INSIDE SLANT

   A 10-win season still remains within reach for USF, which seems to be a strange thing to say since the Bulls have yet to attain bowl eligibility even at this late stage of the season.

   Assuming they do get their seventh win when they are host to a struggling Louisville team, however, the Bulls can get to double digits in wins for their first time in the program history by winning out in the regular season and adding a win in the postseason.

   But that would call for consistency, and consistency has not exactly been a strong point for the Bulls over the last month.

   After winning their first five games, the Bulls looked dismal in back-to-back losses to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. They seemed revived in a 30-19 win over West Virginia, but then were flat in suffering their first regular-season shutout in a 31-0 loss at Rutgers.

   That defeat left them 6-3 on the season. They need one more win to become eligible for the postseason because only one of their wins over FCS teams Wofford and Charleston Southern will count toward the minimum.

   Their best shot would appear to be Louisville, which is coming off a 10-9 win over Syracuse but is only 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the Big East. The two teams have split six meetings, and the home team has won every time. This game is at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

   The Bulls play their home finale the following week when Miami visits. They end the regular season at Connecticut on Dec. 5.

NOTES, QUOTES

   —USF’s defensive statistics match up well with Louisville’s offensive output. The Bulls are giving up 19.1 points a game, the Cardinals are scoring 18.1. USF gives up 319.9 yards in total offense, Louisville averages 339.4. And USF is holding opponents to 133.9 yards a game on the ground, while Louisville averages 137.3.

   —QB B.J. Daniels ranks third in the Big East in total offense with 195 yards per game, but he is only seventh in passing yards. His 136.1 ranks 100th in the country among quarterbacks who have played in 75 percent of their team’s games.

   SERIES HISTORY: USF 3-Louisville 3 (last meeting, 2008, Louisville, 24-20).

   SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: It’s pretty much as B.J. Daniels goes, so goes USF. Daniels is the top rushing quarterback in the Big East and is ninth overall among rushers with an average of nearly 60 yards a game. The effectiveness of the passing game will depend on the availability of WR Carlton Mitchell, who sprained an ankle against West Virginia and did not play in the loss to Rutgers.

   SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Bulls lead the Big East in pass defense, holding foes to 186 yards a game, and are third in total defense (320). Sacks are down (21), but DE Jason Pierre-Paul leads the league in tackles for loss (11). LB Kion Wilson is the league’s leader in total tackles (11 per game), and CB Jerome Murphy leads in passes defended (one a game). The unit is giving up 29 points a game in conference competition, however. Only one team, Connecticut, is more generous.

   QUOTE TO NOTE: “I don’t know. I really don’t. I have no idea about that.”—Coach Jim Leavitt, when asked if he saw any reason for the visiting team’s struggles in the series with Louisville.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

   THIS WEEK’S GAME: Louisville at USF, Nov. 21—The series has gone back and forth since it began in 2003, with the home team winning each time. The Bulls hope that trend continues as they look to become bowl eligible for a fifth consecutive season.

   KEYS TO THE GAME: QB B.J. Daniels is a feast-or-famine kind of guy, but if he makes good decisions, the Bulls can play with just about anybody. Coverage teams need to be on the alert to prevent Louisville’s Trent Guy from making a big play in the return game.

   PLAYERS TO WATCH:

   LB Kion Wilson—Wilson leads the Big East in tackles in conference games only with an average of 11.4 stops per game. He also has a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery.

   CB Jerome Murphy—Murphy can make a big play that will help the Bulls, or he can make a big mistake that will cost them a key penalty. He has three interceptions and also is credited with breaking up six other passes, making him the conference leader in passes defended with an average of one a game.

   RB Mo Plancher—The Bulls continue to look for someone to take some of the rushing load off of Daniels at quarterback, and Plancher has had his moments. He is averaging 4.6 yards a carry and has rushed for four touchdowns.

   ROSTER REPORT:

   —DE Jason Pierre-Paul (foot), who limped off the field at one point in the loss to Rutgers, is expected to be fine for the game against Louisville.

   —WR Carlton Mitchell (ankle) is considered day to day. He did not play in the loss at Rutgers.

   —DE Craig Marshall (knee) is listed as out for the Louisville game. He is tied for the team lead in sacks with four.