UTSA vs. South Florida Prediction: Odds, Picks, and Key Insights for Thursday’s AAC Clash
USF and UTSA face off in a crucial Thursday night matchup with significant implications for the AAC standings. While both programs have had inconsistent seasons, each remains among the stronger teams in the Group of Five.
Season Overview
South Florida opened the year as one of the surprise contenders, claiming early wins over Boise State and Florida. However, their momentum faltered with a tough loss to Memphis, putting their College Football Playoff hopes in jeopardy. The Bulls can still reach the AAC Championship Game, but they must win out and rely on favorable results elsewhere.
Meanwhile, UTSA’s path is even narrower. The Roadrunners remain mathematically alive in the AAC race, but they need to topple USF on Thursday to keep those slim hopes alive.
Recent Performance Trends
Despite entering this game as a two-score underdog, UTSA has shown flashes of excellence. Their 48–26 rout of Tulane in Week 10 stands as their best performance of the year, especially after suffering a demoralizing 55–17 loss to North Texas the week before.
“Those two results showed the good and bad for UTSA this season.”
The Roadrunners can score with the best of them, but their defensive lapses remain their Achilles’ heel. SP+ metrics highlight this disparity clearly.
Team Statistics
- UTSA: 37th-ranked offense, 98th-ranked defense (SP+)
- USF: 22nd-ranked offense, 63rd-ranked defense (SP+)
These numbers show both teams favoring offense, though South Florida maintains a more balanced profile overall.
Author Summary
Two AAC contenders collide Thursday night as USF seeks to stay alive in the title hunt while UTSA battles to reclaim consistency and keep fading championship dreams alive.