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College Football 2018: 5 reasons to be excited about Rivalry Week

By Justin Dottavio

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Camping World Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Camping World Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

4. Can UCF remain undefeated?

The Central Florida Knights are 10-0 and ranked seventh per the S&P+ and ninth per the AP Poll. UCF’s schedule has it edged out of the College Football Playoff conversation, even after their dominant win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 of 2018. UCF has a new coach in Josh Heupel and will travel west on I-4 to Tampa to face the South Florida Bulls.

The two directional Group of Five programs have had a fun rivalry over the past five years. In 2013 and 2014, UCF came out victorious over the Bulls. In 2015 and 2016, USF took the wins in the rivalry. Last season was a barn burner with the Knights emerging 49-42 over the Bulls to remain undefeated.

This year USF is 7-4 under head coach Charlie Strong and ranked 62nd per the S&P+. UCF will rely on quarterback McKenzie Milton to set the tone. Milton has throw 71 career touchdowns in just under three seasons as the starting quarterback in Orlando, Fla. On the other side of the rivalry is Blake Barnett. Barnett has been well traveled from Alabama to Arizona State and now South Florida. The former blue chip prospect has 13 career touchdowns and 12 career interceptions.

Prediction: UCF by 10

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