After a disappointing 48-21 loss to Colorado last week, UCF is set to hit the road for a massive game against an in-state opponent.
Despite playing just three times in history, UCF vs. Florida feels like a rivalry in the making. The Knights are the youngest of the major programs in the Sunshine State, but they’ve become a force to be reckoned with pretty quickly.
If the Knights can go into The Swamp and get a win this weekend, it would be a massive feather in their cap. The ramifications that a game like this can have on the narrative surrounding a school on the rise — like UCF — are immense.
If you ask the folks betting on the game, the Knights might also be the team to beat.
When the lines for this week’s games opened up, UCF was a 1.5-point underdog on the road, but as of Tuesday morning, the Knights had become the favorite.
According to WagerTalk, UCF is a 2.5-point favorite to win this weekend, meaning the line has moved four points since opening.
The UCF running game should be able to find success against a Florida defense that has struggled to find its identity against good competition this year. As things stand, the Gators have the country’s 109th-ranked rushing defense (188.8 ypg).
While UCF’s lackluster performance against Colorado only produced 177 yards on the ground, the Knights are still No. 2 in the country with 326.0 yards per game. If Florida can’t find a way to limit this multi-headed rushing attack, the Knights will run away with this game.
At the end of the day, what this game is really going to come down to is whether UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson can play a clean, efficient game on the road. If the Knights can avoid costly mistakes, they match up well with this struggling Florida squad.
If you haven’t already, make sure to check out our full preview of the game.
