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It’s Black Friday, and that means it’s the War on I-4.
The UCF Knights (7-4, 5-3 AAC) play their final home game of the 2021 season against the South Florida Bulls (2-9, 1-6 AAC) at the Bounce House. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN.
Let’s get ready:
Game Day Guide
When: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: The Bounce House
Weather: Courtesy of Black & Gold Banneret’s unofficial meteorologist and UCF alum Eric Burris:
Hey Knight Fans, since tomorrow's Thanksgiving... you know what comes after, right?
— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) November 25, 2021
Forecast for the game looks GREAT. #GKCO pic.twitter.com/NIv1tpvvUP
Line: UCF -17.5 (67% of the money on UCF), Over/under 62 (73% on over), per OddsShark
How to Watch
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+
Crew: Roy Philpott and Kelly Stouffer, UCF’s good luck charm team
Series Notes
- The Knights have won four in a row.
- UCF has won six of eight since both teams have been in The American.
- Last meeting: 2020 - UCF 58, South Florida 46
Keys to the Game
When UCF Has the Ball
Last week, UCF showed that while they're still a run first team, they can exploit the outside. This helps make Mark-Antony Richards and Johnny Richardson good compliments to each other. Expect UCF to still be run first and depending on what the defense gives them, you'll see one of these backs in. This keeps the pressure off the quarterback so the defense won't drop too many players back.
UCF Offense vs. South Florida Defense
| Category | UCF Offense | FBS Rank | S. Fla. Defense | FBS Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | UCF Offense | FBS Rank | S. Fla. Defense | FBS Rank |
| Rush Yards | 190.1 | 41st | 209.9 | 115th |
| Pass Yards | 220.0 | 76th | 279.4 | 122nd |
| Total Yards | 410.1 | 63rd | 489.3 | 125th |
| Points | 33.5 | 28th | 36.3 | 120th |
UCF’s Key Players to Watch
- #16 QB Mikey Keene — 145/224 (65%), 1,471 yards, 15 TD/6 INT
- #25 RB Johnny Richardson — 93 carries, 599 yards, 6.4 ypc, 3 TDs
- #3 WR Brandon Johnson — 37 catches, 558 yards, 10 TDs
South Florida’s Key Players to Watch
- #5 LB Antonio Grier — 76 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INTs
- #11 LB Dwayne Boyles — 60 tackles, 2 INTs, 2 forced fumbles
- #17 DT Blake Green — 30 tackles, 2.5 sacks
When South Florida Has the Ball
It's expected that South Florida will be playing from behind, which usually means more passing. Timmy McClain is still learning the college level game, but has shown potential. They will continue to ride McClain. Early on or if the game stays close, you'll see more running from Jaren Mangham, especially in short yardage situations.
South Florida Offense vs. UCF Defense
| Category | S. Fla. Offense | FBS Rank | UCF Defense | FBS Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | S. Fla. Offense | FBS Rank | UCF Defense | FBS Rank |
| Rush Yards | 165.0 | 65th | 161.4 | 84th |
| Pass Yards | 189.7 | 106th | 212.5 | 42nd |
| Total Yards | 354.7 | 101st | 373.9 | 59th |
| Points | 24.1 | 99th | 26.3 | 67th |
South Florida’s Key Players to Watch
- #9 QB Timmy McClain — 127/233 (54.5%), 1,666 yards, 5 TDs/7 INTs, 255 rush yards, 3 rush TDs
- #0 RB Jaren Mangham — 139 rushes, 578 yards, 4.2 ypc, 15 TDs
- #10 WR Xavier Weaver — 37 catches, 640 yards, 2 TDs
UCF’s Key Players to Watch
- #15 LB Tatum Bethune — 83 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions
- #1 DE Big Kat Bryant — 45 tackles, 13 TFLs, 5 sacks, 7 QB hurries
- #37 DB Quadric Bullard — 73 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, 5 passes defended, 3 fumble recoveries
Podcast
Listen to our latest podcast as we preview the game:
Predictions
Get our takes on today’s game in this week’s Knights Roundtable:
Follow Along!
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