South Florida @ West Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 30, 2009 ) West Virginia 19, South Florida 30

West Virginia crawled its way back into the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 25 this week, but the Mountaineers face a team that has been a thorn in their side in recent years when they tangle with Big East rival South Florida in a nationally televised matchup Thursday night in Morgantown, W. Va.

South Florida leads the series 3-2 and defeated the Mountaineers 30-19 last season in Tampa. West Virginia rebounded from a six-point loss at LSU that briefly knocked the Mountaineers out of the Top 25 rankings and routed UNLV 49-10 last Saturday in a tuneup for its Big East opener against USF, which is coming off a 13-9 loss to upstart Syracuse in its Big East opener last week.

South Florida’s offense will have its work cut out against a West Virginia defense that ranks No. 7 in the nation in total defense (254.6 yards per game) and scoring defense (13.6 points a game). The Mountaineers’ defense has not allowed any of its five opponents to score more than 21 points this season, while WVU has scored at least 24 points in each of its four wins. However, the Mountaineers might not have standout cornerback Brandon Hogan, who is questionable after sustaining a biceps injury against UNLV. USF senior starting offensive lineman Jamar Bass sat out last week’s game against Syracuse with an ankle injury and is listed as questionable. USF’s secondary hopes to have defensive back Mistral Raymond, who is nursing a quad injury but is listed as probable. He replaced injured Jerrell Young at safety last week, so the Bulls are getting a little thin in the secondary.

West Virginia’s offense is averaging 392.0 yards a game and the Mountaineers are scoring an average of 29.8 points. WVU quarterback Geno Smith will test a USF pass defense that is the best in the Big East, but the Bulls’ injury-riddled secondary will be facing a talented Mountaineers receiving corps that includes Tavon Austin and Jock Sanders, who are ranked among the top three in receptions in the Big East. Stedman Bailey and Bradley Starks, who has battled injuries this season but caught three touchdown passes in the win against UNLV, also can cause headaches for opposing defenses.

The Mountaineers also have a game-breaking running back in Noel Devine, who is averaging 95.0 yards a game on the ground, fifth-best in the Big East. Devine, who sustained an injury to his right big toe in the loss to LSU, was limited to three carries but still managed to rush for 84 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half, last week against UNLV. He’s listed as probable for Thursday night, and WVU coach Bill Stewart said this week that Devine “could touch it 35 times” against USF.

South Florida’s Lindsey Lamar is a dangerous kickoff returner who is averaging 33.0 yards a return that ranks tops in the Big East and No. 5 in the nation.