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UCF Football: 3 bold predictions for Knights’ only power 5 game of season

By Jacob Ellerbee

Sep 2, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn looks on during warms up before the game against the Boise State Broncos at Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn looks on during warms up before the game against the Boise State Broncos at Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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College Football: Central Florida Knights take on Louisville in Week 3
(Mike Watters USA TODAY Sports.) /

The Central Florida Knights are one of several college football teams that kickstarted the conference realignment bonanza. They may have an agreement in place to join the Big 12 football conference by 2023, but they are still playing in the American Athletic Conference until a deal is brokered to leave early.

UCF football (2-0) is preparing to take on Louisville (1-1) in the Knights’ only scheduled game of the season against a team from a Power 5 conference.

Expect UCF football junior QB Dillon Gabriel to continue his stellar start to the season. Gabriel is currently ranked 14th in the country for total passing yards (630 yards) and tied for 7th for touchdown passes (6) through the first two weeks of the college football season.

Central Florida will travel to Louisville to take on the Cardinals on Sept. 17 at 7:30 PM EST on ESPN.

Let’s take a look at three bold predictions you can expect in this AAC and ACC matchup.

3. Crowd noise will be a factor for UCF in this weeknight college football game

The 55,000 seats at Cardinal Stadium will likely be packed for this primetime nationally televised game between one of the best non-power 5 schools in the country and one of the best scoring offenses in the country, historically speaking.

“It’s usually really loud [at Cardinal Stadium], so we’re going to have to handle the crowd noise first and we’ll do that this week,” Malzahn said in comments captured by the Orlando Sentinel.

The Knights will need to work out any kinks with their play calling, timing, and cadences in this game. It will likely be their most hostile environment they’ll face before taking on the No. 8 Cincinnati Bearcats next month. Expect UCF to utilize the silent snap count and hand signals in this game if the crowd is a difference-maker in this game.

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