Central Florida vs Memphis Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Tigers Looking To Spoil UCF’s Season
Following a 25-21 win over Cincinnati, the No. 25 Central Florida Golden Knights pay a visit to the Memphis Tigers on Saturday.
UCF (6-2, 3-1) sits in second place in the American Athletic Conference. The Golden Knights must keep their momentum going to play in the AAC Championship Game. Memphis (4-4, 2-3) needs to avoid turnovers to snap a three-game losing streak. Will the Tigers ruin Central Florida’s conference title aspirations?
Let’s check the latest, stats, CFB championship, and injury reports for Central Florida vs Memphis. We’ve plenty of college football spreads for you to consider.
Central Florida in a Tight Conference Title Race
After taking down Cincinnati, Central Florida has a good shot of playing in its conference title game. The AAC is a log jam at the top; the Golden Knights cannot afford to slip. Tulane (7-1, 4-0) holds the top spot, while Houston (5-3, 3-1) and Cincinnati (6-2, 3-1) are neck and neck with UCF.
Coach Gus Malzahn has established a dangerous run game at UCF. The Golden Knights average 236.9 rushing yards (eighth) and 5.3 yards per carry (16th). Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee leads UCF with 532 rushing yards. Running backs Isaiah Bowser (436 rushing yards) and RJ Harvey (381 rushing yards) is a good one-two punch in the backfield. This three-headed monster is a load to stop.
RJ Harvey channeling his inner Lamar Jackson with this goalline spinorama! TD Knights! 🌪pic.twitter.com/xlHF8ZoVtV
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 29, 2022
Rhys Plumlee is questionable with an undisclosed injury. Mikey Keene, who has attempted only 15 passes and one run this season, would be his replacement.
The Golden Knights’ defense has held strong. It allowed over 21 points once in the 34-13 loss to East Carolina. The unit is the epitome of bend but doesn’t break. While it allows 389.9 yards per game (69th), opponents average only 18.7 points (12th). UCF ranks second in red zone defense and fifth in opponent fourth down conversion percentage.
Memphis Must Take Care of the Ball
After starting 4-1 and 2-0 in conference play, Memphis has stumbled. The Tigers are on a three-game losing streak and are surrendering 39.3 points per game during that span. Turnovers have been a huge problem over the last two games. Memphis had four turnovers in the 38-28 loss to Tulane and two turnovers in the 47-45 loss to East Carolina.
The Tigers’ defense played well last game, holding Tulane to 4.9 yards per play. The passing defense, which ranks 112th in allowed passing yards per game, has been a weakness. Even the secondary held strong, limiting the Green Wave to 158 passing yards. Tulane was given short fields far too often thanks to turnovers.
Memphis features a fluid passing attack that totals 284.6 passing yards per game (22nd). Quarterback Seth Henigan has been efficient with a 64.7 completion percentage and 147 passer rating. After throwing only one interception in the first six games, Henigan has thrown two interceptions in back-to-back games. The Tigers must clean up their play.
Central Florida vs Memphis Game Injuries
Central Florida vs Memphis Head-to-Head
Central Florida has dominated this series with a 14-2 record. In 2020, Memphis got its first win over UCF since 1990. Last season, the Golden Knights defeated the Tigers 24-7.
Central Florida vs Memphis Game Information
- Game: Central Florida vs Memphis
- Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
- Day/Time: Saturday, Nov. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Central Florida vs Memphis Live Stream: ESPN
Take a Look at Other 2 College Football Articles For This Season
- Tulane vs Tulsa Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
- Arizona vs Utah Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Central Florida vs Memphis Betting Lines
Central Florida vs Memphis Prediction
With a Top-25 showdown against Tulane coming up next week, this is a trap game for Central Florida. The Golden Knights cannot overlook Memphis, which is plenty capable of pulling off the upset. If Rhys Plumlee does not play, UCF is in good hands with Keene. He looked great against Cincinnati last week and could provide more to the Golden Knights’ passing game.
In addition, Memphis has been far too sloppy, which is not ideal against Central Florida’s stingy defense. The Golden Knights will win with a cover.
The Central Florida Golden Knights are listed at -160 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on UCF, you have a chance to win $63. The Memphis Tigers are +140, offering a chance to win $140 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the college football betting lines gives the Central Florida Golden Knights a 61.54% chance to win, with the Memphis Tigers at 41.67%.
