Spread: OSU -18
Total: 49.5
M/L: OSU -900, UCF +650
Odds from Bookmaker
UCF Week One Recap:
Many felt the bar was set a bit high for the Knights as 24.5 point favorites last week against Akron. They were wrong. UCF spoiled Terry Bowden’s debut as Akron football coach, as Blake Bortles threw for 168 yards and 3 TDs, en route to a 56-14 Knights’ victory.
Bortles went 13 of 16 on passing and Rannell Hall scored two TDs from his passes, with 18 and 56 yard TD-receptions.
Bowden acknowledged the improbability of a Zips victory, saying, “We would have had to be about perfect to win, but we turned the ball over.”
Two of those turnovers came in the form of fumbles within 10 yards of the goal.
The Knights impressed not only in their aerial attack and on defense, but also running the ball: Lativious Murray gained 108 yards and a TD on 14 carries and he rushed 68 of UCF’s opening 73 yard drive. He was playing with a sore shoulder and the Knights still wanted to evaluate other options at back, but all signs were that Murray will be dominant this year.
UCF Week Two Injuries:
None.
OSU Week One Recap:
Braxton Miller came up huge in the Buckeyes’ 56-10 victory over Miami (OH). Miller rushed for 161 yards, which is a record for an OSU QB, and ran one for a TD while throwing 2 TDs.
The play of the game (and unarguably the week) came on a Devin Smith catch that dropped jaws. Urban Meyer said it was a “moment that ignited the stadium.” OSU was down by three in the second quarter, but it was Smith’s reception that brought the Buckeyes’ faithful to life. The one handed grab in the end zone made highlight reels. Braxton Miller said, “It looked like I was going out of bounds, I just stuck my hand up there and caught it…When we lined up, Braxton looked at me and shook his head like, “lets go!” And then we made the play.”
OSU must avoid a slow first half start against the Knights to have similar success. Though the Buckeyes are 18 point favorites according to college football oddsmakers, they must avoid getting complacent against a UCF team that is appealing its right to play in bowl games. OSU will have no such appeal and this otherwise impressive start to a season will go a bit less regarded in light of that fact.
Buckeyes Week Two Injuries:
DL M. Bennett – Questionable – groin; RB J. Hall – Out – knee; LB S. Klein – Out – suspension
UCF Betting Trends:
UNDER is 4-0-1 in Knights’ last 5 games as an underdog of 10.5 pts or greater. UNDER is 3-0-1 in last 4 games as road underdog of 10.5 or greater. UNDER is 4-0 in Knights’ last 4 games following a SU win of more than 20.
OSU Betting Trends:
UNDER is 4-0 in Buckeyes’ last 4 games as a favorite of 0.5-3.0. OVER is 4-0 in Buckeyes last 4 games after accumulating 200+ rushing yards in previous game. UNDER is 4-0 in Buckeyes’ last 4 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0
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