USF Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

Tulsa was among the American Athletic Conference’s top teams last year. But it could be a rare appearance among the league’s best. The Golden Hurricane won 10 games in head coach Philip Montgomery’s second season at the helm. Their only three losses came against Ohio State, Houston, and Navy. The Buckeyes game was a rout, but the latter two contests saw Tulsa fall by seven and two points respectively.

Tulsa lost senior quarterback Dane Evans after he exhausted his eligibility. They were hardly just a passing team, though, ranking eighth in rushing. James Flanders is gone, but D’Angelo Brewer is back for his senior season. But the defense must replace five starters from last year’s team, and it will be an uphill battle to get back to double digits.

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Still, the Golden Hurricane should have a good team in 2017. They will have already played Oklahoma State, Navy, Houston, and Memphis by this point of the year. They will win at least one of those games. But Tulsa did not play South Florida last year. The last time the two teams met was in 2014 in Oklahoma, with the Bulls dealing Tulsa a 38-30 defeat.

PREDICTION: South Florida 44, Tulsa 38 (11-0)

Tulsa will once again be a tough out for the Bulls. By this point redshirt freshman Luke Skipper should feel comfortable guiding the Golden Hurricane offense as Evans’ successor at quarterback. South Florida’s secondary will be tested by Tulsa’s receivers and backs, but Quinton Flowers will outduel his younger counterpart in a Tampa shootout.