UAB Blazers at UCF Knights
Wednesday, 10/6/10, 8:00 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: UCF -12
Current Betting Line: UCF -12.5
Opening Total: 47
Current Total: 48.5
Current Moneyline: UCF -450/UAB +370
UAB is coming off a hard-fought, 32-29 double-overtime loss at Tennessee, after trailing 23-7 at halftime. Blazers quarterback Bryan Ellis finished with 373 yards passing in that contest, as he’s been sharing duties with David Isabelle in order to show contrasting styles to keep defenses off balance. Ellis is known as the passer in the two-quarterback system, while Isabelle is a runner. Three of the team’s four games this season have been decided on the final play of the game. UAB has gone 1-1 while racking up 1,079 yards of total offense with both signal callers sharing action after gaining just 685 in its 0-2 start. The team has also played eight true freshmen through four games this season. The Blazers are 10-11 against the college football point spread as an underdog and the total is 11-10 O/U in those contests.
The Blazers will be meeting with UCF for the eighth time and trail 1-6 in the series. UAB claimed its only victory over the Knights two years ago at Orlando with a 15-0 victory on five field goals. Defensively, the team had its best game of the season against the Volunteers, holding them to 245 total yards. It was a surprising effort when considering the unit allowed an average of 444.7 total yards of offense, including an average of 163.3 on the ground through the first three games. The squad is also fortunate that the program is one of just four FBS teams that returned its entire coaching staff for the fourth consecutive season in 2010. The Blazers are 11-7 ATS in their last 18 games following a bye week and the total is 3-0 O/U in that situation the past three years.
UCF comes in with an even 2-2 record and narrowly lost both of its games to NC State (28-21) and Kansas State (17-13) by a combined total of 11 points. The Knights made an instant change at quarterback this season, as freshman Jeff Godfrey has started the last two games after relieving junior Rob Calabrese in the second half against North Carolina State. Godfrey has thrown for only 222 yards in his two starts, completing 23 of 42 passes and also rank for 133 yards. “It’s a learning experience and we’re working like heck to get it done,” he said. “We can try to simplify, simplify, but it’s also easier for the other side of the ball.” Offensively, the team has led in time of possession in 13 of the 16 quarters it has played this year and is averaging 33:36 time of possession, which ranks eighth best in the nation. The squad is 17-9 ATS in its last 26 games overall.
The Knights are looking to extend their winning streak in Conference USA to seven games and they’ve also won their last six conference games last season. UCF has relied heavily on its stop unit, ranking ninth nationally in pass defense and 10th in total defense over the first five weeks of the season. The defense has ranked in the top two in scoring defense in the conference each year dating back to 2007. Through four games, UCF has allowed just 1,057 yards of total offense, which is the lowest amount by the defense in the FBS era (since 1996.). The total is 3-8 O/U in the Knights last 11 home games.
Bettors will be interested in examining the Blazers 2-5 ATS mark in their last seven games as an underdog of 10.5 points or more, while the Knights are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a bye week.
Maddux Sports is currently on a 70% college pick run. We are still looking at this game at the time of publish but could possibly release a play on tonights game in the morning. Be sure to check out our college football picks page and get on board for not only Wednesday’s play but our Saturday package which includes a 20 unit game of the year pick.
