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South Florida gears up for Friday matchup with West Virginia

Sep 28, 2007 - 10:45 AM No. 5 West Virginia (4-0) at No. 18 South Florida (3-0) 8:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Two weeks ago, South Florida pulled off an impressive road win. If coach Jim Leavitt's squad wins at home this week, it will be a bigger upset.

Leavitt's 18th-ranked Bulls open Big East Conference play on Friday night against fifth-ranked powerhouse West Virginia.

On September 8, South Florida traveled to then-No. 17 Auburn and shocked the Tigers, 26-23 in overtime, then entered the rankings for the first time eight days later.

Coming off a bye after the big victory, the Bulls (3-0, 0-0 Big East) downed visiting North Carolina here last weekend, 37-10.

Matt Grothe threw for 230 yards and a TD for South Florida, which picked off the Tar Heels' T.J. Yates four times to offset three lost fumbles.

West Virginia (4-0, 0-0) remained perfect on the season with a 48-7 rout of visiting East Carolina last Saturday.

Pat White both passed and ran for two touchdowns for the Mountaineers, who gained 397 yards on 54 carries.

West Virginia has the nation's No. 2 rushing offense at 357 yards per game and is led by Steve Slaton (125.5), whose next TD run will have him a school-record 43 in his career.

Last year, South Florida upset then-No. 7 West Virginia in Morgantown, 24-19, after limiting Slaton to a season-low 43 rushing yards. The previous year, the Mountaineers had downed the Bulls here, 28-13.