UCF football: 3 bold predictions vs. Cincinnati in Week 12

1. Dillon Gabriel throws for 400 yards

Make no mistake about it, Dillon Gabriel is the best quarterback in the AAC and should be in the Heisman conversation. His 2,774 yards passing is second in the country to SMU’s Shane Buechele (2,781) but has played in two less games. His 396.3 yards per game is the most in the country by a wide margin, which has led to 23 touchdown passes on the season.

Remember, that’s on a UCF team that typically sits on the ball in the fourth quarter. His numbers would be much larger if the Knights played close games.

Now, waiting for him is a strong Cincinnati secondary. The Bearcats are going to play tight coverage on the Knights, and will be creative in how they pressure Gabriel. It will require that Gabriel improve on one of the few parts of his game that he struggles at times, pocket awareness. That isn’t to say he doesn’t know when pressure is coming, just that he sometimes steps into pressure, rather than away from it.

Looking to avenge a loss from last season, Gabriel is more than ready to take on this dominant Cincinnati defense, and given that this will be a close game Gabriel will be throwing all day long. Those yards are going to add up.