UPDATE: This game has now been cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. We wish everyone in Florida the best during this historic storm.
Start Time: As a result of Hurricane Irma, the game’s been moved earlier to Friday, September 8 at 6:30 PM.
TV: ESPNU, not ESPNews as originally scheduled (this was a recent update - even UCF’s game notes are out of date on this).
Live Coverage: AM 740/FM 96.9 The Game, ucfknights.co/FBLiveStats17 for live stats.
Location: Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, FL
Betting: Memphis is ever so-slightly the underdog at +3.
The Series: UCF has a dominating
historical lead at 9-1. But the Tigers and the Knights haven’t played
since 2013 (Justin Fuente’s second season as the Tiger’s head coach).
UCF needed a pair of fumble recoveries for touchdowns in a nine second
span to win that game, 24-17. The second one looked like this:
Memphis Outlook: Weather played a major
role in the production for the Tigers last week. Rain and wind prevented
Memphis from gaining much traction through the air, but the running
game picked up the slack. Darrell Henderson
and Patrick Taylor each surpassed the 100 yard mark on the ground in
the absence of Doroland Dorceus. Under circumstances that made the
offense predictable, this duo behind an impressive offensive line gave
the Tigers another weapon on offense.
Quarterback Riley Ferguson wasn’t given
many attempts to throw the ball, and produced just 97 yards because of
that. This is not indicative of the passing game, and Ferguson will get
an opportunity to prove that. His receivers are also dangerous, and we
saw what Tony Pollard can do on special teams as well.
The defense was looking to find new starters last week,
and will be starting all over at certain spots this week due to
injuries. Multiple defensive players sustained injuries that will keep
them out of this game or longer. Jackson Dillon will miss this game, and his status for the future is unknown for now. Jared Gentry and Darian Porter
were also injured last week, and will miss the remainder of the season.
On top of that, Jonathan Wilson must sit out the first half due to a
targeting penalty he was assessed in the second half. This is a group
that needs to improve, but took big hits to its depth and starting
rotations.
Special teams may provide the Knights a scare, as Pollard
is one of the best kick returners in the nation. His 99 yard kick
return against the Warhawks earned him AAC Special Teams Player of the
Week.
The forecast projects rain once again for the Tigers, but
that might play into their favor. They already have experience playing
in these conditions, and that might be the edge they need.
UCF Outlook: The Knights looked great last week demolishing a clearly-overmatched FIU team. Sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton
displayed significant development from last season, and had an
impressive stat line despite how early the game was in hand (16/21, 360
yards passing, 4 TDs). The Panthers aren’t a good team, but the
tremendous performance by the Knights’ offense did much to soothe worries about how much better the offense would be than 2016.
This looked scarier for the Knights before the season
started, especially given the question marks surrounding the cornerback
position. The emergence of Mike Hughes
last week - only thirteen days into his tenure with the program - helps
solidify a position group that seemed week. Hughes came in after Chris Johnson
got burned on a seventy-five yard touchdown pass (it was, in fairness, a
perfectly thrown ball), and proved a steady hand at a position that
needed one. Unless weather plays a significant role for Memphis (again),
expect the UCF secondary to be tested early and often.
The Knights will also benefit from the Tigers’ depleted
defense. There’s a great opportunity here for UCF’s young and promising
players at the skill positions.
Predictions:
Joey Broback: If the weather
results in rain, I like Memphis. UCF struggled to run the ball in good
conditions against FIU, and rainy conditions would force them to run
more. My answer would change if the was nice, but I’m guessing it will
be poor playing conditions once again. Memphis wins 21-17.
Chas Short: I see a UCF win here. I’ve become
more secure in how the defense has reloaded and replaced so many of last
year’s starters. Memphis’s tighter than expected game last week is
probably a bit of an aberration, but I still expect the Knights to be a
bit better. I’ll assume it to be a tight game with a lot of offense, and
call it 38-35.
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