South Florida @ Syracuse preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2015 ) Syracuse 24, South Florida 45

USF aims for its first 3-0 start since 2011 when it visits Syracuse on Saturday in a non-league contest. The Bulls have racked up 104 points through two games and enter the weekend ranked 10th in the nation in scoring and 17th in yards per game.

The Bulls are coming off one of the most impressive offensive performances in school history, as they totaled 658 yards - their second-most ever - in improving to 9-2 over their last 11 games. "It was good to get so many guys get involved and contribute," coach Willie Taggart said to the media after the 48-17 romp versus Northern Illinois. Among the top contributors that day was Quinton Flowers (350 passing yards, four TDs), who did the heavy lifting while starting tailback Marlon Mack (concussion) sat out. USF could be in for another big offensive output against a Syracuse squad that allowed 845 yards - 13 shy of the ACC record - in last week's loss to Louisville.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network, ESPN3. LINE: USF -14.5

ABOUT USF (2-0): Flowers has accounted for eight touchdowns - six passing - over the first two games and is looking for more success against Syracuse, which he torched for 300-plus total yards and three touchdowns a season ago. Mack, who registered 184 rushing yards and two scores in that contest, is expected to return Saturday after missing the last 1 1/2 games. The Bulls certainly have not missed him much, as they have eight scoring drives of under two minutes this season and have not needed more than four minutes for any scoring drive all year.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (1-1): Eric Dungey passed for three touchdowns and ran for another against Louisville, but obviously the defense was a major issue, as the team allowed 10.4 yards per play and surrendered 610 total yards to Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson. "I thought our defense, even though the numbers are not good, it was a 14-point game going into the fourth quarter with an amazing quarterback and an amazing football team where they're playing an enormous amount of reps," first-year coach Dino Babers said afterward. Amba Etta-Tawo has been a standout for the Orange on the young season, totaling 20 catches for 313 yards and three TDs through two games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Both teams were members of the Big East from 2005-12. USF went 6-2 against Syracuse during that stretch and leads the all-time series 7-2.

2. The Bulls won last year's meeting, 45-24, beginning the current 9-2 stretch that the team carries into this weekend's action.

3. The Bulls have scored first in 12 of their last 14 games.

PREDICTION: USF 42, Syracuse 35