Week 4 of the 2025 college football season brings an intriguing matchup as the South Carolina State Bulldogs travel to face the South Florida Bulls. This game will take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, with kickoff scheduled for noon on September 20. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.
South Carolina State enters the contest with a 0-1 record, having dropped their only game of the season against the South Carolina Gamecocks, 38-10. As an independent team, the Bulldogs are looking to improve their road performance following that early setback. The team managed to rack up 208 passing yards against the Gamecocks but struggled in the rushing department with only 62 yards.
Meanwhile, the South Florida Bulls hold a 2-1 record, having won their opening game against Boise State and a road game against Florida. Despite a recent loss to Miami, the Bulls have shown offensive promise, especially through the air with 292 passing yards in their last outing. Playing at home, South Florida aims to maintain their perfect record at Raymond James Stadium this season.
South Florida vs South Carolina State At a Glance
- Game Venue: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL
- Game Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
- TV Broadcast: ESPN+
- South Carolina State Record: 0-1 for the season
- South Florida Record: 2-1 for the season
- Moneyline Odds: South Carolina State +2200, South Florida -8000
South Florida Bulls Aim to Rebound in Upcoming Game
Offensive Performance
The South Florida Bulls have accumulated 810 passing yards so far this season, placing them 37th in the national rankings. Their rushing attack has been less effective, managing only 285 yards, which is ranked 111th. This disparity highlights a potential area for improvement as they continue their season.
South Florida’s offensive unit has secured 50 first downs this season, ranking them 37th. The passing game has been a significant contributor, but the team will need to diversify their offensive strategies to become more balanced.
Defensive Challenges
Defensively, the Bulls have allowed 72 points against them, ranking 57th in this category. However, they have been effective in creating turnovers with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries, ranking 4th and 3rd respectively. These defensive plays have been crucial in keeping games competitive.
South Florida’s defense also shines in the pass rush department, securing three sacks, which places them 12th nationally. This ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks could be a key factor in upcoming games.
Quarterback Contributions
Byrum Brown has been a standout performer for the Bulls, leading with 747 passing yards, ranking 36th. His performance is crucial to the team’s success, although he has thrown only two touchdowns, highlighting a need for more end-zone connections.
Backup quarterbacks Locklan Hewlett and Gaston Moore have seen limited action, contributing 45 and 18 passing yards respectively. Their involvement remains minimal but could be pivotal if Brown faces any setbacks.
Recent Game Analysis
In their recent outing against Miami, South Florida struggled, losing 49-12. The game highlighted their difficulties in stopping the run, as they allowed 205 rushing yards while only managing 40 themselves.
The Bulls will look to improve on both sides of the ball in their upcoming home game against South Carolina State Bulldogs. A strong showing could help them regain confidence and improve their season record.
Betting Trends
- O/U – As Favorite: Last 5 Games (2024) → 5-0
- SU – As Favorite: Last 8 Games (2023–2024) → 7-1
- SU – Home Games: Last 3 Games (2024–2025) → 3-0
- ATS – Home Games: Last 3 Games (2024–2025) → 3-0
- SU – After Loss: Last 3 Games (2024–2025) → 3-0
South Carolina State Bulldogs: A Challenging Road Ahead
Offensive Struggles
The South Carolina State Bulldogs have faced difficulties on the offensive side this season. They are averaging only 10 points per game, placing them 95th in the rankings. This is a slight improvement from last season’s average of 14 points.
In the passing game, the Bulldogs have managed 208 yards per game, ranked 151st. Their rushing attack has been less effective, with only 62 yards per game, ranking 171st.
Defensive Challenges
Defensively, the Bulldogs have allowed 38 points per game, ranking them 24th in points against. They have shown some strength in sacking the quarterback, with 2 sacks ranking them 13th. However, they have yet to secure any interceptions or fumble recoveries this season.
Last season, the defense allowed 42 points per game, indicating a slight improvement this year. The focus will be on maintaining pressure and creating turnovers.
Key Players
Quarterback Ryan Stubblefield has thrown for 90 yards in one game, with one passing touchdown. His performance will be crucial in turning around the Bulldogs’ offensive fortunes.
Running back Kacy Fields leads the ground game with 19 rushing yards. The receiving corps is led by Nicholas Sowell, who has 23 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Recent Performance
In their recent game against South Carolina, the Bulldogs lost 38-10. They managed 208 passing yards and 62 rushing yards, highlighting their struggles in establishing a consistent offensive threat.
The defense held the Gamecocks to 128 passing yards, but allowed 125 rushing yards, which contributed to their defeat.
Upcoming Challenges
As they head into their next game as 28.5-point underdogs, the Bulldogs will need to address both offensive and defensive weaknesses. Their ability to adapt and improve will be tested against tough competition.
The focus will be on improving their rushing attack and securing turnovers on defense to change the game’s momentum.
Betting Trends
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: Last 6 Games (2021–2025) → 5-1 (83.3%)
- ATS – All Games: Last 5 Games (2022–2025) → 4-1 (80.0%)
- ATS – As Underdog: Last 5 Games (2022–2025) → 4-1 (80.0%)
- ATS – Away Games: Last 5 Games (2022–2025) → 4-1 (80.0%)
- ATS – After Loss: Last 5 Games (2022–2025) → 4-1 (80.0%)
- O/U – All Games: Last 7 Games (2021–2025) → 5-2 (71.4%)
South Florida vs South Carolina State Prediction: South Florida -28.5
South Florida enters this game with a favorable 2-1 record and a strong home performance, showcased by their 1-0 home record this season. They have demonstrated an ability to bounce back effectively after a loss, with a perfect 3-0 record in such situations recently. Their offensive capabilities have been solid, ranking 37th in passing yards for the season, which should be enough to overcome South Carolina State’s defense.
On the other hand, South Carolina State has struggled out of the gate, holding a 0-1 record this season and showing little offensive firepower, ranking 171st in rushing yards. With South Florida’s defensive strength, including a top-5 ranking in interceptions and fumbles recovered, the Bulldogs could face significant challenges moving the ball. This reinforces the expectation that South Florida should cover the sizable spread.
The betting trends further support a pick for South Florida to cover the spread. They have a perfect 3-0 against the spread (ATS) record in their last three home games and show strong performance as favorites, going 5-2 ATS in their last seven games in such situations.
Given South Carolina State’s offensive struggles and South Florida’s home dominance and solid defense, it is reasonable to project a comfortable victory for the Bulls. Look for South Florida to secure a substantial win, covering the -28.5 spread with ease.
- South Florida vs South Carolina State Prediction: South Florida -28.5
- South Florida vs South Carolina State Score: South Florida 45 – South Carolina State 10
