Canes Try To Tame Bulls In Tampa
TAMPA (CBSMiami) - The Miami Hurricanes will be looking to do something they haven't done since 2004, starting the season with four straight victories, when they travel to Tampa to take on the University of South Florida Bulls.
The Bulls have been overwhelmed by much lesser opponents this season than the Canes. USF opened the season with a blowout loss to lower division McNeese State and still haven't managed to notch a victory this season.
Miami's defense has allowed just three touchdowns through three games. The Canes defense will match up with a South Florida offense that has scored just four touchdowns on the season.
For comparison, the Bulls have let opposing defenses score four touchdowns thanks to USF turnovers.
Miami will likely be serving up a heavy dose of running back Duke Johnson. He's averaged 6.3 yards per carry and has also averaged nearly 38 yards per kickoff return. Overall, he's 11th in the nation in all-purpose yards at 168.33 yards per game.
Johnson has also scored at least one touchdown in seven consecutive games for the Canes dating back to last season.
South Florida will try to slow down the Canes by turning to quarterback Steven Bench. He completed 8 of 23 passes for 128 yards, one touchdown and one interception in an 18 point loss to Florida Atlantic University.
If you recall, UM played the same FAU team and beat them 34-6 in the season-opener.
Odds & Ends:
Miami QB Stephen Morris is 10th on Miami's career passing list, 100 yards shy of moving ahead of Steve Walsh for ninth place. ... The Hurricanes have won two straight in the intrastate series, including a 6-3 victory in Tampa two years ago. USF's lone win was a 23-20 overtime decision in Miami Gardens in 2010. ... USF has lost 12 of its last 13 games. ... Marcus Shaw leads the Bulls with 398 yards rushing — second in the American Athletic Conference, and eighth nationally, at 132.7 yards per game.
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