Thursday night football open thread

be an exciting game - both offenses have some firepower, but I think Cinci will be too much for S.Fla to handle.

Cincy is -1, -2, -2.5, and -3 on the boards I've checked. Most O/U's are around 49.

I'm not sure what to take on this. USF has surprised a couple teams even without Grothe. Add that it's at South Florida, and I'm just stuck.

I want to get the Nielson ratings on this game once it's over. This has the potential to be the best Thursday game we see this season. Very smart scheduling by the AD's and the Big East.

[edit: meant as reply @ Jim Harbaugh Scramble]

No doubt that Cincy has been a nice team this year and have had some nice wins, but the Bulls will be the best team they have played this year. National spot light game...I don't think Cicny has played in a spot like this recently.

Now, Cincy's offense is pass heavy and is the sort of offense that if you dont click fuggetaboutit. South Fla's D is pretty friggin good.

On the flip, South Florida is a run heavy, ball control type offense. Cicny's run D has been pretty solid but I think they've been putting people away pretty early and making them pass to get back in, so maybe their run D is a little inflated right now. Good D + ball control is a proven plan for an upset.

I'll still take Florida St. (SFla's best win) over Oregon St. and Fresno St. (Cincy's best wins). Not b/c those teams arent aiight, but Florida St has played a BRUTAL schedual this year--lost to Miami (FL) close, beat a cupcake, killed BYU, lost to South Florida, lost to Boston College on the road, lost to Georgia Tech close. That's not a bad 2-4.

I like SoFla FTW but I'll take +3 too.

on Thurday November 26, I would think that game would draw the biggest TV audience for a Thursday game.

I'm really liking the Natty here.

BJ Daniels is an exciting player to watch, and USF's defensive line is going to get into the backfield and rough Tony Pike up. Hopeful thinking on my part? Never.

USF 34-31.

Not in this game in particular, but you gotta love a program that is just invented like in play station 3 and is ranked like 3 years later. Fun to watch, cool uniforms, pretty cool coach, (though obnoxious at times), one of my favorite non UM teams.

I am on the Bulls plus the points....always take the underdog when two 5-0 teams or better play each other in the regular season.

BJ Daniels just looks big.

KO time.

listening to Lou Holtz and Mark May speak.

That field looks worse than UM's old grass surface.

Jessie Palmer (I think) just said something like "the Tate Forciers of the world" in regard to freshmen not being nervous. Interesting that even nationally his force is recognized.

i think they are better than their #21 rank indicates

I wonder if USF is paying or has paid BJ? I wonder how much of that RR rumor is true??

That last possession with three straight lousy passes was terrible.

he has some solid but not elite level speed - nice tackle by Cinci, just avoided a horse collar.

Cincy's looking craptastic right now.

on that return - way to set up your blockers!

Bad throw.

MO just did a 180.

Let's see if USF can answer.

After that super long return to setup the TD pass, it's now 10-7.

Cincinasty all the way against USF.

1) Midwest, plus Brian Kelly coached in Michigan (then again, so does Mark D-Bag).
2) The state of Florida (other than our recruits)
3) Jim Leavitt is kind of a douchebag who can't handle assistants leaving him. Plus there are some shady dealings around USF, namely the allegations that athletes were cheating in school by having other people do their schoolwork for them.
4) Mardy Gilyard. There's something I like about him. Part of it has to do with this, even if the kid was wearing Buckeye gear. Gilyard seems like a guy with his heart in the right place.

Tony Pike's Dad looks like he is about 35 years old.

just because Gruden had 50 different QBs during his Tampa years does not mean he coached "a lot of great quarterbacks."

The only good qb he ever had was Rich Gannon during his Raider years.

20 yards in penalties on one guy in one play!

If Gilyard broke it outside on that screen he had 6.

What a freaking catch! (maybe)

EDIT: No maybe. That catch was the shit.

catch - laid out for it!

I like Pike's pocket presence.

Looks like a catch to me.

That was a fantastic catch. Great job of twisting his body as he was falling to keep his arm under the ball and keep it from hitting the ground. Very impressive.

big points for USF

THINTHANATTUH PLAYTH BOTH THMART AND INTELLIGENT

to paraphrase:
You wanna see your team catch balls not drop balls

If Cincy wins and Brian Kelly's stock keeps rising he'll be at a program that we play regularly and that would definitely not help our schedule when he does find a new home. Hell of a track record for that coach!

Kelly just yelled at his QB. No way a program should hire him.

Reminds me of Threet's scamper last year, but faster.

Michigan needs to add that exact play. That was BEAUTIFULLY executed.

Designed QB draw for a 75 yard touchdown run...lolwtf?