If South Florida (6-2, 1-2 Big East) is going to get things turned around, its needs to re-establish a running game. The Bulls rushed for just eight yards in last week's 24-20 loss at Louisville after entering the contest averaging 195 yards on the ground.

The Bulls also failed to cover the spread as four-point road favorites, lowering their pointspread record to 2-5. The combined 44 points dipped ‘under’ the 51 ½-point closing total, leaving the ‘over’ 4-3 in their seven board games.

South Florida also needs to be more disciplined, as it was penalized 14 times for 109 yards against Louisville.

Matt Grothe completed 30-of-40 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns, but the Bulls could not overcome a non-existent running game and their mistakes. The running game suffered a blow when running back Jamar Taylor missed the game with an ankle injury. He is listed as “questionable” for Thursday’s contest.

The Bulls’ hopes ended during last week’s game when Grothe was intercepted for the second time at the Cardinals' 27-yard line, allowing Louisville to run out the clock.

Cincinnati (5-2, 1-1) also is looking to rebound after getting clobbered by Connecticut as a three-point road favorite, 40-16. The non-cover lowered Cincinnati’s pointspread record to 2-4 in six board games. The combined 56 points soared ‘over’ the 44-point closing total, snapping a string of three straight ‘under’ outings.

The Bearcats allowed UConn's Donald Brown, the second-leading rusher in the Football Bowl Subdivision, to run for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

Cincinnati also has issues at quarterback. Tony Pike started for the first time since breaking his left arm against Akron on September 27, but lost the feeling in his left arm and was forced to the bench in the second half.

Pike was replaced by Chazz Anderson, who completed just 9-of-20 for 123 yards and two interceptions. The Bearcats were 0-for-14 on third down and rushed for just 30 yards

Pike is also listed as “questionable” against South Florida.

For the second straight year, South Florida has hit a road block after a strong start as the Bulls started 6-0 last season, only to lose three in a row.

The third loss in that streak was a 38-33 home defeat to Cincinnati in which the Bulls committed eight turnovers - including four interceptions - and allowed 31 points in the first half.

South Florida did not cover as a 4 ½-point home favorite and has now failed to cover the spread in its last four meetings with Cincinnati.

Cincinnati is outscoring the opposition this season by an average of 27.1 to 22, while South Florida is outscoring its opponents by an average of 33.5 to 18.4.

TRENDS: South Florida is 2-6 ATS in its last eight overall outings, while the ‘over’ is 11-4-1 in its last 16 contests. Cincinnati is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 home encounters and 10-4-1 in its last 15 meetings against teams with a winning record.

October 30, 2008