CFB odds: A historic year on the field and on the betting board came for the UCF Knights in their first year as members of the American Athletic Conference. The Knights upset the preseason AAC favorite, Louisville, and then went on to represent the conference in style with a BCS win over Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl to cap off a 12-1 season. This year the Knights are the overwhelming choice to win the AAC once again but the league has lost its automatic bid for a BCS game which could leave the Knights on the outside looking in come playoff selection time. UCF opened as a 75/1 field choice to win the BCS national championship.
Bortles Big Shoes
Record-setting QB Blake Bortles has departed and that leaves a potentially major void to fill on offense. Sophomore Justin Holman is expected to become the starter and will have 6 starters returning including the top three receivers. The Knights will have a strong defense with nine starters returning.
Handicapping Notes
UCF has covered the spread in 13 out of their last 20 games at home with 14 out of those 20 home games going under the total. On the other hand the Knights have lost 12 out of their last 20 games against the spread on the road with just five out of their last 18 road games going under the total. UCF has come away with the money in eight out of their last 14 games as a favorite with eight out of their last 10 games as a chalk going under the total. UCF has been a dangerous underdog with 14 payouts in their last 20 games as a pup with six out of their last nine games as a dog going over the total.
Our Prognosis
Head coach George O’Leary will enter his 11th season at the helm and has built a virtual expansion team into a potential, national power. The Knights will have the added responsibility of carrying the banner for the AAC and their goal of being included with the “Power Five” conferences in the future in this new era of the four team playoff. It should be another banner season for UCF.
