Mitch's Matchups

A position-by-position analysis of the West Virginia-South Floridagame by Charleston Gazette Sports Editor Mitch Vingle

Quarterbacks Passing? WVU apparently doesn't need any stinkingpassing. Not when its quarterback is rushing for 220 yards, asblazing-fast Pat White did against Pittsburgh. White only threw theball 10 times in the freezing temperatures against Pitt and hascompleted but 49-of-90 attempts for 619 yards in 10 games. WVU, infact, is No. 115 out of 117 among NCAA team passing leaders. However,White is the Big East's sixth leading rusher, averaging 69.8 yards agame. USFs Pat Julmiste is ranked seventh among Big East QBs in passefficiency and is sixth in passing yardage (125.5 average). He threwthree interceptions against Connecticut and has nine on the season.EDGE: MOUNTAINEERS

Receivers USF certainly has some height at this position. JohnnyPeyton, the leader among the corps, is 6-5, as is his compadre at theX position, Amarri Jackson. Z man S.J. Green is 6-3. But, like atWVU, the Bull receivers don't get much action. The team's leadingpass catcher is back Andre Hall, who has 257 yards receiving. WVU,averaging a paltry 118.9 yards passing, continues to be led byBrandon Myles and Darius Reynaud. Myles leads WVU in receptions (29)and yardage (455). Three backs (Slaton, Jason Colson and OwenSchmitt) follow Myles and Reynaud. EDGE: MOUNTAINEERS

Defensive Line Both lines do well at clogging up running lanes.The Mountaineers just happen to do very well. They are No. 1 in theBig East and No. 8 nationally against the run, allowing an average of94.3 yards. Starters Ernest Hunter, Keilen Dykes and Craig Wilsonlead a deep defensive front. Wilson has the best stats, recording 31tackles, four for loss, and a forced fumble this season. USF,meanwhile, is allowing an average of 126.8 yards on the ground. Rightend Terrence Royal, a 6-3, 255-pound senior, has six sacks thisseason, five solo. EDGE: MOUNTAINEERS

Secondary Almost a dead heat here. WVU is fifth in the Big East(31st nationally) against the pass, allowing an average of 191.5yards. But teams are passing more against WVU because its defense isso staunch against the run. The Mountaineers are led by safeties MikeLorello and Eric Wicks, who are 2-3 in tackles with 65 and 54respectively. USF is allowing 176.9 passing yards a game. For USF,safety Johnnie Jones has picked off two passes. The Bulls are thirdin the league in pass defense efficiency. EDGE: BULLS

Running backs Nice matchup here. WVU's Steve Slaton has come onlike gangbusters. He played only one play in September games againstSyracuse and Maryland, but in starting the last five games, hasgained 706 yards. Fullback Owen Schmitt is WVU's secret weapon. Thebowling ball is averaging 7.5 yards after 34 carries. USF has a starin Andre Hall, who has 1,181 yards on the season. He's the Big Eastrushing leader entering the league's final games. EDGE: BULLS

Offensive line WVUs offensive line has paved the way to a No. 5ranking nationally among rushing leaders. The Mountaineers areaveraging 258.8 yards on the ground behind Travis Garrett, RyanStanchek, Dan Mozes, Jeremy Sheffey and Garin Justice. SouthFlorida's line, which averages 300 pounds per interior lineman, ispushing for 215.1 rushing yards a game. Left guard Frank Davis isboth the team's largest starter (6-4, 320 pounds) and strongestplayer. EDGE: MOUNTAINEERS

Linebacker WVU junior Kevin "Boo" McLee continues to lead theMountaineers with a team-best 71 tackles. McLee has six tackles forloss (two sacks), an interception, three pass breakups, a quarterbackhurry and a fumble recovery. Middle linebacker Jay Henry is fourth onthe team with 53 stops in nine games. USF, meanwhile, has a nice trioin Stephen Nicholas, Ben Moffitt and Patrick St. Louis. Nicholas,like McLee, started the season on the Butkus Award watch list. EDGE:BILLS

Special teams USF has the better punter. Brandon Baker isaveraging 40.8 yards per punt. The Bulls have the best kickoff returnman in Chad Simpson (24.8 yard average). The Mountaineers sweep therest of the special teams categories. Antonio Lewis is strong both inpunt returns (averaging 19.7 yards) and kickoff returns (averaging22.4). Although freshman Mountaineer kicker Pat McAfee has struggledat times, he's hit 10-of-16 field goal attempts.