Bodog Beat

Florida State is favored by -14 to win against South Florida. And yes, I know this is an old FSU photo. So what. (AP Images)

Let's go ahead and call Saturday's game at Florida State the biggest in the history of the South Florida football program, which is in just its 13th season. You see, the Bulls have long hoped to join Florida's Big 3 (FSU, Florida and Miami) and turn the Sunshine State into a state with four power programs. Sure, USF has reached the top 10 in the polls the last two years, but the school has tanked late in the season both years as well.

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USF has played Miami once before (lost) and will again later this year, but this is the first time the program gets a shot at Florida State, which is -14 on Bodog's college football odds.  A win for South Florida would be a potential boon for recruiting in the state.

Unfortunately for the Bulls, they enter Saturday minus their best offensive player, QB Matt Grothe. The career yardage leader in Big East history, Grothe tore his ACL in last week’s game against Charleston Southern, and his career is over. Redshirt freshman B.J. Daniels, who starred at Tallahassee Lincoln High down the road from FSU, gets the call; he has gone 12-for-15 for 179 yards and two TDs with 15 carries for 133 yards and three TDs in relief of Grothe this season.

South Florida also has a star on defense who could start anywhere in defense end George Selvie. The school's first two-time All-American has 26.5 career sacks as part of 62.5 career tackles for losses. USF is 13th in the NCAA in total defense and third against the pass this year, but that means almost nothing considering the Bulls' wins have come against Wofford, Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern – that's two I-AA schools and a Sun Belt team and is easily the worst non-conference schedule of any BCS conference team.

No. 18 FSU, meanwhile, comes in off one of the program's most impressive wins in years, a 54-28 beat down of then-No. 7 BYU. The Seminoles rushed for 313 yards in that one, their best effort on the ground since the 2005 Gator Bowl. In addition, QB Christian Ponder has been tremendous so far this season. On third downs alone, Ponder has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns.
When doing your football betting on Bodog for this game, consider that South Florida is 10-14 all-time against teams ranked in the Top 25 but has won its past three games against ACC schools.

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