UCF Knights vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves Betting Preview
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando
When: Saturday, December 17, 5:30 PM ET
Line: UCF Knights (-5.5) vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves (+5.5); total: 49.0 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
College Football News and Previews
- Ohio State vs. Rutgers NCAA Football Preview - September 30, 2017
- Clemson vs. Virginia Tech NCAA Football Preview - September 30, 2017
- Arizona State vs. Stanford NCAA Football Preview - September 30, 2017
Betting on the UCF Knights (-5.5)
It hasn’t been a good season for the Knights but hey, at least they’re still going to play in a bowl game. The Knights are on the heels of a two-game losing skid, the latest being a 48-31 setback against USF, to finish the regular season with a 6-6 record overall.
The mediocre campaign, however, shouldn’t take away what the Knights’ defense has been able to do this year. The Knights passing defense, in particular, has been solid, ranking 30th nationally with only 200.4 passing yards allowed per game. The Red Wolves’ passing attack is their strength, but it’s likely to have a hard time dealing with the Knights’ secondary that has been mostly responsible why the team has 15 interceptions on the season, 14th most in the nation.
To underscore how great UCF’s pass defense has been, it has surrendered just three touchdown passes while intercepting nine in its last six outings. That’s saying a lot, considering that that stretch includes dates with Houston and Tulsa.
The Knights are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Betting on the Arkansas State Red Wolves (+5.5)
The Red Wolves started the season 0-4 but managed to get it together, winning seven of their next eight contests. In their final game before Saturday’s bowl game, the Red Wolves destroyed the Texas State Bobcats, 36-14.
Arkansas State mostly rode on its defense during its big turnaround. The Red Wolves are 24th overall in scoring defense, allowing just 22.2 points per game. They’re also 42nd nationally in total defense with 374.5 total yards surrendered per contest. UCF doesn’t boast of a tremendous offense, one that’s outside of the top 85 in the nation in both passing and rushing yards so expect ASU’s stout defense to hold its own in this game.
The pair of Chris Odom and Ja’Von Rolland-Jones is a big threat for UCF. Odom had three sacks in the win over Texas State, while Rolland-Jones has compiled fantastic numbers of 11 sacks and 19 tackles on the year.
Arkansas State is 2-0 ATS in its last two games.
Writer’s Prediction
UCF (-5.5) wins, 25-21.
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