AAC Football

The UConn football team set an unfortunate record on Saturday in a 57-7 loss to Temple, as the Huskies officially broke Division I-FBS records for the most points and yards allowed over the course of one season.

For the year, UConn allowed 605 points, which beat East Carolina's previous record of 572, per Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com. That mark was set in 2010.

The Huskies also broke Kansas' 2015 FBS record for yards allowed per game. The Jayhawks' mark was 560.8, and UConn topped that by over 50 with 617.4 yards given up per contest.

UConn also allowed 49 or more points in 10 of 12 matchups. The team's lone win was a 56-49 victory over Division I-FCS Rhode Island, a 6-5 team that finished its regular season unranked.

Brett McMurphy of Stadium Network posted an unfortunate stat regarding UConn's points allowed:

https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1066475645822210048

Alex Putterman of the Hartford Courant did as well:

With Temple's latest field goal, UConn has allowed 50.41 points per game this season.

That is the highest total for any FBS college football since the end of World War I.

— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) November 24, 2018

The offense wasn't much better, as the team failed to score more than 21 points in nine of its 11 games against FBS opponents. Overall, UConn was outscored by 28.25 points.

UConn football has not finished with a winning record since 2010, when the team went 8-5, won the Big East and lost the Fiesta Bowl to Oklahoma. Since then, the Huskies have gone 28-69 in eight seasons under four head coaches.

Edsall, who was the team's coach for UConn's 33-19 stretch from 2007 to 2010 before leaving for Maryland, returned to his old team's sideline in 2017. While he's just two seasons into his second tenure at UConn, the Huskies' football program has hit rock bottom at this point.

The silver lining is that Edsall has found success before in Storrs, so perhaps the team will improve in time.

Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver continues to have lingering knee issues. 

Per Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle, Cougars head coach Major Applewhite said Oliver's knee started bothering him during Friday's 52-31 loss against Memphis. 

The MMQB's Albert Breer noted Oliver sat out the entire second half of the game. 

Oliver reacted to the injury after the game:

SETBACKS AFTER SETBACKS I’m just tryna be great that it Lord

— Ed Oliver (@Edoliver_11) November 23, 2018

Oliver was in the starting lineup for the first time since Oct. 20 against Navy. He suffered a bruised right knee after getting blocked low in the fourth quarter of Houston's 49-36 win. 

Per Duarte, Applewhite added Oliver suffered a setback trying to recover from his initial injury leading up to a game against SMU on Nov. 3 that set his timetable back two to three weeks.

Now in his junior season, Oliver has been instrumental in Houston's success over the past two years. He tallied 38.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks combined between 2016 and 2017, winning the Bill Willis Trophy as the nation's top defensive lineman as a freshman.

Despite missing the past four games, Oliver still showed his ability to dominate with 13.5 tackles for loss and three sacks entering Friday. 

In addition to Oliver's importance to the Cougars, the 20-year-old declared for the 2019 NFL draft in March. He is expected to be one of the top picks, with B/R's Matt Miller ranking him as the No. 2 overall prospect. 

Since becoming conference rivals, Central Florida is 3-2 straight up in the series with South Florida. But the Bulls are 4-1 against the spread over that span and nearly pulled off an upset in last year's AAC championship game.

Who's the smart bet for the 10th edition of the War on I-4 on Friday afternoon in Tampa?

      

College football point spread: The Knights opened as 14-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 47.8-26.6 Knights (College football picks on every game)

Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news.

     

Why the UCF Knights can cover the spread

UCF extended the nation's longest current winning streak to 23 in a row with a surprisingly easy 38-13 victory over Cincinnati last week.

The Knights handed the Bearcats the first six points of the game but led 21-6 by halftime. They then scored the first two touchdowns out of the locker room, cruising to the cover as 6.5-point favorites.

Central Florida outgained Cincinnati 402-379, won the turnover battle 3-1 and blocked a Bearcats field goal. UCF is now 15-7-1 ATS during its winning streak, scoring at least 31 points in every game.

At 7-0 in conference play, the Knights have already clinched a spot in the AAC championship game. But they also moved up to No. 9 in this week's College Football Playoff rankings, and while they're still longshots to make the CFP, they should try to blow out every opponent possible, just in case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lMKZhB-8Ac

Why the USF Bulls can cover the spread

USF started 7-0 this season with two wins over Power 5 opponents, Georgia Tech and Illinois, but now seeks to stop a three-game losing streak after falling at Temple last week 27-17.

South Florida actually drove its opening possession of the game 60 yards to a touchdown, led 17-0 at the half and 17-13 with 10 minutes to go. But the Bulls gave up one touchdown on a punt return and another on a fumble in the end zone, leading to the loss.

South Florida outrushed the Owls 184-74 but lost the turnover battle 5-2, resulting in at least a minus-seven point differential. Still, the Bulls hung on for the cover as 14-point dogs.

Two weeks ago, South Florida led at Cincinnati in the third quarter, lost 35-23 but covered at plus-16. In fact, the Bulls are 3-1 ATS as underdogs this season.

     

Smart betting pick

Central Florida beat South Florida in a wild AAC championship game last year 49-42, but the Bulls covered as 10-point dogs.

However, while the Knights are just as good now as they were that day, USF has taken a step back. Also, playing on the road means the spread is a smidge friendlier toward UCF.

The smart money here gives the points with the Knights.

       

College football betting trends

The total has gone under in seven of South Florida's last 10 games at home in November.

South Florida is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games versus its conference.

The total has gone under in five of Central Florida's last six games versus its conference.

     

All college football odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.   

Cameras caught Houston Cougars star Ed Oliver involved in a heated exchange with head coach Major Applewhite during Thursday night's 48-17 victory over Tulane, but the defensive lineman wants everyone to know that the incident was out of character for him.

Oliver said in a statement Friday, via ESPN's Sam Khan Jr.:

"Last night is not who I am. I'm very passionate about the game of football and last night there was a misunderstanding. I was caught in an emotional moment. I have the utmost respect for Coach Applewhite and I appreciate the support of Coach Applewhite and my teammates during this time. I love my brothers, my team and my city and I'm looking forward to moving forward with them together. Go Coogs!"

Oliver had to be restrained heading into halftime after Applewhite told him to take off a jacket the team reserves for active players only.

Ed Oliver was HEATED when his coach told him to take off his jacket on the sideline 😡 pic.twitter.com/2OZUAXSrJ1

— ESPN (@espn) November 16, 2018

The 6'3", 292-pound defensive lineman has missed the last four games due to a knee injury.

While tempers flared on the field, Applewhite would back up his star player by echoing similar sentiments. 

"Ed is a passionate human being, and that is why he is the best player in the country," Applewhite said in a statement, via Khan. "Last night was not indicative of his character and it was a passionate moment within our program. We can, and we will, both learn from this situation as we move forward together."

Regardless of one's opinion of the rule regarding the jacket, it was not a good look for Oliver—a potential top-10 pick—to be seen angrily going after his coach. There's plenty to love about the All-American's game, but NFL teams don't want confrontations like Thursday night's episode.

Oliver is currently third on Matt Miller's big board.

Central Florida extended its nation-best winning streak to 22 in a row last week, which includes a 14-7-1 mark against the spread. The Knights quest for No. 23 and a division title when they entertain Cincinnati for a big AAC game Saturday night in Orlando.

College football point spread: The Knights opened as 10-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 37.8-37.6 Knights (College football picks on every game)

Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news.

        

Why the Cincinnati Bearcats can cover the spread

Cincinnati rides a three-game winning streak into this contest, after beating South Florida last week 35-23. The Bearcats trailed the Bulls 6-0 early and 16-14 at the half but scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the second half to take control.

Unfortunately for its financial backers, Cincinnati reached the Bulls' 1-yard line in the final moments but declined to score and just missed covering the spread as a 16-point favorite.

On the night, the Bearcats out-gained South Florida 432-313, and 72 of the Bulls' yards came on one play. Cincinnati also held a 24-12 advantage in first downs, out-rushed USF 238-81 and won time of possession by a 37/23 split.

The Bearcats have now out-gained eight of their 10 opponents this season and out-rushed nine of 10 foes. At 5-1 in conference play Cincinnati can win the AAC East with a victory Saturday, another over East Carolina next week and one Temple loss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbbRxEqjtkg

            

Why the UCF Knights can cover the spread

Central Florida reached 9-0 on the season with a 35-24 victory over Navy last week. The Knights popped out to a 21-0 lead on the Midshipmen, then put it on cruise control from there on their way to their 22nd consecutive victory. Unfortunately for its financial backers, UCF allowed Navy to put up 21 points in the second half and missed the cover as a 23-point favorite.

On the day, the Knights rang up 500 yards of total offense, including 300 on the ground. They've also now scored at least 31 points in every game of their winning streak.

At 6-0 in conference play, UCF can clinch a spot in the AAC Championship Game with a win Saturday.

Central Florida remains on the periphery of contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Knights' only hope is to blow out their remaining opponents and get help from elsewhere.

         

Smart betting pick

UCF won this matchup last year 51-23, but these teams are closer than that now. Cincinnati owns the better defense, and one could make the case it also owns the better performance this season against common opponents. The smart money here bets the Bearcats, plus the points.

        

College football betting trends

The total has gone under in five of Central Florida's last six games.

Cincinnati is 6-1 SU in its last seven games vs. its conference.

The total has gone under in Cincinnati's last four games on the road.

          

All college football odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.

Central Florida owns the longest winning streak in major college football at 21 in a row, which includes a 14-6-1 run against the spread. The Knights are heavily favored to make it 22 in a row when they battle Navy on Saturday afternoon in Orlando.

          

College football point spread: The Knights opened as 27-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 48.6-24.0 Knights (College football picks on every game)

Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.

            

Why the Navy Midshipmen can cover the spread

Navy actually started 2-1 this season, with a win over a Memphis team that recently gave Central Florida a good scare. But the Midshipmen reached a nadir last week with a 42-0 loss at Cincinnati, their sixth defeat in a row.

At 2-7 on the season Navy will miss a bowl, but they're trying to create some momentum they can carry into next season.

Two weeks ago, against their toughest opponent so far this season, the Midshipmen fell down to Notre Dame 27-0 before pulling to within 37-22 in the fourth quarter and losing 44-22. However, they pushed the spread as 22-point 'dogs. Three weeks ago they led a pretty good Houston outfit 24-14 well into the second quarter before fading in a 49-36 defeat. And just before that Navy led a good Temple team 17-7 in the third quarter before losing 24-17.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUsXuFT1gAQ

            

Why the UCF Knights can cover the spread

UCF remained one of the last four undefeated teams in FBS with a 52-40 victory over Temple last Thursday. The Knights trailed the Owls 34-28 at the half, then drove the opening possession of the second half 66 yards for a touchdown and a lead they would not relinquish. Near the end Central Florida created great goodwill toward its financial backers, kicking a field goal with a minute-and-a-half left to cover the spread as a 10-point favorite.

On the night the Knights piled up 35 first downs and 630 yards of total offense, 318 on the ground and 312 through the air.

Central Florida is now 5-1 ATS over its last six games, covering spreads of 14, 13, 25, 21 and 10 points. The Knights are also 24-6 SU and 19-10-1 ATS in games McKenzie Milton has started at quarterback.

At 8-0 overall this season UCF is rated No. 12 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The Knights hold only a slim chance of making the CFP even if they win out from here, but it wouldn't hurt to run up the score whenever they can, just in case.

           

Smart betting pick

UCF beat Navy last year 31-21, covering as a seven-point favorite, and will win this game, too. However, the Knights have a key matchup with Cincinnati next week, and may be tempted to rest key people once this game is in hand. And playing at home means the spread is probably inflated by several points.

It's not easy backing a team that just lost 42-0 but smart money here takes the Midshipmen and the points.

          

College football betting trends

The total has gone under in four of Central Florida's last five games.

The total has gone under in seven of Navy's last 10 games on the road.

Navy is 0-8 SU in its last eight games on the road.

            

All college football odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.

Is Houston's 5'11" quarterback the most exciting player in college football? What should be made of the first College Football Playoff rankings? And what about Week 10's must-watch games? Adam Kramer explores what's happening in college football in his weekly college football notebook, the Thursday Tailgate.

   

The question induces laughter from D'Eriq King. Years ago, it would've likely produced a much different response. But now, on the heels of a seven-touchdown performance that featured one of this season's most spectacular touchdown runs, what the heck. Might as well laugh it off.

For Houston's starting quarterback, the player with more touchdowns than anyone in college football, it's a question he's been asked all his life.

How tall are you?

On his official Houston bio, King is listed at an un-quarterback-like 5'11" and 195 pounds. But is this actually correct?

“Uh, not exactly," King says. “The weight is not too far off, but my height is a little bit shorter than that."

On Saturday, King led Houston to a 57-36 win over then-unbeaten South Florida. The undersized QB finished with 419 passing yards, 132 rushing yards (on only 12 carries) and seven touchdowns.

He raised his season touchdown total to 39, doing so in only eight games.

At a time when size at the position is as valued as it has ever been, King is a unicorn of sorts. The junior from Manvel, Texas, who grew up idolizing Vince Young, is still learning the nuances of the position at this level.

As a freshman and sophomore, King was switched to wide receiver. While he grew comfortable as a wideout, it was not a role he expected or originally wanted to play in college.

College football coaches, on the other hand, felt otherwise. While King had scholarship offers from Clemson, Michigan State, Washington and others, most schools thought he could not play QB because of his size.

“A lot of schools wanted me to play slot receiver or defensive back," King says. “Ultimately I came here because I wanted to play quarterback."

For at least a little while, that vision took a detour. King caught 29 passes in both his freshman and sophomore seasons before making the change back to QB days before Halloween last year.

Even then, despite the abruptness of the change, his performance was good enough to make him the starter this year. He has responded with at least three touchdowns in every game.

King's emergence has turned him into a celebrity of sorts. While so much of the talk about Houston has centered on defensive tackle Ed Oliver, a potential top-five draft pick who missed last week's game with a knee injury, the quarterback has slowly grabbed national headlines despite playing outside a major conference.

With each week, his popularity has grown. After his performance against USF, King says he had 400 notifications on his phone that he's been too busy to read. Picture requests on campus are becoming more common. And a buzz surrounding his potential Heisman campaign has started to build.

While winning the award is unlikely given Houston's schedule, King could earn an invitation to the ceremony if his staggering production continues.

“I always dreamed of the award as a little kid," he says. “I'm not just sitting in my room thinking about winning a Heisman, but it's just a blessing to hear my name connected to it. I've got to keep playing the way I'm playing right now."

Houston (7-1), which sits atop the standings in the West division of the American Athletic Conference, could play its way into a marquee bowl game with a strong finish. At his current pace, King could close out the 2018 season with one of the most productive years for a quarterback in recent history.

Which leads us back to the question that he couldn't quite put a number to.

Just how tall is he?

Here's a better question given the past few months.

At this point, does it really matter?

   

CFP Rankings Are Out, Which Is a Reminder How Little They Mean (For Now)

Let it be known that college football has done a magnificent job in promoting its four-team postseason, with the exception of playing games on New Year's Eve. That is not a good idea. Everything else, headlined by the weekly College Football Playoff rankings show that debuted for this season on Tuesday, has been well done.

For the first time this year, the selection committee put together a Top 25.

Unsurprisingly, Alabama was No. 1 and Clemson No. 2. Semi-surprisingly, unbeaten Notre Dame came in at No. 4, behind one-loss LSU, which debuted at No. 3.

Each week, these rankings trigger anger, confusion and displeasure from fanbases that feel they've been wronged. Central Florida fans know these emotions well after a full year of unsuccessfully trying to impress the committee.

The emotions that are manufactured by these early rankings are actually wonderful for business. But don't fall into the trap of taking them too seriously.

None of these rankings matter until December 2, the day the four teams of the College Football Playoff will be officially announced once all conference championships have been decided.

Until then, enjoy the show.

   

With That Said, Here's the Weirdest Playoff Scenario That Is Still Semi-Possible

If I were to put together the most improbable-but-not-impossible playoff based on the initial rankings, here is how it would look. Reminder: This is for entertainment purposes only. Will it actually happen? Absolutely not. But here's how it could look in the most chaotic scenario.

1, Kentucky (currently No. 9)

2. Washington State (currently No. 8)

3. West Virginia (currently No. 13)

4. Central Florida (currently No 12) 

Northwestern wins the Big 10 title game, knocking the conference out of the playoff and opening the door for Pac-12 champion Washington State. Clemson loses twice. Notre Dame loses at least once—although let's call it two for good measure. West Virginia runs the table, as does Kentucky. Oh, and Alabama has to lose two games, and we aren't done. UCF, maybe the hardest to figure of all, remains undefeated and skyrockets past all of the carnage and chaos.

Call this the doomsday football playoff equation. If it happened, we would have an eight-team playoff by spring break.

       

Five Games to Watch This Weekend

This is one of the better collections of games we will get all year. Let us celebrate this glorious buffet in style. (All game times Eastern, and all rankings now courtesy of the College Football Playoff selection committee).

No. 1 Alabama at No. 3 LSU (Saturday, 8 p.m.): Night games in Baton Rouge are gumbo-infused madness, and this will be one of its finest installments. And yet, with Alabama close to a two-touchdown favorite, it's hard to grasp what the game itself might look like. The tailgate, however, will be quite a sight.

No. 6 Georgia at No. 9 Kentucky (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.): If Kentucky wins, it will represent the SEC East in the SEC Championship Game. This is not a drill or some sort of basketball analysis misfire. This is real. The Wildcats have gone from a warm, cuddly football story to a team that finds itself in the hunt. Let's go.

No. 14 Penn State at No. 5 Michigan (Saturday, 3:45 p.m.): With each passing week, it is becoming increasingly difficult to doubt Jim Harbaugh and Michigan. A victory here would only add to that positive momentum. Whether Harbaugh receives appropriate credit is still TBD, but a loss would be a shock to the system. A massive game.

No. 13 West Virginia at No. 17 Texas (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.): It will slide under the radar given the robust slate, but West Virginia-Texas is a) hugely important in the Big 12 and b) almost certain to be touchdown-rich. This will also be a defining moment in our quest to determine if Texas is indeed back. Tune in to find out.

No. 7 Oklahoma at Texas Tech (Saturday, 8 p.m.): Speaking of touchdown-rich, two years ago these two combined to score 125 points and produced nearly a mile in yardage. Texas Tech looks like it might have found a defense, so that likely won't happen here. Or maybe it will, with Kyler Murray ready for takeoff for Oklahoma. 

   

What Else to Watch This Weekend

First, an Extended Preview of Alabama-LSU

Yes, this is cheating. All game previews are typically limited to 280 characters or fewer to move it along, but this one, given the teams, the history and what is at stake, feels like it demands a little something more.

So let's talk matchups. Specifically, Alabama's wideouts going against LSU's cornerbacks, which will be the most intriguing game within the game. As brilliant as Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa has been, his wideouts—Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith and freshman Jaylen Waddle—have constantly gotten open and helped execute one brilliant throw after the next.

LSU cornerback Greedy Williams and a deep group of defensive backs will hope to change that. Whether they can or not, the matchup will be a must-see. Specifically, watching Williams against Jeudy, who is averaging 25.1 yards per catch, will be a delight.

   

Second, Notre Dame's Final Playoff Push (Part 1)

Northwestern has now beaten Purdue, Michigan State and, most recently, Wisconsin. The Wildcats also lost to Akron and Duke. Yep, it's been that kind of year.

But this team is dangerous. So Notre Dame, with four games standing between it and the College Football Playoff, had best be careful.

For fans of teams waiting anxiously just outside the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings, this game in Evanston is especially worth watching. And with Northwestern, who knows what we'll see.

   

Third, This Saturday's Sneaky-Good, Scoreboard-Shattering Matchup Is…

Syracuse-Wake Forest. Yes, really.

While these programs don't normally have offensive-heavy reputations, Syracuse is averaging more than 40 points per game, and Wake Forest just dropped 56 on Louisville—the third time this year that the Demon Deacons eclipsed the 50-point mark.

For those who are curious, the game will be played at noon. If you're looking for the perfect lather to get you to the robust night slate, look no further.

   

Gambling Locks of the Week

Last Week: 4-2

Season to date: 29-22-1

For at least a little while last Saturday, 6-0 felt possible. Then Missouri and Washington State crumbled, and I “settled" for another 4-2 weekend. If you haven't purchased your ticket for this glorious money train by now, I'm not sure what else to tell you.

Here are this week's picks, using lines provided by OddsShark.

Missouri (+6) at Florida: Missouri just lost to Kentucky on one of the worst defensive pass interference calls in the past decade. I have no idea why that matters, but we're betting the Tigers regardless.

 Washington (-10) vs. Stanford: This game was supposed to be a lot better than it is, although that won't stop us from partaking. Huskies by 17.

Auburn (-4) vs. Texas A&M: Last time out, Auburn covered for us. This time out, off a bye, the Tigers will do the same.

Kentucky (+9.5) vs. Georgia: The Bulldogs are the more talented team, but Kentucky finds comfort in ugly football. Georgia wins, but Kentucky makes it sweat.

Temple (+10.5) at Central Florida: This is a quality game featuring quality teams. Temple might just be a live underdog to win outright.

Arizona (-3) vs. Colorado: What a strange turn for Colorado that will get stranger this weekend. Arizona by a touchdown.

   

Adam Kramer covers college football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @KegsnEggs. 

Since becoming conference rivals six years ago Central Florida owns the edge on Temple, winning three of five meetings straight up and going 3-2 against the spread in the process. In a big game in the AAC East the Knights battle the Owls on Thursday night in Orlando.

          

College football point spread: The Knights opened as 12-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 40.8-33.4 Knights (College football picks on every game)

Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.

           

Why the Temple Owls can cover the spread

Temple is 3-0 SU over the last three weeks and 6-0 ATS its last six times out after defeating a previously undefeated Cincinnati outfit 24-17 in overtime two weeks ago. The Owls then enjoyed last week off.

Temple jumped out to a 10-0 lead on the Bearcats five minutes into the game but later trailed 17-10. Temple tied the score with a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final two-and-a-half minutes to force OT and won it with another touchdown at the start of the first extra period and an interception at the end.

On the afternoon the Owls only produced 317 yards of total offense but only allowed 311. Temple has now out-gained each of its last four opponents. At 4-0 in conference play Temple is tied with UCF for first place in the East Division.

            

Why the UCF Knights can cover the spread

Central Florida reached 7-0 on the season and extended the longest current winning streak in college football to 20 in a row with a 37-10 victory at East Carolina two weeks ago. The Knights then also enjoyed last week off.

UCF, playing without starting quarterback McKenzie Milton, spotted the Pirates the first three points of the game two weeks ago, then scored the next 20 to take a 17-point lead into halftime. The Knights then allowed ECU to get within 20-10 midway through the third quarter but pulled away from there with a couple of big plays for the win and the cash as three-touchdown favorites.

On the evening Central Florida produced 427 yards of offense, including 316 on the ground, and won the turnover battle 5-0, creating a plus-24 point differential.

The Knights have now out-gained five of their seven opponents this season, and out-rushed six of seven foes. Milton, who has accounted for 20 touchdowns this season, is expected to return to action Thursday night.

              

Smart betting pick

Central Florida won this matchup last season 45-19 but that game was closer than that score might indicate. Also, the Owls are already 3-0 ATS on the road this season, with an outright victory at Maryland and a tough loss/cover at Boston College. The Knights might still win this game but the smart money takes Temple and the points.

             

College football betting trends

The total has gone over in four of Temple's last five games vs. Central Florida.

Temple is 6-0 ATS in its last six games.

The total has gone over in nine of Temple's last 12 games on the road in November.

           

All college football odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.

UCF needs help. Maybe even a miracle.

That's the simple version of the Knights' ongoing predicament. Despite pulling off an undefeated season in 2017 and winning seven straight to begin the current campaign, UCF appears to have found a glass ceiling at No. 10 in the AP poll.

In each of the last three weeks, UCF has rounded out the Top 10. Although the College Football Playoff committee is instructed to discredit polls, the undefeated Knights consistently ranked behind two-loss teams in last season's CFP rankings.

After being left out of the championship tournament in 2017, the AAC school declared itself the national champion. In a sport typically devoid of Cinderellas, UCF was one.

But even if UCF finishes the regular season 11-0 and wins the conference championship, 12-0 likely won't be enough to sway the committee for the second straight year.

In other words, the Knights need a miracle.

Since a single loss would crush UCF's playoff dreams, there's an extremely slim chance Josh Heupel's team slides into the tournament. But the chance exists, and that alone is worth exploring.

            

UCF's Outlook

En route to a 7-0 record, McKenzie Milton and Co. have posted six victories of 20-plus points. The only outlier is a 31-30 triumph over Memphis, during which the Knights overcame a 16-point deficit.

Criticize the margin all you want; winning on the road is hard.

Fortunately for UCF, its next three contests are at home prior to the regular-season finale. The remaining schedule is rather difficult, which is both good and bad.

Temple (Nov. 1) and Cincinnati (Nov. 17) boast top-10 defenses. Navy (Nov. 10) and its triple-option attack can be flummoxing. The War on I-4 sends UCF to South Florida (Nov. 23) for a midweek game on short rest against a quality offense.

For this discussion to hold water, the Knights cannot lose any of those games. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, UCF holds a 31.9 percent chance of winning out. That's the seventh-best probability in the country.

Navigating that stretch—plus the AAC Championship Game, potentially against a Top 25 Houston team—will be difficult. The Knights won't be coasting to the finish, but they must continue putting up double-digit wins to satisfy the subjective eye test.

         

UCF's Obstacles

Without question, perception is UCF's main obstacle moving forward. Fair or not, power-conference schools are automatically given more respect.

Good evening, @CollegeGameDay: pic.twitter.com/GmEi8dS4AL

— Danny White (@AD_DannyWhite) October 22, 2018

The CFP committee is supposed to consider common opponents without incenting margin of victory. Well, UCF has convincing wins over Florida Atlantic, Pitt and SMU to match Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Michigan, respectively.

However, the directive to consider strength of schedule—while understandable—is where numbers will be used to justify the perception of an easy slate. UCF currently ranks 123rd nationally in that category, and it isn't going to rise dramatically enough to matter.

One annoying argument against UCF: The Knights beat Memphis by only one point, and Memphis lost to Missouri 65-33. True! But UCF beat Pitt by 31, and you can guarantee that won't be used as a way to discredit Notre Dame, which clipped Pitt 19-14. Don't use the transitive property.

New season, same problem for UCF.

          

UCF Wants Bama...and Nobody Else in SEC

Alabama is clearly the No. 1 team in the country. Even with an 11-1 record, the Crimson Tide should make the College Football Playoff. But if Nick Saban's squad loses a game, that means an SEC opponent will boast an unmatched bullet on its resume.

So, UCF wants Bama to finish 13-0. But the rest of the SEC? It's safest if they finish 9-3 or worse. That means 7-1 LSU loses to Alabama and Texas A&M, which also drops at least one other contest. No other West Division program would have a shot.

The East is a bit trickier. Kentucky would have to lose to Missouri and Georgia, the latter of which would win the division by knocking out Florida. But the Bulldogs would then have to lose to Auburn on Nov. 10 and to Alabama in the SEC title game.

          

Clemson, Keep Winning

In a head-to-head look, would the CFP committee consider Clemson and UCF comparable? It's hard to believe Dabo Swinney's club wouldn't be positioned a tier higher.

As long as the Tigers kept winning, that would ensure no two-loss champion emerges from the ACC. The Coastal Division champion—extremely unlikely as 11-2 may be—would at least have an argument to leap UCF if the 11th win was over Clemson.

         

Big Ten, Pac-12 Continue Inner Turmoil

As with the SEC, UCF is aiming for three-loss teams here. While similarly unlikely, the path isn't unreasonable, either.

If Michigan loses to Penn State and Ohio State falls at Michigan State, "The Game" would send either U-M or OSU to a third loss, which MSU already has. Penn State would reach the mark if Iowa upset the Nittany Lions, who could return the favor on Wisconsin.

Would anyone be shocked at those individual results?

The key to ultimate Big Ten destruction is the West Division champ defeating what will likely be Michigan or Ohio State in the title game. Considering our existing chaos, as long as 6-1 Iowa doesn't ultimately finish 12-1, the CFP committee would need a doozy of an explanation to include the West winner.

Similarly, the Pac-12 is short on hope. At 6-1, Washington State is the only remaining Pac-12 school with fewer than two losses. UCF should be ranked ahead of any two-loss Pac-12 team.

Washington State still has both Stanford and Washington on the docket, and they play each other, too. Throw in another blemish for Oregon, Utah and Colorado, and the Pac-12 won't be in the conversation.

        

One True Champion in the Big 12

Texas, be back! Or very much not. Either one helps UCF, provided one of Texas, Oklahoma or West Virginia keep winning all the way through the Big 12 Championship Game.

In reality, the best option is Oklahoma given the strength of the Kyler Murray-led offense and the program's recent success. It would be easier to dismiss Texas or West Virginia.

As long as the Longhorns fell to any of Oklahoma State, Texas Tech or Iowa State along with West Virginia, they'd be eliminated. The Mountaineers would need to take a 9-1 record into the regular-season finale with Oklahoma to ensure a tiebreak advantage, but two straight losses to OU would bounce WVU.

Voila! One true champion. So, UCF: Boomer Sooner.

        

Get Outta Here, Notre Dame

One loss wouldn't be enough to vault the Knights past Notre Dame. Two might.

Four of the Fighting Irish's last five contests will be away from South Bend, including a season-ending trip to USC. Additionally, Florida State—as flawed as the Seminoles are—at least has a defense with enough talent to strain Notre Dame's offense.

From UCF's perspective, it doesn't matter how or when. The Knights just need a late-season breakdown from the Irish.

       

So You're Telling Me There's a Chance

That's what UCF is up against. Easy, really.

While it's possible the committee affords the Knights an edge over two-loss power-conference teams, that rarely happened in 2017. From November to December, the CFP rankings featured 37 such instances. UCF found itself ahead of only three of them.

Quite a precedent there. That's why the three-loss benchmark is so critical outside of the Pac-12.

By no means is UCF guaranteed a 12-0 record with an AAC crown, but the Knights would need a preposterous sequence of results to be a front-runner in the CFP discussion.

Do your thing, Team Chaos.

              

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

UCF has won 20 straight football games, the longest streak in the nation. The Knights were held out of last year's College Football Playoff and have next to no chance of making it this year—even if they again run through the regular season undefeated.

UCF athletic director Danny White has had enough of the disrespect. White tweeted a statement Sunday night that criticized the sport's "subjective popularity contest," bemoaning the fact that rankings are not settled on the field.

"College Football has become a subjective popularity contest," White said. "The Knights represent all of the teams who—for reasons of history, geography or politics—are left out of the club. These factors will not define our bright future. Our student-athletes don't want anything given to them ... they just want a chance."

White's frustration came after a segment on ESPN's College Gameday in which Kirk Herbstreit was dismissive of the Knights' chances.

"Why are we focusing on just UCF when it comes to the Power Five?" Herbstreit asked. "Because I think there are other teams out there that are as deserving or more deserving."

He continued:

"You need to play somebody in order to be rewarded. UCF, you need to not just be worried about being undefeated and trying to get in the top four; you need to look behind you at teams like Utah State, Appalachian State, Fresno State. These teams, on paper, which is what you want to look at a lot of times, are better than UCF and more deserving than UCF."

The latest Associated Press poll includes six one-loss Power Five teams ahead of 10th-ranked UCF. The first College Football Playoff rankings will be unveiled Oct. 30, at which point the Knights will get a better understanding of where they stand nationally.

With Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame all undefeated, UCF stands little to no chance of making the top four. The Knights will need losses by at least two of that trio, as well as a few of the one-loss teams ahead of them dropping a second game.

UCF never got higher than 12th last season in the CFP rankings. If the same pattern follows this season, the Knights wouldn't even get into a fictional eight-team playoff.