difference four games make for a defense which had more questions than answers coming into the season. No longer is there concern over a secondary that yielded 467 passing yards in last year's Insight Bowl. Nope, this year Rutgers' defensive backs have a Big East-leading seven interceptions (already surpassing last season's total of six) and ranks second in the conference in pass defense. No worries about an undersized defensive line either, considering Rutgers ranks 11th nationally and second in the Big East in rushing defense.

SOUTH FLORIDA: While the Bulls rank sixth in the Big East in total defense (yielding 293.8 ypg.), they've only given up three touchdowns all season. The bad news for Rutgers is South Florida's run defense appears to be its strength, ranking third in the Big East at 91.0 yards allowed per game. South Florida has two stud linebackers in Stephen Nicholas, a candidate for both the Butkus and Nagurski awards, and Ben Moffitt. The duo combined for 30.5 tackles for a loss last season and are the top two tacklers this fall. DE Allen Cray ranks second in the Big East with 3.5 sacks.

EDGE: Rutgers.

RUTGERS: Count off the players who have most impacted Rutgers' 4-0 start and Joe Radigan shouldn't be too far down that list. The senior is the Big East's premier punter, averaging 47.5 yards on his 16 kicks while consistently pinning teams inside the 20. Jeremy Ito was needed to deliver a field goal in Rutgers' 56-7 win over Howard last week, but the junior kicker kept quite active by booting all eight PATs. Last week's 28-yard punt return was the longest of the season for Willie Foster, the reigning Big East Special Teams Player of the Year.

SOUTH FLORIDA: The Bulls feature a game-breaking returner in Ean Randolph, who averages 22 yards on his nine punt returns, a feat that would be even more impressive had three touchdowns not been called back by penalties in the first two games this season. He did have one count, a 76-yard score against FIU three weeks ago. Mike Benzer has made only one of his three field-goal attempts, missing kicks from 40 and 35 yards, but has made all 12 of his extra points. Delbert Alvarado ranks last in the Big East in punting, averaging 34.8 yards per punt.

EDGE: Rutgers.

PREDICTION

Rutgers hits the national stage just in time to show off its No. 23 ranking on ESPN2. This could be a showcase game for Ray Rice as well, who this week started generating some Heisman buzz. While this surely will be Rutgers toughest test this season,



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the Scarlet Knights should be able to put plenty of pressure on South Florida's dual-threat QB Matt Grothe. After all, he is a freshman and this is his first game on the national stage as well.


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FINAL SCORE: Rutgers 27, South Florida 16.

-- Keith Sargeant, Gannett New Jersey