UCF Football: 5 bold predictions for Knights in October 2019
By Zach Bigalke
5. Cincinnati is going to push UCF to the brink
UCF opens the new month with a showdown against divisional rival Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium. The venue is not going to be dressed all in black, unfortunately, after the school confirmed that their big social-media reveal was just that: nothing more than a stunt to drum up attention for the showdown against the Knights.
We hear you, #Bearcats!
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) October 1, 2019
There were so many great ideas for this week’s field paint, we decided to just combine them all together - and it is something special.
Huge thank you to everyone for the input! Can’t wait to see this place rocking for #NippAtNight. pic.twitter.com/RSvHc3WQD7
Though we won’t be treated to what would have been the craziest field design in college football, this battle between the Bearcats and UCF needed no extra window dressing.
Like UCF, Cincinnati has just one loss on their record that came against a Power Five opponent. And one could argue that losing 42-0 against Ohio State in Columbus is a higher-quality defeat than falling 35-34 against Pitt at Heinz Field.
Desmond Ridder is going to test UCF’s secondary that ranks eighth nationally in opponent passing efficiency, and Michael Warren II will find his yards as the offensive line pushes the Knights front seven at the point of attack.
On the other side of the ball, Cincinnati has a defense that will find its match in Dillon Gabriel and the deep stable of running backs. This is going to be a shootout that will end with UCF barely ahead. The Knights will prevail to move to 5-1 before their bye week, but it is going to be a rough battle that will require the break.