The UCF Knights (6-3, 5-3 AAC) and the BYU Cougars (10-1, Independent) meet Tuesday for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff at FAU Stadium in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl. Below, we analyze the UCF-BYU college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
UCF vs. BYU: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: UCF +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | BYU -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: UCF +6.5 (-110) | BYU -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 75.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
UCF vs. BYU: Three things to know
- The Knights head south on the Ronald Reagan Florida Turnpike from Orlando to the Glades Road exit, playing at the on-campus stadium of Florida Atlantic University. They’ve been here before. UCF beat host FAU by a 48-14 count on Sept. 7, 2019, as 13.5-point favorites.
- BYU has never played in the Boca Raton Bowl, but they did finish their season in South Florida in the Miami Beach Bowl back in 2014, losing a 55-48 double-overtime thriller against Memphis. The Cougars have won just two of their past six bowl games, last tasting victory in the postseason at the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Western Michigan, 49-18.
- BYU’s powerful offense will be on display. The Cougars registered 512.8 total yards per game to rank eighth in the nation, they were 11th with 322.8 passing yards per contest and sixth with 43.0 PPG. Defensively they were just as solid, allowing just 309.0 total yards per game to rank ninth, they were 17th against the run with 113.3 yards allowed and third with 14.6 PPG allowed per game.
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UCF vs. BYU: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
BYU 45, UCF 36
Money line (ML)
BYU (-225) will cost you more than two times your potential return. The Cougars were a very good team this season, with just a 22-17 loss at Coastal Carolina on Dec. 5 as their only blemish.
Still, they have a cross-country trip that plays in Florida and is acclimated to the warmer weather. That is a factor. The Cougars still win this game, but there is just too much risk for my liking. AVOID.
Against the spread (ATS)
BYU -6.5 (-110) is the better play against UCF +6.5 (-110), as there is just so much less risk playing against the spread. The Cougs offense was unstoppable this season. Just ask Boise State, as BYU trampled them 51-17 on the “Smurf Turf” on Nov. 6.
The Cougars also have wins over three other bowl teams and the loss against CCU. They ended up going 6-4-1 ATS overall, including 3-1 ATS in four games away from home. They’ll cover here, too.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 75.5 (-115) is a rather tall order, but this game features two of the most powerful offenses in the nation. UCF averaging 44.3 PPG, ranking fifth in the country, while allowing 31.4 PPG.
And they’re second in the country in total yards (585.6) and passing yards (373.0) per contest. BYU averages 43.0 PPG, and they also can sling it. This has the potential to be a high-scoring affair in Boca.
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