USF football: 3 bold predictions for AAC opener vs. Temple
By Zach Bigalke
Temple heads to Tampa to face USF in the two teams’ American Athletic Conference opener. Here are three bold predictions for the Bulls-Owls showdown.
The Owls face USF on Thursday night in the opening game of American Athletic Conference play for both teams. After taking down their rivals in Philadelphia last year, Temple won the AAC East and then took down Navy in the American Athletic Conference championship game. The Owls lost their head coach and starting quarterback from last year’s team, but they are still 2-1 as they head south to Tampa this week.
South Florida also lost its head coach after last season. Willie Taggart is now coaching the Ducks in Eugene, but USF managed to land Charlie Strong after he was dumped by Texas.
The Bulls entered the year as the preseason favorite to win the conference and the Group of Five bid into a New Year’s Six bowl game.
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First, though, they will have to get past the Owls. Temple’s 46-30 win over USF was all that stood between the Bulls and a shot at the conference crown. Many key players are back from South Florida’s 11-2 team from last season, and they will look to gain revenge against their division rivals after last year’s defeat. Here are three bold predictions for the Thursday-night showcase between South Florida and Temple.