South Florida Bulls 2025 Season Preview

The South Florida Bulls are looking to build on a rapid turnaround under head coach Alex Golesh, who led the team from a 1-win season in 2022 to 7 wins and a bowl appearance in his first year at the helm. After another competitive campaign in 2024, the Bulls enter the 2025 season as one of the top contenders in the AAC.

The offense is again led by dual-threat QB Byrum Brown, who has emerged as one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the Group of Five. Brown shattered multiple school records in his first two seasons, including becoming the first USF quarterback to throw for over 3,000 yards and rush for 800+ in the same season. Now a junior, he’s the centerpiece of an offense that returns key playmakers.

WR Sean Atkins, coming off the program’s first-ever 1,000-yard receiving season, is back as Brown’s go-to target. In the backfield, Nay’Quan Wright provides balance as a senior leader and physical runner.

The defense still has work to do, particularly in pass coverage, but the Bulls made gains in 2024 and return impact players like LB Jhalyn Shuler and CB Aamaris Brown. With an influx of transfers—especially in the secondary, including former Youngstown State standout D’Marco Augustin—this unit is aiming to take a big step forward.

The AAC title race will be competitive, but with continuity on offense and improved depth across the board, South Florida has a real shot at making the conference championship game for the first time since joining the AAC.

South Florida Bulls Point Spreads

South Florida has been a popular cover team over the last two seasons, with bettors taking advantage of their explosiveness and underdog status. In 2024, the Bulls were 8–4 against the spread (ATS) during the regular season, consistently beating expectations.

A typical Bulls point spread might look like this:

South Florida –2.5 (–110)  

East Carolina +2.5 (–110)

In this example, USF would need to win by 3 or more to cover. Bettors should track line movement, especially in early-week matchups, where USF’s speed can catch oddsmakers and defenses off guard.

FAQ: Everything you need to know about point spreads 

South Florida Bulls Over/Unders

Overs have hit frequently in South Florida games due to a fast-paced offense and a defense that remains vulnerable to big plays. The Bulls were 9–3 to the Over in 2024, one of the best Over records in the AAC.

Example total:

Over 62.5 (–110)  

Under 62.5 (–110)

Expect high totals in matchups against fellow up-tempo teams like Memphis and UTSA, where shootouts are the norm. Brown’s ability to extend plays and the defense’s tendency to give up chunk yardage both contribute to inflated scoring.

FAQ: Betting the point total, explained | What is a push? 

South Florida Bulls Moneylines

Moneyline betting is straightforward—just pick the winner. The Bulls were frequent short underdogs in 2024 and delivered value to bettors who backed them outright in several upsets.

Example moneyline:

South Florida +140  

Tulane –160

A $100 bet on the Bulls at +140 would profit $140 with a win. They’ve been especially profitable as home underdogs or in AAC rivalry games where motivation runs high.

Moneylines are also great for parlay building. Pairing USF with another mid-major underdog can boost payouts significantly for bettors looking to swing for bigger wins.

FAQ: How to bet on the moneyline | How to make a parlay 

South Florida Bulls Props

Player props are increasingly available for high-profile Group of Five teams like South Florida—especially when facing ranked or televised opponents.

Common Bulls props include:

• Byrum Brown Over/Under 2.5 Total Touchdowns
• Sean Atkins Over/Under 89.5 Receiving Yards
• Nay’Quan Wright Anytime Touchdown

Brown’s versatility makes him a strong candidate for touchdown and yardage props, while Atkins is a consistent target monster. Keep an eye out for new names at WR and TE, too, especially if sportsbooks begin offering first touchdown scorer markets.

Props vary by state and sportsbook, so availability may depend on local regulations.

FAQ: Here’s how prop betting works 

South Florida Bulls Futures

If you believe in South Florida’s continued rise under Coach Golesh, futures bets provide long-term value on team and player success.

Example Bulls futures:

• Win Total: Over/Under 7.5
• To Win AAC Championship: +600
• To Reach a New Year’s Six Bowl: +2500
• Byrum Brown Heisman Odds: +15000

With another step forward, the Bulls could emerge as a dark-horse Group of Five New Year’s Six contender, especially if they win the AAC. Brown’s Heisman odds remain a longshot, but his dual-threat stats put him on the radar nationally if the Bulls are winning. 

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