UCF vs. South Florida Prediction, Game Preview

The South Florida Bulls (7-4) plan to remain in the East Division hunt when they visit the UCF Knights (0-11) on Thanksgiving night. Check out the UCF vs. South Florida prediction and game preview.

UCF vs. South Florida Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Thursday, November 26
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Network: ESPN

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Why You Need To Care

In a season of memorable storylines in the American, South Florida has authored its own by winning six of the last seven to stay in the East Division hunt until the final weekend. And the Bulls are now crushing opponents, including a pretty good Cincinnati team last Friday, 65-27. USF earns a spot in the inaugural league title game with a win Thursday and a Temple loss to UConn two days later. This is winless UCF’s bowl game. And what better way to break into the win column than by derailing the title hopes of a budding rival?

Why South Florida Will Win

The Bulls have located an offense to go along with an athletic, ball-hawking D. They’ve scored 109 points in the last two games, including 44 against Temple’s D, behind a dominant, Marlon Mack-led ground game that’s taking the heat off QB Quinton Flowers. South Florida will have no issues trucking an overmatched UCF defense that’s given up at least 30 points to the last eight opponents.

Why UCF Will Win

On paper, the Knights don’t match up well with anyone, let alone a red-hot visitor from Tampa. But rivalry games have a funny way of being an equalizer for home underdogs with absolutely nothing to lose. UCF has an experienced quarterback, Justin Holman, and enough athletes on the defensive front to exploit Flowers’ shortcomings as a passer.

Player Who Matters

The Bulls are mauling opponents at the point of attack, which has helped unlock the potential of not only Mack and Flowers, but also reserve backs Darius Tice and D’Ernest Johnson. The entire O-line is excelling at run blocking, but South Florida has been especially effective running to the right side behind OT
Mak Djulbegovic and OG Dominique Threatt.

What’s Going To Happen?

If there was going to be a USF letdown, it would have happened the week following the huge win over Temple. It didn’t, a clear indication that the Bulls’ heads are where they belong. They’ll put the final nail in UCF’s winless season, pounding the Knights to force Temple to win its way to a divisional crown.