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My prediction for ‘08: Beatles have the answer
Posted By Brett McMurphy at Aug 28, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Updated Aug 28, 2008 at 12:51 PM

I’ve stalled long enough. I can no longer play the “I correctly picked USF would go 9-3 and play Oregon in the Sun Bowl” card anymore (although it looks good on my resume).

Before last season, as I’ve reminded you 297 times (make that now 298), I picked USF to finish 9-3 and play Oregon in the Sun Bowl. And, miraculously, that’s what happened. So instead of quitting while I’m ahead, I’ll take another shot at embarrassing myself by predicting this year’s USF record and bowl opponent.

The number of regular season wins for USF in 2008?

Since I went with the Here Comes The Sun video last season, I again turned to another Beatles song for inspiration for USF’s number of regular season wins. Ironically, at the end of the video, you can hear chants of “hold that line” and “block that kick.” Doesn’t really mean much in the grand scheme of things, but I thought it was neat.

So 9 it is. Nine is a magical number. Just ask Eliot Spitzer, who was “Client No. 9.” And there’s a No. 9 Love Potion and the Beatles song “Revolution 9.” USF, of course, has finished the past two seasons with nine wins.

Breaking it down game-by-game, I think USF will lose at Cincinnati and West Virginia (don’t be alarmed USF fans, I’ve predicted USF would lose the last two years to WVU, so I’m not exactly on a hot streak). Plus I think there’s one other loss somewhere in there – either to Kansas or a head-scratching, how-did-USF-get-upset-by-(Fill in the blank team).

So with nine wins and at least two conference losses, I think the Bulls will be headed to the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl to play East Carolina. That’s it: USF 9-3 vs. East Carolina in the St. Pete Bowl. You won’t hear another word about last year’s 9-3 vs. Oregon in the Sun Bowl prediction … well, maybe not.

Send Us Your Comments

Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 08/29 at 02:33 PM

Ari, I disagree 1,000 percent with you on UConn. Last year, everything went perfect for them. Those things have a tendency of evening out. I picked them seventh in the Big East, which might be too low, but I definitely believe they’ll finish no higher than fifth. Brian, when we’re asked to make our Big East picks, we can’t list ties for second, third, etc. I’ll admit it’s unlikely that WVU/Pitt are 6-1 and USF is 5-2 and then someone else is 4-3. It probably will be WVU at 7-0/6-1 and then Pitt/USF/Cincy all at 5-2. But since we had to slot them 1-8, I put USF third. The Big East is usually good for a three-way tie for second or third place and this year should be no different. The good news is, we get to find out soon enough.

Posted by Brian, Sanford on 08/29 at 08:34 AM

5-2 in the BEast

This means WVU will go 7-0 or 6-1

Not a bad guess

But now this means Pitt has to go 6-1 in conference to be second in the BEast, as you predicted. You think Pitt will only lose 1 conference game? They can’t be 5-2 and take 2nd because you predict USF will win against Pitt. So, Pitt would have to beat WVU (not out of the question, but that would make Pitt win the conference and not WVU, as both would both be 6-1 and Pitt has the head-to-head).

This is only an attempt to move USF above Pitt in your AP vote.

Thanks for your time, Brett.

Posted by Ari Hinkelberger, Gates of Heaven on 08/29 at 08:25 AM

I got the bulls at 10-2, but I can really see this team doing something crazy like being 11-0 headed to Morgantown. I think the first 3 games are crucial. I don’t see us losing at home this year. I have never been a believer in Pitt - I think we spank Rutgers, and have a super close game with Uconn (who returns just about EVRYONE on defense)

The 3 class teams of the Big East are clearly Uconn, USF and West Va…

I’ll go with 10-2 - maybe something crazy like 11-0 heading into West Va if the chips fall right.

Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 08/28 at 09:50 PM

BA, Gator Bowl is probably a long shot. If Notre Dame is there, the Gator Bowl would take them in a heartbeat. The Gator has the first option to pick between a Big East, Big 12 team or Notre Dame. Rick Catlett, executive director of the Gator Bowl, joked they would take a 6-6 Notre Dame team (at least I think he was joking). But, nonetheless, if the Irish are available, they’ll be picked over any Big East team, including USF, that’s why I predicted USF would land in the St. Pete Bowl.

Posted by BA, Philly on 08/28 at 09:44 PM

The Bulls go 10-2 and are invited to the Gator Bowl.

A loss at WVU and a loss at Louisville.

Go Bulls!

Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 08/28 at 05:11 PM

Paul, I’m all ears for a good “numbers” song. Eric, of course, if the Sun Dolls were included in my USF season record calculation, it obviously would be 12-0.

Posted by Eric Cullison, Orlando,FL on 08/28 at 05:06 PM

Brett, on espn’s top 25 reasons to be excited for the Big East. Number 19: USF Sundolls - explanation..."Nuff said” taking you to their website. Classic.

Posted by Paul Allen, Riverview on 08/28 at 03:49 PM

Well, I guess you could have picked “Eight Days A Week” or, even worse, “Revolution No.1” as your basis for the Bulls win total this year. However, I’m an indie rock kind of guy, so I’m hoping Fugazi’s album “13 Songs” is more indicative of the Bulls win total (12-0 reg. season + the BCS title game win). That is probably a bit of a stretch, but since all of this is just a “Rock and Roll Fantasy”, I can still “Dream On”.

Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 08/28 at 02:03 PM

Randal, I really hope you’re right. I’d much rather cover a BCS bowl game than any other of the Big East bowls. However, do you realize how hard it is to go through the regular season and only lose once? Only two BCS teams did it last year - Ohio State and Kansas - and only four in 2006 (Florida, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Louisville). It’s not impossible, just improbable.

Posted by Randal, Wesley Chapel on 08/28 at 01:29 PM

Brett,
Man, No love! Try more like USF learned from last year and they will not lose back to back to Cincy!
I predict they will finish 11-1 and not lose to WV. They will be in a BCS game against Clemson and win the Big East.