Events
NCAAF
UCF
Knights
6 - 3
BYU
Cougars
10 - 1
December 22, 2020, 7:00 PM EST
 | FAU Stadium

Game Preview

UCF
Knights
6 - 3
BYU
Cougars
10 - 1
December 22, 2020, 7:00 PM EST
 | FAU Stadium

  • Two of the country’s most prolific passers will be on display in Boca Raton when the Cougars (10-1 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) take on the Knights (6-3, 3-6). BYU’s Zach Wilson and UCF’s Dillon Gabriel both threw for more than 3,200 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. Oddsmakers expect both to shine again in this one, Sportsbook the total at an eye-popping 72.5.

    Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU
    • Date/Time: December 22, 7 p.m. ET
    • Stadium: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Fla.
    • TV Coverage: ESPN
    • Sportsbook Odds: BYU -5 | O/U 72.5 (Line History)
    • UCF vs BYU Matchup Report

    Boca Raton Bowl Odds Analysis

    There’s been plenty of early support for the Cougars, moving the point spread up to -6.5 at most sportsbooks by the time of writing Sunday night. Central Florida has been an underdog just once this season and only four times dating back to 2016, going 3-1 ATS in that span.

    Central Florida News & Notes

    Gabriel might have led the nation in passing yards if he hadn’t played two fewer games than Florida’s Kyle Trask and Alabama’s Mac Jones. Despite suiting up in just nine games, Gabriel’s 3,353 yards and 30 passing touchdowns still ranked third in the FBS. As a team, the Knights were second in the country in total offense and averaged the fifth-most points.

    However, Central Florida will be without one of its top offensive weapons in the Boca Raton Bowl as senior wideout Marlon Williams opted out of the postseason. Williams had 1,039 receiving yards and scored 10 touchdowns for UCF.

    Despite the gaudy offensive numbers, the Knights finished the season unranked after being listed as high as No. 11 earlier this year. That’s because of their defense, which has been torched for a combined 78 points in its last two games and allowed at least 34 points in five of its last seven outings. Combine that with an offense that scored 40-plus in six of nine games this year and it’s no surprise that UCF went 6-3 to the OVER this season.

    BYU News & Notes

    Wilson has enjoyed a breakout campaign, throwing for nearly as many yards (3,267) and touchdowns (30) this year as he had in his previous two seasons combined. This could be the final appearance in a Cougars uniform for the signal-caller, with speculation swirling that the junior may declare himself eligible for next year’s NFL draft. With Wilson at the helm, BYU’s offense finished the season sixth in points scored and eighth in total yards.

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    The Cougars defense might still be the team’s best unit after allowing the third-fewest points in the FBS this season and ranking ninth in total yards allowed. BYU has held five of its last six opponents to 17 points or less, and hasn’t given up more than 26 points in a game this season. However, it hasn’t faced an offense as prolific as UCF’s either.

    Betting Pick: BYU -6.5

    Of the few defensive stops we’ll likely see in this game, I trust BYU to get the majority of them. The Cougars have easily covered all three games they’ve played this season when favored by a touchdown or less, winning each by at least 17 points.

    Shark Bites
    • UCF is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games.
    • BYU is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 playoff games.
    • The OVER is 7-3 in UCF’s last 10 (avg combined score: 75.5).
Back to Matchup

Odds

Tuesday, December 22 Tue Dec 22

Opening
Current
UCF
vsFinal
BYU
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+5
-107
+180
o72.5
-107
-5
-107
-222
u72.5
-107
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+5
-115
+170
o80
-110
-5
-105
-195
u80
-110
Line History
Final

Edge Finder

34.38
 Total Score
31.31
237.15
 Passing Yards
248.46
235.69
 Rushing Yards
176.23
30:59
 Time on Field
29:10
76.54
 Number of Plays
63.85
6.27
 Yards Per Play
6.67
34.38
 Total Score
31.31
7.92
 First Quarter
8.92
8.62
 Second Quarter
7.77
7.69
 Third Quarter
8.15
10.15
 Fourth Quarter
6.00
237.15
 Passing Yards
248.46
32.00
 Pass Attempts
30.15
20.69
 Pass Completions
19.77
2.31
 Sacks
1.00
12.46
 Sack Yards
5.62
11.46
 Yards Per Pass
12.57
235.69
 Rushing Yards
176.23
44.54
 Rush Attempts
33.69
5.29
 Yards Per Rush
5.23
0.62
 Interceptions
0.54
1.46
 Fumbles
0.92
0.85
 Fumbles Lost
0.23
1.46
 Total Turnovers
0.77
5.00
 Penalties
5.77
47.85
 Penalty Yards
53.62
30:59
 Time on Field
29:10
76.54
 Number of Plays
63.85
6.27
 Yards Per Play
6.67
3.77
 Punts
3.08
41.33
 Punt Average
46.19
65.31
 Return Yards
55.92

Head To Head

UCF
 Stat Type BYU
1-1
 Record
1-1
1-1
 ATS
1-1
1-1
 O/U
1-1
24.00
 Score
24.00
72.00
 Rush Yds
158.00
41.50
 Pass Attempts
36.00
61.45
 Completion %
52.78
322.00
 Passing Yds
143.00
394
 Total Yds
301
3.50
 Turnovers
1.50
UCF
 Stat Type BYU
1-1
 Record
1-1
1-1
 ATS
1-1
1-1
 O/U
1-1
24.00
 Score
24.00
72.00
 Rush Yds
158.00
41.50
 Pass Attempts
36.00
61.45
 Completion %
52.78
322.00
 Passing Yds
143.00
394
 Total Yds
301
3.50
 Turnovers
1.50
Oct 9/14 (1 of 2)
UCF
 Stat Type BYU
Home
Away
31
 Score
24
-2.5
 ATS
+2.5
46 o
 O/U
46 u
63
 Rush Yds
189
52
 Pass Attempts
37
57.69
 Completion %
59.46
326
 Passing Yds
153
389
 Total Yds
342
4
 Turnovers
2
Sep 23/11 (2 of 2)
UCF
 Stat Type BYU
Away
Home
17
 Score
24
+1.5
 ATS
-1.5
44 o
 O/U
44 u
81
 Rush Yds
127
31
 Pass Attempts
35
67.74
 Completion %
45.71
318
 Passing Yds
133
399
 Total Yds
260
3
 Turnovers
1

Team Records

UCF
 Record BYU
6-3
 All
10-1
2-2
 Home
7-0
4-1
 Away
3-1
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
3-6
 ATS
7-3-1
1-3
 ATS Home
4-2-1
2-3
 ATS Away
3-1
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
6-3
 O/U
5-6
2-2
 O/U Home
2-5
4-1
 O/U Away
3-1
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
UCF
 Record BYU
5-3
 All
0-0
2-2
 Home
0-0
3-1
 Away
0-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
2-6
 ATS
0-0
1-3
 ATS Home
0-0
1-3
 ATS Away
0-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
5-3
 O/U
0-0
2-2
 O/U Home
0-0
3-1
 O/U Away
0-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
UCF
 Record BYU
6-3
 All
9-1
2-2
 Home
7-0
4-1
 Away
2-1
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
3-6
 ATS
6-3-1
1-3
 ATS Home
4-2-1
2-3
 ATS Away
2-1
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
6-3
 O/U
4-6
2-2
 O/U Home
2-5
4-1
 O/U Away
2-1
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0

Gametime Weather

Weather
6:00 pm EST Partly Cloudy
18ºC / 65ºF
75% Humidity
13% Precipitation
29% Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type Open
Field Image
Arrow Image 9
 mph

Trends

  • Central Florida are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of Central Florida's last 10 games.
  • Central Florida are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
  • Central Florida are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games against an opponent in the Independents (FBS) conference.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Central Florida's last 6 games played in December.
  • Central Florida are 3-15 SU in their last 18 games when playing as the underdog.
  • Brigham Young are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games.
  • Brigham Young are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games against an opponent in the American Athletic Conference conference.
  • Brigham Young are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games played in December.
  • Brigham Young are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games when playing as the favourite.

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
DeJordan MaskDBIs out for season, Undisclosed
Ja'Cari HendersonDBIs out for season, Undisclosed
Name Position Inj Desc
Hinckley RopatiRBIs out for season, Knee
Kingsley SuamataiaOLIs "?" , Undisclosed

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Nov 27, 2020USF58-46W-25/70.5L/O241336577242404646-1
Nov 21, 2020CINCY33-36L+4/65.5W/O1162433591443384820
Nov 14, 2020TEMP38-13W-28.5/72.5L/U147272419183107290-2
Oct 31, 2020HOU44-21W-3/81.5W/U353328681165269434-1
Oct 24, 2020TUL51-34W-21/71L/O267422689125215340-1
Oct 17, 2020MEM49-50L-3/77L/O1976017982174867030
Oct 3, 2020TULSA26-34L-20.5/70L/U1253304551652734380
Sep 26, 2020ECAR51-28W-28/77.5L/O224408632244215459-4
Sep 19, 2020GTECH49-21W-9.5/63.5W/O243417660227244471-3
Dec 23, 2019MARSHL48-25W-15.5/59.5W/O310277587167194361-4
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 12, 2020SDST28-14W-16.5/47.5L/U74310384169230399-1
Dec 5, 2020COAST17-22L-10.5/63L/U165240405281853661
Nov 21, 2020NALA66-14W-50/63W/O27827755549305354-3
Nov 6, 2020BOISE51-17W-5.5/63W/O21435957361249310-2
Oct 31, 2020WKU41-10W-31/52.5P/U1662444101561062620
Oct 24, 2020TXST52-14W-30/61.5W/O2273525791171502670
Oct 16, 2020HOU43-26W-3/62.5W/O784004781283104380
Oct 10, 2020UTSA27-20W-35/63L/U178292470722873590
Oct 2, 2020LTECH45-14W-24/61.5W/U18832551374239313-2
Sep 26, 2020TROY48-7W-14.5/59.5W/U192472664191621811
View Game Logs
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