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UCF Football: Can Knights win big against a struggling UConn team?

By Gavin Jernigan

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Dillon Gabriel #11 of the UCF Knights passes in the first quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on September 21, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Dillon Gabriel #11 of the UCF Knights passes in the first quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on September 21, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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UCF football looks to rebound from a devastating lost to Pittsburgh as it hosts the UConn Huskies. Let’s take a quick preview of the game.

Entering Week 4, the UCF Knights were the clear-cut dominant Group of Five team in all of college football. However, after a tough 35-34 loss in Pittsburgh to the Panthers, there are serious doubts about how good the Knights really are. UCF fell down to the 22nd spot in the AP Top 25 and Boise State, Memphis, and other Group of Five teams slowly creep into the spotlight.

Week 5 is an opportunity for the Knights to regain this attention as they face one of the worst team’s in their division.

Frankly, the UConn Huskies may be worse than many of the FCS teams that take on FBS schools each year. UConn is 1-2 so far this year, with their lone win coming to Wagner. However, the Huskies only loss to Illinois by a total of eight points, which is much better than many predicted.

The Knights will be looking to take the first steps in establishing a new winning streak and winning big in their first conference game of 2019.

Here’s how to watch this Week 5 matchup between UCF and UConn:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 28
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Venue: Spectrum Stadium
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

Well, there’s not much the UCF Knights need to do to win this game except not completely implode and forfeit. Given that the game is at home for the Knights, there won’t be much opportunity for the Huskies to gain momentum and retain it for long periods of time. Furthermore, the Huskies are nowhere near the level of talent or athleticism of even the entire second-string offense and defense of UCF.

Speaking of second-string, it would behoove Josh Heupel to continue to work both Brandon Wimbush and Dillon Gabriel. At this point in the season, it makes the most sense to continue to give Gabriel the vast majority of the reps, whether he actually is the best player at the position. For now, he is the future. Yet, as we saw last year with McKenzie Milton, anything can happen on any given play, and Wimbush needs to be ready.

The Knights have a long season ahead of them with plenty of bright spots left to be had. These times will only be brighter if UCF has a backup quarterback that is ready to fill in without missing any beats.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: -43.5 UCF
Over/Under: 65

Prediction

The UCF Knights will look to run up the score against UConn without any mercy. They need to put on a show to their fans, who are the driving force behind this incredible ride that the Knights have been on over the past two seasons.

Next. Ranking college football's top 50 fanbases. dark

Additionally, UCF will want to prove to the college football world that they are still the top Group of Five team, which will be essential at the end of the regular season when bowl games come around. The Knights deserve to be in a New Year’s Six Bowl and will need to show the College Football Playoff Committee that the Pitt loss isn’t perfectly indicative of this team’s ability to compete with other Power Five schools.

Final Score: UConn 7, UCF 52

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