Dredrick Snelson

Unbeaten Knights Brace for Tough Test From No. 19 Bearcats

Although the Central Florida Knights own the longest winning streak in college football, they don’t seem to get their fair share of coverage in the national media spotlight – until now. No. 11 UCF will host ESPN College GameDay for the first time in school history Saturday as the Knights (9-0 overall, 6-0 American Athletic Conference) host the No. 19 Cincinnati Bearcats (9-1, 5-1) in a clash that will determine the conference’s East Division title.

The Knights earned their 22nd consecutive victory last week with a 35-24 win over Navy, while Cincinnati stayed in contention for the AAC East title with a 35-23 victory over South Florida. UCF blasted the Bearcats 51-23 last year in a contest that was shortened due to storms, but oddsmakers have favored the Knights by just 7.5 points in this nationally televised affair.

SHARK BITES
  • Central Florida is 22-0 SU in its last 22 games (avg. winning margin: 22.95 points).
  • The UNDER is 5-1 in Central Florida’s last six games (avg. combined score: 64.33 points).
  • Cincinnati is 6-1 SU in its last seven games vs its conference.

Cincinnati vs UCF Game Center

CINCINNATI GROUND GAME COULD KEEP KNIGHTS OFFENSE OFF THE FIELD

The best way to slow down an elite offense is by keeping it off the field, and Cincinnati’s got the weapons to do just that. Bearcats sophomore running back Michael Warren II continued a banner season last week by running for three touchdowns (and catching a pass for another), setting a school record for most majors in a season. He’s also the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2012, keying a Cincinnati running game that ranks 17th in the nation with an average of 235.8 yards per outing.

Warren looks poised to continue that success against Central Florida, which allowed nearly 400 rushing yards last week against Navy’s triple option. The Midshipmen averaged nearly six yards per carry in that contest, helping Navy stay in the game into the fourth quarter. It was the second straight subpar performance for the Knights defense, which allowed 670 yards and 40 points the previous week against Temple.

UCF QUARTERBACK LOOKING SHARP AFTER INJURY

McKenzie Milton is the straw that stirs the UCF drink, so there was some serious concern about UCF’s season when the stud quarterback was forced to miss a game against East Carolina several weeks ago due to an ankle injury.

Two games later, however, Milton isn’t showing any lingering effects from the ailment. Last week against Navy, the Heisman Trophy hopeful completed 10 of his first 11 passes and finished 17-for-21 for 200 yards, a passing touchdown and two rushing majors. That marked the 22nd consecutive game in which Milton has thrown for at least one touchdown, and the 35 points UCF scored was the 22nd time in as many games that the Knights hung at least 30 on an opponent.

Milton and company will be in tough to extend that streak this week, however. Cincinnati’s defense ranks inside the top 15 in the nation in total yards, passing yards, rushing yards and points allowed per game, while the Bearcats have allowed more than 24 points in just one of their first 10 contests.

WHY I’M EXPECTING CENTRAL FLORIDA TO COVER THE NUMBER

On paper, the Bearcats look like they’ve got a great shot at the outright upset here, let alone staying inside this 7.5-point line. Cincinnati’s got the defense that can contain Milton and the powerful UCF attack, and the Bearcats running game has the potential to control the time of possession.

However, there’s one intangible that makes me love the Knights in this spot at home: motivation. UCF players and fans have complained throughout their current winning streak that they don’t get the respect they deserve, while critics have dismissed their 23-point average margin of victory as simply beating up on weak opposition.

“We want to be in that (national playoff) conversation. We want to be in it every single year,” Knights head coach Josh Huepel told reporters last week. A convincing win over Cincinnati on a national stage would help the Knights gain that respect they crave, and I think they get it.

Central Florida is 22-0 SU in its last 22 games (avg. winning margin: 22.95 points).home The UNDER is 5-1 in Central Florida’s last six games (avg. combined score: 64.33 points).home Cincinnati is 6-1 SU in its last seven games vs its conference.away
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