[12:00 PM] UCF @ Connecticut

Who will WIN this matchup?

UCF Knights (3-3)

@ Connecticut Huskies (3-4)

 

Current odds:

UCF Knights: (-200)

Connecticut Huskies: (+170)

 

• ESPN simulations have UCF as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Connecticut to win as (TBD) underdogs.

• The line for this game is UCF by 3.5 points.

• With their hopes of landing an entry into the Big 12 dashed when the conference decided not to expand earlier in the week, UCF and Connecticut set their sights on a bowl berth when they meet in an American Athletic Conference game Saturday in East Hartford, Conn. Both teams are coming off losses last week and need three more wins to reach the magic number of six to qualify for a postseason bid.

• Freshman McKenzie Milton passed for 210 yards for UCF but was sacked seven times by the physical front of the Owls as the Knights failed to score a point for the game’s final 42-plus minutes a week ago. UCF enters Saturday ranked No. 33 in the country in rushing offense, averaging 207.7 yards, but will be tested by UConn’s stout run defense which is second in the conference and 26th in the nation allowing 129.9 yards. Senior running back Dontravious Wilson leads the Knights with 314 yards rushing and scored eight touchdowns this season and four other backs have rushed for 113 yards or more.

• It was the usual suspects for the Huskies last week as Bryant Shirreffs passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns, and Noel Thomas had 12 receptions for 127 yards. Shirreffs (sacked five times and tackled many more) took such a beating against the Bulls, he didn’t address the media after the game because he was too sore as he’s been sacked 20 times on the season. Running back Arkeel Newsome continues to rebound from his slow start to the campaign as the all-purpose threat combined for 162 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns against USF.

• UConn lost standout left guard Tommy Hopkins to a leg injury at South Florida last week and he will miss the rest of the season.

• On Saturday, the Knights committed 12 penalties for a loss of 110 yards – the most by a UCF team in 11 years and a stark contract to UConn, which is the second-least penalized team in the nation at 29 yards per game.

• Slow-starting UConn was the last team in the country to score a point in the first quarter, getting a field goal against USF last week.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Connecticut Huskies 

Confidence: 5/10

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