UCF Football Schedule 2023: Analysis, Breakdown, 3 Things To Know

UCF football schedule 2023 analysis, breakdown, 3 things to know

UCF football schedule 2023: Who do the Knights miss on the Big 12 schedule and what are 3 things to know?


UCF Football Schedule 2023: 3 Things To Know

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Aug 26 OPEN DATE

Aug 31 Kent State

Sept 9 at Boise State

Sept 16 Villanova

Sept 23 at Kansas State

Sept 30 Baylor

Oct 7 at Kansas

Oct 12 OPEN DATE

Oct 21 at Oklahoma

Oct 28 West Virginia

Nov 4 at Cincinnati

Nov 11 Oklahoma State

Nov 18 at Texas Tech

Nov 25 Houston

2023 College Football Rankings 1-133: First Look

UCF Football Schedule What To Know: Who do the Knights miss from the Big 12 slate?

Welcome to the Big 12, UCF. Here’s your gift …

You don’t have to play Texas or TCU.

Texas is going to be a whole lot better, and TCU played for the national title. They’re off the original new conference slate, and so is BYU.

That’s not a bad thing, especially considering a trip to Provo – if that was going to be the game – would’ve been a problem. Missing Iowa State isn’t great, though, even though it’ll be improved.

UCF Football Schedule What Really Matters

The Knights are getting hit with five Big 12 road games including both Kansas teams. Combine that with the date at Oklahoma, and they get the bad break of playing three road games in four conference dates.

Easing the pain a bit is a week off before playing the Sooners, but it still means they’re only in Orlando once between September 23rd and the end of October.

UCF Football Schedule What To Know: What does it all really mean?

Even with the five Big 12 road games and a date at Boise State in non-conference play, it’s still one of the easiest schedules of any Big 12 team.

There’s no game outside of the Big 12 against a Power Five program, and getting Kent State and Villanova are easy ways to gear up for what’s coming. Combine that with home games against West Virginia and Houston, and there should be a solid base of wins to build from.

It’s not all going to be easy. Those road dates at Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech should be just enough to keep UCF from cranking out a massive season, but again, compared to other Big 12 teams this isn’t bad.

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

2023 College Football Schedules: All 133 Teams

Duke 30, UCF 13 Military Bowl What Happened, What It All Means

Duke 30, UCF 13: Military Bowl what happened, player of the game, and what it all means

Duke beat UCF to win the Military Bowl. What happened, who was the player of the game, and what does it all mean?


Duke 30, UCF 13 Military Bowl What Happened, Player of the Game, What It All Means

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Military Bowl What Happened

Duke had no problems moving the ball on a depleted UCF defense. QB Riley Leonard ran for two touchdowns, Jaquez Moore starting the scoring with a 14-yard dash, and Todd Pelino hit three field goals. The Blue Devils were up 20-7 at halftime and 23-7 before UCF got back on the board.

Isaiah Bowser ran for two short touchdowns for the Knights – tying it at seven in the first quarter and closing out a long drive in the fourth – but the offense couldn’t stay on the field long enough. Two turnovers – especially a fumble by QB John Rhys Plumlee – turned the tide.

UCF fought the good fight. It was missing a slew of key players on both sides of the ball – especially on defense – and Duke had just about everyone available. It showed – the Blue Devils were far crispier offensively and looked like the regular season self on defense.

100 Best Bowl Players | Ranking How Good the Bowls Were

Military Bowl Player of the Game

Riley Leonard, QB Duke 
He completed 19-of-28 passes for 173 yards and ran ten times for a game-high 63 yards and two touchdowns.

CFN Experts Picks CFP NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Military Bowl Fun Stats

– John Rhys Plumlee was a bit questionable before the game, but he battled through hitting 21-of-34 passes for 182 yards with an interception and fumble and ran for 21 yards on 14 carries. Isaiah Bowser led the team with 39 rushing yards and two scores.

– Sacks: Duke 6 – UCF 0. Duke LB Cam Dillon led the team with nine gables and a game-high two sacks

– Time of Possession: Duke 34:28 – UCF 25:32

Military Bowl What It All Means

It might have been among the most underappreciated stories of the 2022 season – Duke was fantastic in Mike Elko’s first season. It only lost four games with three of them by three points or fewer, and the other a 35-27 fight against Kansas when it was rolling at the time.

This was the program’s first winning season since 2018 and the first nine-win campaign since 2014. It was also the first bowl appearance since 2018, and with the victory Duke has won four straight since 2015.

This wasn’t really a fair representation of UCF. It was missing way too many important parts on both sides of the ball, but it was still a good effort and is still closed out the program’s fifth season with nine wins or more in the last six. With the loss, though, that makes it five bowl losses in the last eight and took Gus Malzahn’s bowl record to 3-6.

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

2022-2023 Bowl Schedule, Predictions

UCF vs Duke Military Bowl Presented by Peraton Prediction Game Preview

UCF vs Duke game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Military Bowl Presented by Peraton on Wednesday, December 28

UCF vs Duke prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Military Bowl Presented by Peraton, Wednesday, December 28


UCF vs Duke Military Bowl Presented by Peraton Prediction Game Preview

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

UCF vs Duke How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, December 28
Game Time: 2:00 ET
Venue: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: UCF (9-4), Duke (8-4)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

UCF vs Duke Military Bowl Presented by Peraton 5 Things To Know

Military Bowl Presented by Peraton Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

It’s been a while since Duke has made any sort of football noise. After three losing seasons, it’s back in the bowl mix with a strong winning season under first year head man Mike Elko.

The offense has been balanced, the defense has been good enough, and the team comes into this winning four of its last five games. The team isn’t missing much of anything compared to the regular season version, unlike …

UCF is going to have to do some shuffling. The offense lost a slew of key receivers and parts from the defensive back seven, and QB John Rhys Plumlee is coming off a leg injury and is very, very questionable to go in this.

It was a good season for the Knights, but they came up short in the AAC Championship loss to Tulane and it wasn’t quite the dominant season to get back to a New Year’s Six game like they were hoping for. However, they’ve won nine games, they have a way of rising up in the moment, and …

It’s UCF in a bowl game. Gus Malzahn’s bunch took down Florida in last year’s Gasparilla, and over the last several years the program has been large in good post-season performances. Malzahn, though, has been just okay in bowl games going 2-5 at Auburn before getting last year’s win over the Gators.

Bowl games aren’t a regular thing for Duke. This is just the 15th in the program’s history, but after a rough start it’s been good when it gets to the post-season. It hasn’t been to a bowl since beating Temple in the 2018 Independence – the game that took Daniel Jones’ NFL stop up a few notches – but it won three straight after losing five in a row since the 1960 Cotton.

We’re finally getting a Military Bowl again after the last two were canceled with COVID issues. Before that it was a bit of a rough run for the game over the 12 versions with just two decided by seven points or fewer.

CFN Experts Dec 20-27 | CFP NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why UCF Will Win The Military Bowl Presented by Peraton

The Knights might be taking a hit to the passing game with the lost parts, but the running attack should still be able to get going from the start.

John Rhys Plumlee was the team’s most dangerous runner when it tried to take off, but RB Isaiah Bowser is good enough to take over if he can get into a groove. He didn’t have any monster games, but he was steady throughout the year.

Now he has to be a workhorse against the Duke defensive front. It’s been good against the run, but it has a rough time on third downs and has a bigger issue against teams that can throw.

Again, UCF probably isn’t going to get moving much through the air, but as long as it’s able to connect on the midrange throws – and get Bowser and the rotation of backs moving – the offense might be okay.

Against FBS teams, Duke is 0-4 when allowing more than 106 yards and 7-0 when allowing fewer. UCF ran for fewer than 130 just one in the loss to Navy, but …

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Duke Will Win The Military Bowl Presented by Peraton

UCF really does have to get going on the ground, or else.

On the flip side of what happens when the Duke run defense doesn’t hold up against the running game is what happens when USC doesn’t run wild. It’s 0-3 when it doesn’t get to 160 yards and is 2-3 when it doesn’t come up with at least 250 yards – and 7-0 when it does.

Duke hasn’t allowed more than 217 all year.

The Blue Devils get the job done by controlling the clock, owning third downs, and dominating in the turnover battle. That’s going to be an issue for the other side.

UCF might have had the best offense in the American Athletic Conference, but it also had a big problem with turnovers with two or more in six of the last 11 games and seven in the last three.

Duke turned it over just ten times all season and was +14 on the year in turnover margin going 5-2 when coming up with two or more takeaways.

Military Bowl Presented by Peraton Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, UCF vs Duke Prediction, Military Bowl Presented by Peraton History

UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship Prediction Game Preview

UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Championship Week game on Saturday, December 3

UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Saturday, December 3


UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship Prediction Game Preview

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

UCF vs Tulane How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 3
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Venue: Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA
How To Watch: ABC
Record: UCF (9-3), Tulane (10-2)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

Why UCF Will Win

What did UCF do right a few weeks ago in the 38-31 win at Tulane? The passing attack wasn’t anything special, but the defense came up with two takeaways. The D struggled in the second half after the O came up with a 31-14 lead, but the running game took over when it had to.

The offense finished the regular season as the best in the AAC, it was the best on the ground, and it lead the way on third downs. To do it again, it all starts with the offensive line taking over right away and the running game rolling for well over 200 yards again.

The Knights mixed it up with QB John Rhys Plumlee running for 176 yards, running backs Isaiah Bowser and RJ Harvey combined for 137 yards, and that wasn’t even their best rushing performance of the season.

200 yards is the norm for the UCF ground game with 300 or more in four games. Tulane’s defense has been good overall but the line doesn’t get in the backfield enough, the disruption isn’t there, and …

College Football Playoff Final Top 25 Prediction
What it means for CFP: Utah beats USC for Pac-12 title

Why Tulane Will Win

Tulane’s defense didn’t generate any takeaways in the first meeting. That’s not the norm.

UCF didn’t turn the ball over in the win. That’s not the norm.

UCF is -5 on the year in turnover margin with six in the last two games and 13 over the last five – the Tulane game was the only one without a giveaway in the bunch. It gave it up multiple times in six of the last ten games.

On the flip side. Tulane beat SMU with five takeaways, got by Memphis with four, and force multiple takeaways in five games, winning them all on the way to finishing +7 in turnover margin.

Tulane’s offense is efficient, effective, and controlling. No, it can’t hang yard-for-yard with UCF if this gets into a battle of ground attacks, but it can keep the other O on the sidelines for long stretches.

But it needs those takeaways.

Not only is Tulane 8-0 when it forces at least one turnover, but it won by double-digits in all five games with multiple takeaways. Which is why …

Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Tulane will win this and be off to the Cotton Bowl with a good enough defensive performance to survive.

It’ll give up yards, and UCF’s offense will take over at times, but the turnovers will be there. Tulane will be +2 in turnover margin, and that will be just enough of a difference.

That, and the running of Tyjae Spears. The star back was used as a workhorse last week with 35 carries for 181 yards and two scores in the win over Cincinnati, but that’s not normally his his role. He ripped off big yards in the first meeting with UCF, and in this he’ll take over late.

Expert Picks College Championship WeekNFL Week 13

UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship Prediction, Line

Tulane 31, UCF 27
Line: Tulane -3.5, o/u: 56.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship Must See Rating (out of 5): 4.5

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Bowl Projections | Rankings

UCF vs USF Prediction Game Preview

UCF vs USF game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 13 game on Saturday, November 26

UCF vs USF prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 13, Saturday, November 26


UCF vs USF Prediction Game Preview

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

UCF vs USF How To Watch

Date: Saturday, November 26
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: ESPN2
How To Watch: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Record: UCF (8-3), USF (1-10)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

Why UCF Will Win

Just win and let it all go from there.

The Tulane-Cincinnati winner will host the American Athletic Conference championship, and UCF can get there with a win and a Tulsa win over Houston, or by breaking through all the crazy tie-breaking scenarios. For the moment, though, beat USF.

Just run. QB John Rhys Plumlee is banged up with a shoulder injury – he’s questionable – but the ground game should be just fine with the backs able to take over right from the start.

Even though Navy was able to stuff the Knights last week, don’t think that’s going to happen again.

The Knights are 6-0 when running for over 250 yards and 8-1 when rumbling for 160 or more. USF only held two teams to fewer than 160 yards, and that’s because East Carolina and Houston bombed away at will with the passing game.

But …

Bowl Projections | Bowl Bubble: Who’s Bowl Eligible?

Why USF Will Win

The losses keep on piling up, but the offense is a whole lot of fun.

The defense is the big problem – it’s dead last in the nation allowing 514 yards per game – but the O rips up rushing yards in chunks and should push for 400 yards in this.

It’s the end of a lost season, there aren’t any wins over FBS teams, and things are about to change in the offseason, but it’s still a rivalry game that often defies all logic and reason. And that’s why …

Week 13 College Football Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

There will be lots and lots and lots of offense.

Last year was a 17-13 UCF win. That might be the first quarter.

58-46 UCF in 2020. 49-42 UCF in 2017. 48-31 USF in 2016. That’s what this might be with both attacks going off.

UCF’s running game will be too much. It’ll blast for well over 300 yards, and it’ll need all of them before finally pulling away.

Expert Picks College Week 12NFL Week 11

UCF vs USF Prediction, Line

UCF 49, USF 30
Line: UCF -19.5, o/u: 68.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
UCF vs USF Must See Rating (out of 5): 2.5

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 7 teams still in the race 

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Bowl Projections | Rankings

UCF vs Navy Prediction Game Preview

UCF vs Navy game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 12 game on Saturday, November 19

UCF vs Navy prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 12, Saturday, November 19


UCF vs Navy Prediction, Game Preview

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

UCF vs Navy How To Watch

Date: Saturday, November 19
Game Time: 11:00 ET
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: UCF (8-2), Navy (3-7)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

Why Navy Will Win

The wins might not be there, but the team hasn’t been all that miserable. The running game is okay even if it’s not its dominant self, there aren’t any mistakes – the penalties and turnovers have been kept to a minimum – and there’s a chance it all comes together in a special performance.

Can UCF gear up the focus?

It’s coming off a huge win over Tulane that put the New Year’s Six bowl appearance on the table, and now it has to hold up against the curveball of a ground attack.

Tulane was able to get its backs into space averaging close to six yards per carry, and Navy should do the same. However …

Bowl Projections

Why UCF Will Win

The Navy running game is good, but UCF’s is better.

The powerful O has hit 200 yards or more in four of the last five games and leads the AAC with about 250 per game. The Navy run defense has been great over the last few games, but that’s partly because everyone has been throwing.

UCF will run.

QB John Rhys Plumlee has been running wild – he hit Tulane for 176 yards and two scores – Isaiah Bowser will bang away, and the rest of the options will keep grinding.

But …

Schedules, Predictions CollegeNFL

What’s Going To Happen

Can the Navy run defense hold up?

Again, the stats are skewed because opposing teams throw, but UCF will be balanced, it’ll average five yards per carry, and it’ll set up a shot at cementing a place in the AAC title game.

It might take a win over USF next week to do that, but first the offense has to keep up with the Navy offense that will take off for well over 200 yards.

The UCF offense will control the game better.

Expert Picks College Week 12NFL Week 11

UCF vs Navy Prediction, Line

UCF 34, Navy 20
Line: UCF -15.5, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
UCF vs Navy Must See Rating (out of 5): 2.5

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Bowl Projections | Expert Picks Week 12
Week 12 Schedule, Predictions | Bowl Bubble
Path to the Playoff: 9 teams still in the race
CFP Top 25: Week 3 | CFP rankings reaction

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Bowl Projections | Rankings
Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams

UCF vs Tulane Prediction Game Preview

UCF vs Tulane game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 11 game on Saturday, November 12

UCF vs Tulane prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 11, Saturday, November 12


UCF vs Tulane How To Watch

Date: Saturday, November 12
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: UCF (7-2), Tulane (8-1)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Bowl Projections | Expert Picks Week 11
Week 11 Schedule, Predictions | Bowl Bubble
Path to the Playoff: 12 teams still in the race
Bowl Bubble: Every Team’s Bowl Situation
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

UCF vs Tulane Game Preview

Why UCF Will Win

The Knight have to keep the offensive balance going.

It would be nice for the offense to explode like it did when it hung 70 on Temple a few weeks ago, but that’s obviously not going to happen. Over 200 yards rushing, over 200 yards receiving – the Knights can do that.

As great as Tulane has been, there isn’t a strong pass rush, there aren’t enough plays behind the line, and UCF and the best offense in the American Athletic Conference should be able to keep the pressure on all game long.

Tulane might be playing well, and it might have pulled off a win over Southern Miss, but the defense will give up a whole lot of passing yards in this.

It doesn’t hurt that UCF leads the league in rushing, too.

However …

10 Best Picks Against The Spread

Why Tulane Will Win

UCF will have to grind through the Tulane defense that’s No. 1 in the AAC.

No, there isn’t enough of a pass rush, and no, there aren’t enough disruptive plays, but the defense is good enough to hold its own in key spots.

There’s a lot of bending without breaking.

Besides allowing just 17 points per game, what is Tulane doing right?

The offense is feeding off the defense that’s so good on third downs, the team is winning the time of possession battle, and there aren’t a lot of mistakes.

Tulane isn’t beating itself with just four turnovers in the last six games and almost no penalties whatsoever.

The team is able to control games, do everything right, and then come through when it has to, but …

Schedules, Predictions CollegeNFL

What’s Going To Happen

Tulane has to gear up the offense to be ready for a bit of a shootout.

It was able to keep the Houston and East Carolina offenses from going off and – again – didn’t make the mistakes the other side did. That’s going to happen here.

UCF will put up big numbers, but it’ll turn it over a few times, it won’t be able to tun like it normally does, and Tulane will take advantage of all of it.

There will still be hope for UCF, though, in the AAC title chase – these two might meet again in a few weeks.

Expert Picks College Week 11NFL Week 10

UCF vs Tulane Prediction, Line

Tulane 26, UCF 24
Line: Tulane -1.5, o/u: 54.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
UCF vs Tulane Must See Rating (out of 5): 4
Predictions of Every Game

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Bowl Projections | Rankings
Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams

UCF vs Memphis Prediction Game Preview

UCF vs Memphis game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 10 game on Saturday, November 5

UCF vs Memphis prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 10, Saturday, November 5


UCF vs Memphis How To Watch

Date: Saturday, November 5
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: UCF (6-2), Memphis (4-4)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Bowl Projections | Expert Picks Week 10
Week 10 Schedule, Predictions
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

UCF vs Memphis Game Preview

Why UCF Will Win

Now we get to find out if UCF can have nice things.

The Knights had the one win they absolutely needed to come up with – taking down Cincinnati 25-21 last week – to help put them at 25 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. Tulane might be ranked higher, but that’s next week.

First they have to get by Memphis. To do that they need to get the ground game rolling right away, the pass defense has to lock down, and they need to stop turning the ball over after giving it up six times in the last two weeks.

They’re 5-0 when they run for 250 yards or more, but they might not have to against Memphis if the passing game works, too. However …

Breaking down the CFP Top 25 rankings

Why Memphis Will Win

Memphis has only allowed more than 200 rushing yards once, and that was in the win over Navy.

Back to the UCF turnovers, they aren’t a big problem but there were only two road games so far this year and the O turned it over seven times.

The four in the loss to East Carolina were part of the problem, but allowing 311 passing yards and a season-most three touchdowns were bigger. The Knight secondary can be picked apart, and Memphis should be able to throw for 300 yards.

However …

Schedules, Predictions CollegeNFL

What’s Going To Happen

Yeah, the Tiger defense has only been gouged against the run once, but that’s partly because everyone throws at will on the secondary that gives up 284 yards per game.

Both teams have a few turnover issues, both offenses work, and both will have moments when they seem ready to take control of the game.

When absolutely needed, UCF will get the third down conversions Memphis won’t.

Expert Picks College Week 10NFL Week 9

UCF vs Memphis Prediction, Line

UCF 38, Memphis 34
Line: Memphis -3.5, o/u: 58.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
UCF vs Memphis Must See Rating (out of 5): 3.5
Predictions of Every Game

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Bowl Projections | Rankings
Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams

Cincinnati vs UCF Prediction, Game Preview

Cincinnati vs UCF game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 9 game on Saturday, October 29

Cincinnati vs UCF prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 9, Saturday, October 29


Cincinnati vs UCF How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 29
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Cincinnati (6-1), UCF (5-2)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Bowl Projections | Week 8 Roundup
What 12-Team Playoff Would Look Like
College Football Playoff Rankings Prediction
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Cincinnati vs UCF Game Preview

Why Cincinnati Will Win

It hasn’t always been easy or pretty, but Cincinnati keeps on winning after opening the season with a loss to Arkansas.

This isn’t close to being the team of last year, but it figured out ways to win. It starts with the best pass rush and most disruptive defensive front in college football, the defense comes through when needed, and the offense is just good enough to get by when needed.

UCF is great in so many ways, but East Carolina was able to come up with four takeaways in last week’s 34-13 win last week. The Bearcats don’t take the ball away in bunches, but they’re amazing against the run and should make plenty of plays behind the line, and …

NFL Expert Picks, Week 8

Why UCF Will Win

Teams that can run well were able to run on Cincinnati.

Arkansas ripped off 224 yards on the ground and won. USF ran for 224 yards and made it a fight. No one else on the Bearcat slate chooses the ground as the primary form of transportation.

The UCF passing game has been fantastic with close to 300 yards through the air in five of the seven games, but it’s at its best when it’s ripping off chunks of yards on the ground.

UCF will not only commit to the running game, but it should succeed at it.

– Game Previews, Predictions CollegeNFL

What’s Going To Happen

There might have been a loss to Louisville early on, but UCF is a fantasist team at home. As long as it doesn’t turn it over like it did against East Carolina it should be fine.

Home field will matter here. The Knights will feed off the home energy, the offense will be balanced and explosive, and they’ll make up for last week’s gaffe with one of the biggest wins of the Gus Malzahn era.

College Football Expert Picks, Week 9

Cincinnati vs UCF Prediction, Line

UCF 27, Cincinnati 24
Line: UCF -1.5, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Cincinnati vs UCF Must See Rating (out of 5): 4
Predictions of Every Game

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Bowl Projections | Rankings
Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams

UCF vs East Carolina Prediction, Game Preview

UCF vs East Carolina game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 8 game on Saturday, October 22

UCF vs East Carolina prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 8, Saturday, October 22


UCF vs East Carolina How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 22
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
How To Watch: ESPNU
Record: UCF (5-1), East Carolina (4-3)
Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Bowl Projections | Midseason Roundup
What 12-Team Playoff Would Look Like
Top 10 Hot Seat Coach Rankings | Heisman Race
Midseason Freshman All-America Team
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

UCF vs East Carolina Game Preview

Why East Carolina Will Win

This is the big chance for the Pirates to make some noise.

They’re 4-3 and need two more wins to get bowling, but that’s going to be tough with three of the final four games on the road – at BYU, at Cincinnati, Houston before finishing at Temple.

The offense is the best in the AAC at converting third down tries, the penalties and turnovers are kept to a bare minimum, and they’ve got the passing game to crank up a UCF defense that hasn’t exactly been tight lately against the teams that can throw.

SMU bombing away was expected, but Georgia Tech and Temple threw well, too, and …

NFL Expert Picks, Week 7

Why UCF Will Win

UCF won all three of those games.

No, the Knight D isn’t air tight, but the offense has been humming with John Rhys Plumlee on a tear.

He hit everything in the 70-13 win over Temple for his fourth 300-yard passing day of the season, he still runs well, and East Carolina is going to have a hard time with all of it.

The Pirate pass defense will give up yards in chunks against the AAC’s best offense, its gong to have a hard time controlling the clock, and …

– Game Previews, Predictions CollegeNFL

What’s Going To Happen

Weird things happen in Dowdy-Ficklen.

This a good, veteran East Carolina team that’s going to keep pressing and bring the pressure on both sides, but the UCF running game will be great, Plumlee will be fine, and the road side will come away with a nice win in a back-and-forth four quarter fight.

College Football Expert Picks, Week 8

UCF vs East Carolina Prediction, Line

UCF 30, East Carolina 24
Line: UCF -5, o/u: 63.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
UCF vs East Carolina Must See Rating (out of 5): 3
Predictions of Every Game

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Bowl Projections | Rankings
Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams