The Cincinnati Bearcats (6-1, 3-0 American Athletic) and UCF Knights (5-2, 2-1) tangle in a Saturday matinee in Week 9. Kickoff at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Cincinnati vs. UCF odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Cincinnati has won 6 straight games since losing to Arkansas in Week 1. Three of those wins were AAC games and the Bearcats tote a 17-game conference winning streak into Saturday’s game against Central Florida. The Bearcats rank 2nd in the AAC in scoring this season at 36.9 points per game.
The Knights are leading the ACC at 37.3 PPG, but are coming off being held to a season-low in points in a 34-13 loss at East Carolina last Saturday. UCF was favored by 5.5 points, but was undone by a minus-4 in turnover margin.
Cincinnati is No. 19 in the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
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Cincinnati at UCF odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 4:50 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Cincinnati +102 (bet $100 to win $102) | UCF -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cincinnati +1.5 (-110) | UCF -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 55.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cincinnati at UCF picks and predictions
Prediction
Cincinnati 27, UCF 24
Moneyline
Cincinnati is the lean, and a close game seems imminent. It would be best to play this game a tad safe and take the Bearcats and a point-and-a-half. PASS.
Against the spread
Central Florida is really strong on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Cincinnati is a bit more explosive.
But the way these programs play defense is where this game gets tilted to the visitors Saturday. UCF excels when on schedule, but the Knights are not great when pushed off that schedule. Both defenses apply pressure and create havoc plays at a solid rate. Both offenses are a bit too prone to allowing such plays. But those plays throw a bigger wrench in UCF’s plans.
Look for the Bearcats to exhibit 2 or 3 more effective drives.
BACK THE BEARCATS +1.5 (-110). The lean is a small 1; consider a partial-unit play.
Over/Under
Both defenses are solid all-around. While Cincinnati may have an edge in creating more productive drives in this match-up, the UCF defense has been tremendous in preventing TDs in the red zone. But the Knights offense is at the other end of the red-zone productivity spectrum, so this contest could get into a kick exchange.
Rainy weather is in the Orlando forecast.
TAKE THE UNDER 55.5 (-110).
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