UCF football looking to add to resume on road at Pittsburgh in Week 4

UCF football has been rolling through three games, outscoring opponents 155-41. Can the Knights keep that going against a tough Pitt team?

The UCF Knights have been one of the darlings of the early season, running to a 3-0 record behind a freshman quarterback and strong defense. This makes an interesting matchup against Pitt, who battled on the road at Penn State last week, ultimately falling just short in a 17-10 loss.

This game pits a strong pass rush against a very good offensive line. Pittsburgh is currently in the top ten in the country with 12 sacks through the first three games. Sophomore Jaylen Twyman has led the way with 4.5 sacks through three games, and he goes up against a UCF offensive line that has only allowed one sack through three games.

The UCF offense has been impressive because of that offensive line. They average 11 yards per pass and nearly six yards per carry. It creates an intriguing match up of strengths, and one team will have to win that battle in the trenches.

Here’s how to watch the game:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: Pittsburgh, Penn.
Venue: Heinz Field
TV: ESPN 2, ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

The keys to the victory are simple: Pitt has to be able to slow down the game. The Panthers haven’t been able to score over 20 points yet this season, and there’s no chance they’re going win a shoot out with UCF. The Knights have a top-five passing and rushing offense, plus is No. 13 in total defense. If UCF scores early, it could be a long night for the Panthers in order to play catch up.

On the flip side, UCF has to keep doing what they do best. They have a fantastic offense, and have to keep Dillon Gabriel standing up in the pocket. With a superior talent advantage, and they’ll have to attack with their weapons in the back field and Gabriel Davis.

Pitt features a heavy passing team, and that plays right into the UCF defensive strength. Antwan Collier and Richie Grant are one of the best safety duos in the country and Nevelle Clark, Tay Gowan and Aaron Robinson also are major contributors to the UCF secondary. They’ll have to frustrate the Panthers passing game.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Bovada

Line: UCF -11
Over/Under: 61.5

UCF and 11 points is the best pick here, as the Knights can easily score first and turn this into a shootout that Pitt can’t keep up with. I expect the Knights to be able to move the ball much more effectively than Penn State, and I think they cover. The over/under is tough, as that score is expecting UCF to score 40. While they might get there, you might have to sweat that over line.

Prediction

Pittsburgh’s strengths play right into the hands of the Knights. The Panthers have a great pass rush, but are pretty average defending the run and below average running the ball. That level of predictability is tough to beat what I think is a top 10 team. I think the Knights score first and make this a difficult contest for the Panthers.

Final Score: UCF 35, Pitt 20