BYU vs. UCF: Preview and Predictions for Week 9 College Football Clash

The No. 11 BYU Cougars, undefeated at 7-0, are set to face the UCF Knights in a pivotal Big 12 matchup on Saturday, October 26. The game, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida, promises to be a closely contested affair.

BYU, led by junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff, has been impressive this season, with wins over notable teams like Kansas State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State. Retzlaff has accumulated 1,642 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, along with 265 rushing yards and two additional scores. The Cougars have averaged 34.9 points per game and have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games.

UCF, on the other hand, has struggled lately, losing four consecutive games after starting the season 3-0. Despite their recent woes, the Knights nearly upset No. 9 Iowa State last week, losing 38-35. Senior running back RJ Harvey has been a standout, with 890 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Sophomore quarterback Jacurri Brown, who took over as the starter two weeks ago, adds a dual-threat dimension to the offense with his rushing abilities.

Analytical models predict a tight game. The SP+ prediction model favors BYU to win by a projected score of 30-26, with the Cougars having a 58% chance of outright victory. However, the College Football Power Index (FPI) gives UCF a slight edge, projecting the Knights to win in 54% of simulations, with UCF being just 1.6 points better than BYU.

From a betting perspective, UCF is favored by 2.5 points, with the over/under set at 53.5 points. Despite being favored, 79% of bets are on BYU to either win or keep the game within the narrow spread.

The game will be televised nationally by ESPN, and the atmosphere at FBC Mortgage Stadium, known as the “Bounce House,” is expected to be intense. The Knights are looking to turn their season around and could play loose and free, while the pressure is on BYU to maintain their undefeated status and stay in the Big 12 title race.