UCF Arena features an NCAA basketball betting clash between the host Central Florida Knights and the visiting East Carolina Pirates in college hoops action on Saturday.

The Knights are 16-6 so far on the season, and 9-7 ATS vs. the number. The Pirates, meanwhile, are 13-8 and 8-5-1 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Central Florida go 5-6 and the Pirates go 9-2 on the totals.



View East Carolina vs Central Florida Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
If you were backing the visitors in this one, the Pirates were listed as 7.5-point underdogs earlier in the day at Sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 74-ranked Knights and the No. 75-rated Pirates in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 79-77 win for the Knights on Saturday.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Central Florida's No. 94 nationally ranked offense (71 points per game) against a Pirates defense that sits as the No. 273 at 70.6 PPG. The Knights have been averaging 47.6% from the field, more than the Pirates have managed so far this season (44.9% on average).

Defensively, East Carolina features the nation's No. 295-rated defense on the road, allowing 75.2 points per game. Central Florida, meanwhile, comes in at No. 191 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for East Carolina, they were a 79-63 Sportsbook as they battled Rice on the road. They covered in the match as a 5-point favorite. Maurice Kemp poured in a team-high 33 points for East Carolina on Saturday, as they defeated Rice 79-63 at Autry Court.

Last time out for Central Florida, they were a 60-58 Sportsbook as they battled Southern Miss at home. They covered in the match as a 2.5-point underdog. The Knights grabbed a 60-58 win over the Golden Eagles on Wednesday, behind an 18 -point effort from Tristan Spurlock at UCF Arena.


East Carolina Pirates Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing UAB are 4-6
After playing Rice are 2-8
After a win are 3-7

Central Florida Knights Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Memphis are 7-3
After playing Southern Miss are 6-3
After a win are 6-4

A few Pirates at Knights trends to consider:
East Carolina is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
East Carolina is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Central Florida
Central Florida is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Central Florida is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Central Florida is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against East Carolina
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Central Florida's last 7 games


Next up:
East Carolina home to UAB, Wednesday, February 13
Central Florida at Memphis, Wednesday, February 13