Week 5: West Virginia at South Florida

We won’t know the answer for another month of so. But many within Big East circles are asking a valid question after just four weeks of football.

Can Friday’s game at Raymond James Stadium determine the conference championship?

Rutgers and Cincinnati might object, but with the demise of Louisville, the matchup between WVU and USF could very well prove to be the season’s gem.

West Virginia is ranked No. 5 nationally, while South Florida is No. 18. Around Tampa it’s being called the biggest college game to ever be played there. Scores of area fans have jumped on the Bulls’ bandwagon and Raymond James is expected to be packed.

Before you buy into the WVU-is-walking-into-a-hornets-nest storyline, though, understand the Mountaineers have been awaiting this one since the Bulls stunned them by 24-19 last season in Morgantown.

“It was a big win for them and a horrible loss for us,” said WVU quarterback Pat White. “We want to get that corrected.”

The Mountaineers had bounced back from a loss at Louisville last season by pounding Cincinnati and Pittsburgh to climb back to a No. 7 ranking. Then the Bulls sashayed into Morgantown, stuffed WVU’s run game, forced four fumbles and controlled the clock. Like that the Mountaineers’ BCS bowl chances disappeared.

“People talk about revenge, but I don’t think that’s a great motivator,” said West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez. “But it’s a conference game and our guys are anxious to play in the Big East. And I think they’re excited about trying to play better than we did last year.”

In that game, South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe had 326 yards of total offense to lead the Bulls. This season, he’s completed 58 of 96 passes for 652 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. He has three receivers with 100 yards catching the ball: Taurus Johnson, Amarri Jackson and Jessie Hester.

Keep an eye on Jackson, 6-5, against West Virginia’s secondary. The Mountaineers have improved dramatically from last season, moving from No. 109 to the current No. 33 spot. Michigan transfer Ryan Mundy has been a key. But WVU hasn’t been tested of late by the likes of Grothe.

Conversely, South Florida will have to deal with the no-huddle spread offense of Rodriguez that has made White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine household names.

Slaton is the Big East’s No. 2 rusher, averaging 125.5 yards a game, while Devine, a true freshman, is No. 7, averaging 66.8. More? White is the Big East’s No. 6 rusher, averaging 71.5 yards – in addition to averaging 154.2 passing yards.

Oh yeah. And Owen Schmitt just may be the nation’s best fullback.

South Florida defensive end George Selvie will undoubtedly make his presence felt. He leads the nation in sacks. And the Bulls have the country’s No. 13 rush defense.

But can senior Ben Moffitt help the USF linebackers recreate their success of last season?

We’ll see. The Bulls are certainly pumped enough to again perform magic.

“I started thinking about it mid-fourth quarter,” USF’s Johnson said after the Bulls’ 37-10 win over North Carolina last weekend. 

Give the Mountaineers the edge at quarterback, in the offensive backfield, along the offensive line (WVU has the nation’s No. 2 rushing attack, averaging 357 yards), at linebacker and on special teams. Give USF the edge at receiver, defensive line and in the secondary.

Expect a slugfest, especially early, but again look for WVU’s speed to kill.

West Virginia by 10