The UCF Knights are set to play their fourth bowl game in as many years, and they are looking to win one this time after losing in last year’s Fiesta Bowl. As for the Marshall Thundering Herd, they have won a bowl game in each of the last two seasons. Will they notch another one?
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Betting Preview for the UCF Knights vs Marshall Thundering Herd NCAA Football Gasparilla Bowl Game on December 23 2019
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
When: Monday, December 23, 2019, 3:30 PM ET
Line: UCF Knights (+17.5) vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (-17.5) – view all 2019 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the UCF Knights (9-3 Overall / 6-2 Conference)
The Knights can flex some serious muscles on offense, as the South Florida Bulls found out on Nov. 29, when UCF scored a resounding 34-7 win at home. In that game, UCF’s offense was humming smoothly, gaining 307 yards through the air and 232 more on the ground, while also going 10 for 18 on third-down situations. The Knights had their way against South Florida’s hapless defense, helping build further the image of UCF as an offensive juggernaut. The Knights are sixth in the nation with 41.3 points per game and fifth with 522.3 total yards per contest. They are also stingy on defense. UFC is ninth overall with just 4.6 total yards allowed per play.
The Knights are 7-3 straight-up (SU) in their last 10 games. In addition, they are 4-6 against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games in which they were underdogs by at least 15 points.
Betting on the Marshall Thundering Herd (8-4 Overall / 6-2 Conference)
Marshall started the season on shaky ground, going 2-3 SU in their first five games of the season. But the Thundering Herd found their rhythm and got going by stitching together five wins in a row and finishing the regular season on a 6-1 SU stretch. They are coming off a heart-pounding 31-27 overtime win over the Florida International Panthers at home on Nov. 30. Marshall used its dominant run game to carve up the Panthers’ defense. Running back Brenden Knox went off for 146 rushing yards and a touchdown on 33 carries. Overall, the Thundering Herd had 200 rushing yards and three rushing scores. The Thundering Herd likes to pound the rock in the backfield and run with it. They are averaging 131.4 rushing yards per game, which sounds good, considering that the Knights are not that tough against the run.
The under is 3-0 in the Thundering Herd’s last three games. They are averaging 23.1 points per game.
Writer’s Prediction
Marshall wins, 34-24.
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