UCF vs N CAROLINA
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 15, 2018
Where: Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

TV: 12:00 PM
LINE: 14.5
PREDICTION: N CAROLINA , UCF

Oddsmakers currently have the N CAROLINA listed as 14.5 point favorites versus the UCF, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.5.

CANCELED

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UCF vs CONNECTICUT
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, August 30, 2018
Where: Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut

TV: 7:00 PM
LINE: 23
PREDICTION: CONNECTICUT , UCF

Oddsmakers currently have the CONNECTICUT listed as 23 point favorites versus the UCF, while the game’s total is sitting at 73.

Central Florida may be hard-pressed to match its magical undefeated 2017 season, but the Knights begin a new campaign Thursday night at Connecticut in an American Athletic Conference battle expecting to make noise again. Junior quarterback McKenzie Milton, who was eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting last year, leads the way for 23rd-ranked UCF and former Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Heupel takes over as coach.

“Every quarter or every phase of our offseason has gotten better and better,” Heupel, who replaced Scott Frost after he moved on to Nebraska, told reporters. “There’s a little bit of uneasiness, naturally, when you go into a new phase because they don’t know exactly what to expect. … and they’ve transitioned really well.” Milton threw for 37 touchdowns and ran for another eight last season as the Knights averaged a nation-best 48.2 points, capped by a 34-27 Peach Bowl victory over Auburn, and he still has plenty of weapons to use against an inexperienced UConn defense. Coach Randy Edsall begins the second season of his second stint with the Huskies and needs to replace nine starters on defense, but has told reporters this freshman class may be the best he has ever had at UConn. The Huskies’ offense is more seasoned with senior David Pindell taking over full time at quarterback after he passed for more than 200 yards in the last three games of 2017, including 201 against UCF.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: UCF -23

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (2017: 13-0): Missouri finished in the top 10 in the nation for total offense last year under Heupel, a former Oklahoma quarterback, and Milton should prosper despite losing his top receiver Tre’Quan Smith to the NFL. Junior All-Conference center Jordan Johnson anchors the offensive line for the Knights, who return sophomore Otis Anderson and junior Adrian Killins Jr. (790 rushing yards) at running back along with junior receiver Dredrick Snelson (46 catches, 695 yards, eight TDs). New defensive coordinator Randy Shannon must replace some key people, but senior linebacker Pat Jasinski (104 tackles) and senior safety Kyle Gibson (four interceptions) are back to lead.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (2017: 3-9): Edsall told reporters of Pindell: “He seems a lot faster, looks a lot faster than what he was a year (ago). Not a guy that talks a lot, but the kid is really respected, and he’s a hard worker.” The Huskies return their top rusher in sophomore Kevin Mensah (561 yards, four TDs), but redshirt freshman Zavier Scott from Texas was listed as the starter on this week’s depth chart. Senior Hergy Mayala (43 catches, 615 yards, seven TDs in 2017) keys the receiving corps that includes five players (also tight end Aaron McLean and wideouts Keyion Dixon, Quayvon Skanes and Tyraiq Beals) who registered at least 30 receptions last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. UCF WR Tre Nixon is added to the mix after transferring from Ole Miss where he spent two seasons – one as a redshirt.

2. UConn sophomore CB Tyler Coyle is the top returnee on defense after recording two interceptions and 67 tackles in 2017.

3. The Knights have won three of the five previous meetings, including a 49-24 triumph last year in Orlando, Fla.

PREDICTION: UCF 48, UConn 21

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Cincinnati Bearcats vs UCF Knights
When: 3:00 PM  ET, Sunday, February 26, 2017
Where: CFE Federal Credit Union Arena, Orlando, Florida

TV: 3 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
LINE: 4.5
PREDICTION: Cincinnati 80, UCF 61

Oddsmakers currently have the Cincinnati listed as 4.5 point favorites versus the UCF, while the game’s total is sitting at 123.5.

Even when No. 16 Cincinnati coasts to victory, coach Mick Cronin and his players have to find something they can improve upon to keep sharp for the upcoming American Athletic Conference tournament and Big Dance. The Bearcats look to improve upon a poor second-half effort last time out when they seek a 19th win in 20 games when they visit Central Florida on Sunday.

Cincinnati raced out to a 24-point first-half lead and led Memphis by 19 at the half Thursday before allowing the Tigers to shoot 58 percent after the break (54.4 for the game) and draw within six before posting an 87-74 victory. “The energy just wasn’t there (in the second half) and communication when we got back on defense,” said Cincinnati forward Gary Clark, who had 13 points and nine rebounds. “If you want to make a deep run in March, you can’t take any half off. We just can’t coast like that in the second half. We have to keep our foot on the pedal and keep pushing.” The Bearcats didn’t lack for defense against UCF on Feb. 8, holding the Knights to 40 percent shooting, including 3-of-15 from beyond the arc, and forcing 16 turnovers in a 60-50 win. All five Knights starters scored in double figures Wednesday at Temple, and the team came back from 11 points down in the second half to pull off a 71-69 triumph – their third straight after dropping six of seven.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (25-3, 14-1 AAC): Junior forward Kyle Washington scored 16 points against Memphis, sophomore guard Jacob Evans added 15 and senior guard Troy Caupain tallied 12 to go along with seven assists. Washington (13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds) had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in 33 minutes in the first contest against the Knights. Clark (10.3 points, eight rebounds, 1.3 blocks) is averaging 11.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in seven games this month.

ABOUT UCF (18-10, 9-7): Sophomore guard B.J. Taylor (16.7 points, 3.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds) led the way against Temple with 19 points, while 7-6 sophomore Tacko Fall (11.9 points, 9.7 rebounds) collected 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Knights turned it over a season-low nine times. Fall has 272 rebounds, most by a Knight since the school joined Division I, while his 73.6 field-goal percentage is second-best in school history behind only his 75-percent mark from last season. Currently in sixth place, UCF is looking to hold off Memphis (8-6) in the final two games to secure one of the five first-round byes in the AAC tournament.

TIP-INS
1. Cincinnati leads the all-time series 8-0, with seven of those wins coming since both teams joined the AAC.
2. UCF hasn’t beaten a ranked foe since a 68-63 decision over Connecticut on Nov. 25, 2011.
3. The Bearcats’ 25-3 record through 28 games is the best during Cronin’s 11-year tenure.

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UCF Knights vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves
When: 5:30 PM ET, Saturday, December 17, 2016
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN.
LINE: Central Florida –5.5
PREDICTION: UCF 27, Arkansas State 21

Oddsmakers currently have the Knights listed as 4-point favorites versus the Red Wolves, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.

The two best defensive players in their respective conferences will be featured when Arkansas State and Central Florida clash in the AutoNation Cure Bowl on Saturday.

Kickoff at Camping World Stadium in Orlando is at 5:30 p.m. ET (CBS).

Defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones was the Sun Belt Conference’s overall Player of the Year for the Red Wolves (7-5).

“I think any time a defensive player is picked as Player of the Year it’s a little bit surprising,” Wolves coach Blake Anderson said. “It doesn’t happen that often.”

Rolland-Jones tied for the Sun Belt lead in tackles for a loss with 18 1/2 and had 11 1/2 sacks (second). Just a junior, he already has become the program’s career leader in tackles for loss with 28 1/2.

For the Knights (6-6), junior Shaquem Griffin, a first-time starter at linebacker after being moved from the secondary, was American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league and was 10th in the FBS in sacks with an average of 0.92 per game (11 total). He had 19 tackles for loss along with an interception and six pass breakups.

“To be Named Defensive Player of the Year is unbelievable,” he said. “I couldn’t have dreamed of this.”

Griffin was just one of four players who keyed the defensive surge that helped the Knights to a six-win improvement after their winless 2015 campaign. His twin brother, senior cornerback Shaquill Griffin, was named second team all-defense along with junior nose guard Jamiyus Pittman. Senior safety Drico Johnson was honorable mention.

Defensive end Chris Odom, offensive tackle Jemar Clark, and defensive back Money Hunter were first-team all-Sun Belt for Arkansas State. The Red Wolves will be without defensive tackle Waylon Roberson because of a knee injury.

The bowl will be a virtual home game for the Knights, who play in Bright House Networks Stadium on campus.

“I think it’s wonderful that we get to play right here in the great city of Orlando,” first-year coach Scott Frost said. “I think it’s going to give us an opportunity to have a lot of fans.”

Anderson, whose team won seven of its last eight games to gain at least a share of the Sun Belt title for the fifth time in the last six years, said his players were excited when they learned their destination.

“Great way to finish up a season, back-to-back championships,” Anderson said. “To recover from 0-and-4, this is going to be a great opportunity. Big challenge as well.”

Sophomore quarterback Justice Hansen leads the Red Wolves offense. He passed for over 209 yards per game with 16 touchdowns in his first year as a starter. Sophomore running back Warren Wand led the rushing with 867 yards.

UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton (200.9 passing yards per game) made nine starts as a true freshman. Running backs Jawon Hamilton, also a true freshman, and Dontravious Wilson rushed for 481 and 463 yards, respectively.

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Those defections forced the Big East to scrap its planned home-and-away opponents, which was announced in December. A new list of opponents was released on Friday.

League members will play eight Big East games, facing every school except one. Big East teams that will not play each other in 2013: UCF and Cincinnati; UConn and Houston; Louisville and SMU; Memphis and Rutgers; and USF and Temple.

Six Big East schools were scheduled to play both Boise State and San Diego State and had both games replaced in the new schedule.

The biggest beneficiary of the new matchups appears to be Louisville, which is expected to be a preseason top-10 team next season. Instead of playing at Boise State and hosting San Diego State, Louisville will play at Temple and host Houston.

Every school’s conference opponents were altered by the new schedule with the exception of USF.

Instead of playing the Broncos and Aztecs, Temple plays Cincinnati and Louisville; SMU plays Rutgers and Cincinnati; Memphis plays UCF and UConn; Houston plays Cincinnati and Louisville; Louisville plays Temple and Houston; and Cincinnati plays SMU and Temple.

Game dates are expected to be announced in a few months, but the team’s home and away opponents are as follows:

UCF:
• Home: UConn, Houston, Rutgers, USF.
• Away: Louisville, Memphis, SMU, Temple.

Cincinnati
• Home: UConn, Louisville, SMU, Temple.
• Away: Houston, Memphis, Rutgers, USF.

UConn
• Home: Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers, USF.
• Away: UCF, Cincinnati, SMU, Temple.

Houston
• Home: Cincinnati, Memphis, SMU, USF.
• Away: UCF, Louisville, Rutgers, Temple.

Louisville
• Home: UCF, Houston, Memphis, Rutgers.
• Away: Cincinnati, UConn, USF, Temple.

Memphis
• Home: UCF, Cincinnati, SMU, Temple.
• Away: UConn, Houston, Louisville, USF.

Rutgers
• Home: Cincinnati, Houston, USF, Temple.
• Away: UCF, UConn, Louisville, SMU.

SMU
• Home: UCF, UConn, Rutgers, Temple.
• Away: Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis, USF.

USF
• Home: Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, SMU.
• Away: UCF, UConn, Houston, Rutgers.

Temple
• Home: UCF, UConn, Houston, Louisville.
• Away: Cincinnati, Memphis, Rutgers, SMU.

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