Two of the more explosive Group of Five teams will meet when South Florida visits North Texas in an early American Conference showdown. North Texas leads the American in scoring (44 points per game) while South Florida is fourth (36.2 PPG).
South Florida is No. 2 in this week’s HERO Sports G5 Top 25, while North Texas is No. 6.
Both teams have also played solid defense. North Texas is fourth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 20 points per game, while USF is sixth (22.4).
Yet in this one, I expect the offenses to dominate in a game between two teams that have designs of playing in the American Conference Championship.
How to Watch USF-North Texas
The South Florida at North Texas game will be on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN2.
USF-North Texas Betting Odds
As of this writing, North Texas is a 1.5-point college football betting favorite against USF, via BetMGM. The Over/Under is 66.5.
USF-North Texas Records
South Florida: (4-1, 1-0 American)
North Texas: (5-0, 1-0)
USF-North Texas Coaches
South Florida: Alex Golesh (18-13)
North Texas: Eric Morris (16-14 at North Texas, 40-32 overall)
USF-North Texas Last Meeting
Oct. 5, 2022: South Florida won 24-17 to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
USF-North Texas Preview
For USF
South Florida opened the season facing ranked opponents in its first three games. The Bulls opened with a 34-7 home win over then No. 25 Boise State and then won 18-16 at Florida, which was ranked No. 13. The lone loss came the following week, 49-12 at a Miami team that this week is ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll.
The Bulls are coming off last Friday’s 54-26 home win over Charlotte in their American Conference opener. South Florida won convincingly despite committing four turnovers.
Quarterback Byrum Brown completed 19 of 34 passes for 211 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also rushed 17 times for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. This season, Brown has completed 61.3% of his passes for 1,194 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has rushed for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Brown is the Bulls’ leading rusher and one of five players who has more than 100 yards.
Chas Nimrod is the leading receiver with 19 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns.
The defensive leader is linebacker Jhalyn Shuler, who has 46 tackles. Fellow linebacker Mac Harris has recorded a team-high four of the Bulls’ nine sacks.
For North Texas
The Mean Green were idle this past week. They last played Sept. 27, securing a 36-22 home win over South Alabama. Other impressive wins include a 33-30 overtime victory at Western Michigan, a 59-10 home rout over Washington State, and a 45-38 overtime win at Army in North Texas’ opening American Conference game.
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has completed 67.9% of his passes for 1,247 yards, 11 touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Makenzie McGill II has rushed for 318 yards and four touchdowns, while true freshman Caleb Hawkins has rushed for 307 yards and seven touchdowns in four games. In North Texas’ most recent game against South Alabama, Hawkins hit the century mark for the first time, rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
Seven UNT players have 100 or more receiving yards, including Miles Coleman (23 receptions for 219 yards) and Wyatt Young (13 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns).
Linebacker Shane Whitter has a team-high 48 tackles and is third in the American in tackles per game (9.6). He has one interception and five quarterback hurries.
Defensive lineman Keviyan Huddleston has 2.5 of North Texas’ 10 sacks.
USF-North Texas Prediction
I like South Florida getting the points.
While it will be difficult on the road, this is a team that has already won at Gainesville, so the Bulls are accustomed to difficult environments.
While Mestemaker has played extremely well, the difference-maker in this one could be Brown. What Brown and the Bulls have to do, I believe, is cut down on the turnovers.
On the season, both teams have lost three fumbles, but USF has thrown four interceptions and North Texas hasn’t thrown a single one.
If USF takes care of the ball – a big “if” – then I believe the Bulls can earn their second big road win of the season.
