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Central Florida puts 18-game win streak on the line vs Memphis

If you had to pick one game on the NCAA Division I schedule to reach the 100-point mark, this might be it. Look for the touchdowns to come fast and furious Saturday night as Central Florida puts its 18-game winning streak on the line against host Memphis. The Knights extended their incredible unbeaten streak with ease last weekend, routing Southern Methodist 48-20. The Tigers are coming off their own one-sided victory, stomping visiting UConn 55-14.

This game features plenty of intrigue as the most legitimate challenge to UCF’s winning streak this season. Not only did the Tigers come oh so close to ending the Knights’ storybook run in a 62-55 double-overtime loss in last year’s AAC title game, but Memphis has been simply outstanding at home so far in 2018, breaking the 50-point barrier in all four games while averaging a whopping 58 points at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. UCF is a modest 4.5-point favorite for this game, which has no total posted yet.

SHARK BITES
  • UCF is 11-0 SU all-time against Memphis.
  • The Knights are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 road games.
  • The OVER is 14-3 in the Tigers’ previous 17 home games.

UCF vs Memphis Game Center

You’ll be Counting by Sevens

Whatever happens in this meeting between AAC powers, there’s a good chance that each team’s score will be divisible by seven. Neither team has been all that keen on kicking field goals – and with both teams realizing they’ll need to reach their full offensive potential to win, expect to see plenty of kickoffs, but not a whole lot of other football-kicking activities.

Central Florida got a pair of second-quarter field goals from Matthew Wright in last weekend’s rout of the Mustangs, to go along with six touchdowns. That brings the Knights’ tally to 33 touchdowns against just four field goals through their first five games of the season. Memphis’ ratio is even more absurd, with the Tigers scoring 38 TDs while kicking just four field goals themselves.

Whatever you decide to do with the spread, it might be worth buying enough points to wind up on either end of the multiple of seven. For example, if you like UCF as a double-digit winner, you might consider taking them -13.5. If you like Memphis in that scenario, you could buy the Tigers at +14.5.

Memphis Droppin’ Fifties

The Tigers might not compete for a spot in an elite bowl game, but they remain one of the most prolific home teams in the nation. With their four-game streak of 50-point home performances this season, they have now broken the half-century plateau in each of their previous seven non-bowl home games; they fell 21-20 to Iowa State as the hosts at last year’s Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30.

They’ve continued their success this season with an incredibly balanced offensive attack, having averaged better than 250 rushing and passing yards, with 21 scores on the ground and 16 more through the air. Running back Darrell Henderson has four games of 170-plus rushing yards with 12 TDs, while QB Brady White has thrown 15 touchdown passes against just one interception.

The Tigers are a great bet to surpass their team total, which might actually be slightly suppressed given the quality of the opponent. But make no mistake: When Memphis is at home, it can match touchdowns with anyone.

My Pick: The Streak Ends Here

UCF’s 18-game winning streak is the stuff of legends – but it should have ended last season, with Memphis’ Riley Patterson missing the potential go-ahead field goal with 2:07 left in regulation of their double-overtime classic. The Tigers get a second chance to ruin the party and are stacked with enough talent at every offensive position to keep pace with the high-flying Knights.

There’s a decent chance both teams end up north of 50 points, so my secondary pick is this one to go OVER no matter where this total ends up. But when it comes to my main play, I like the Tigers to win this one outright, armed with one of the top home-field advantages in the nation and sufficient motivation to orchestrate the upset.

UCF is 11-0 SU all-time against Memphis. The Knights are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 road games.away The OVER is 14-3 in the Tigers’ previous 17 home games.home
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