UCONN Hosts Central Florida (21) to Open Season

Can Central Florida Do it Again?

The 21st ranked Central Florida Knights and the UCONN Huskies will meet at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. This Thursday Night matchup will kick off the season for both teams. ESPNU has the kickoff at 7 pm. Oddsmakers opened the Knights as -16.5-point favorites versus the Huskies, while the game’s total opened at 69.5. The line is now Central Florida as 24-point favorites. The total is now 70. Central Florida will be hard-pressed to match its magical undefeated 2017 season. The Knights begin a new campaign in the American Athletic Conference expecting to make noise again. After losing Head Coach Scott Frost it will be tough. Former Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Heupel takes over as coach. The Black Knights have won three of the five previous meetings. They had a 49-24 triumph last year in Orlando, Fla.

UCONN Looks to Improve in 2018

Coach Randy Edsall begins the second season of his second stint with the Huskies. He needs to replace nine starters on defense. He has told reporters this freshman class may be the best he has ever had at UConn. The Huskies’ offense is more seasoned with senior David Pindell taking over full time at quarterback. He passed for more than 200 yards in the last three games of 2017, including 201 against UCF. Edsall told reporters of Pindell: “He seems a lot faster, looks a lot faster than what he was a year (ago). Not a guy that talks a lot, but the kid is really respected, and he’s a hard worker.” The Huskies return their top rusher in sophomore Kevin Mensah. He had 561 yards and four TDs. Redshirt freshman Zavier Scott from Texas was listed as the starter on this week’s depth chart. Senior Hergy Mayala had 43 catches, 615 yards, and seven TDs in 2017. He keys the receiving corps that includes five players (also tight end Aaron McLean and wideouts Keyion Dixon, Quayvon Skanes and Tyraiq Beals) who registered at least 30 receptions last season.

Central Florida Has New Coach, but Plenty of Talent

Missouri finished in the top 10 in the nation for total offense last year under Heupel. Heupel is a former Oklahoma quarterback that excelled at his position. McKenzie Milton should prosper despite losing his top receiver Tre’Quan Smith to the NFL. It will be tough to match a 13-0 season. Junior All-Conference center Jordan Johnson anchors the offensive line for the Knights. They return sophomore Otis Anderson and junior Adrian Killins Jr., who had 790 rushing yards, at running back.  Junior receiver Dredrick Snelson is back. He had 46 catches, 695 yards, and eight TDs. New defensive coordinator Randy Shannon must replace some key people. Senior linebacker Pat Jasinski had 104 tackles. Senior safety Kyle Gibson had four interceptions. They are expected to lead Shannon’s defense. Junior quarterback McKenzie Milton, who was eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting last year, leads the way for 23rd-ranked UCF. Prediction: UCF 42, UCONN 21

Recent Form

Yards Per Pass

Central Florida Knights

UCONN Huskies

Supergrid

Title	Stat	Rank	Stat	Rank
Away Team Overall Scoring vs Home Team Overall Defense	48.23	1	37.92	121
Away Team Road Passing vs Home Team Home Passing Defense	282.67	22	338.71	128
Awy Team Road Rushing vs Home Team Home Rushing Defense	190.00	36	200.86	106
Home Team Overall Scoring vs Away Team Overall Defense	23.58	102	25.31	52
Home Team Home Passing vs Away Team Road Passing Defense	288.00	31	236.50	69
Hme Team Home Rushing vs Away Team Road Rushing Defense	146.57	96	149.17	36

Head To Head Summary

Head To Head Detail

NCAA Football Betting and Odds Trends

UCF Knights
Central Florida is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Central Florida’s last 5 games
Central Florida is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Central Florida is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Central Florida’s last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Central Florida’s last 5 games when playing Connecticut

UCONN Huskies
Connecticut is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Connecticut is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games
Connecticut is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Connecticut’s last 7 games
Connecticut is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games at home
Connecticut is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Connecticut’s last 20 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Connecticut’s last 5 games when playing Central Florida

Central Florida Knights

UCONN Huskies

Next up: UCF home to South Carolina State Saturday, September 8 UCONN at Boise State Saturday, September 8 Get Your Early Bird Promo with a 200% Bonus + Game Changing Tokens at BetPhoenix!!!