UCF Knights vs Louisville Cardinals Prediction, 9/17/2021 College Football Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: UCF Knights vs Louisville Cardinals

Date: Friday, September 17, 2021

Location: Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Cardinals (+7.5)

Total/Over-Under: 64.5

Cardinal Stadium is the location where the Louisville Cardinals (1-1) will go up against the UCF Knights (2-0) on Friday. Louisville opens this game as 7.5-point underdogs. The total is 64.5.

The UCF Knights head into this game 2-0 this season. In their last game, the Knights faced the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and went home with a win by a final score of 63-14. Isaiah Bowser was the rushing leader for the Knights with 12 attempts for 59 yds (4.9 yds per carry). Dillon Gabriel connected on 23/36 with 312 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. He had a quarterback rate of 155.0 and finished the contest with no interceptions. On the ground, the Knights conceded 24 yards on 14 attempts, which is an average of 1.7 yds per run allowed. UCF gave up 29 completions on 51 attempts for 255 yards, and a completion percentage of 56.9%. In all, they had 86 plays which gave them 671 yards. The UCF Knights ran the football 42 times and amassed 290 yds, earning them an average of 6.9 yards per attempt.

When talking about getting in the endzone, the UCF Knights have an average of 49.5 points per game. As a unit they're averaging 272.5 yards via the ground game which has them sitting 10th in college football. The Knights have earned 1,244 total yards this year. With reference to getting the ball in the endzone, UCF has earned 7 touchdowns through the air and 7 rushing touchdowns. UCF has earned 66 first downs, and they have been called for 10 penalties for 91 yds.

The Knights are ranked 83rd in the country in terms of their opponents scoring, allowing 22.5 points per contest. The opposition is running for 1.1 yards per rushing attempt and 22.0 rushing yards per contest on the year. Overall, they have given up 44 yards via the ground game in 2 outings. Regarding passing yards, the Knights are giving up 518 yds which puts them in 120th in the country. They have relinquished 259.0 yards per game through the air as well as allowing a completion percentage of 60.0%. During this campaign, they have yielded 281.0 yards per game which ranks them 58th in the country.

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The Cardinals come into this matchup with a record of 1-1 for this season. When they last stepped on the field, the Cardinals walked away with a victory by a final of 30-3 against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels. Malik Cunningham (1 TD) ended the contest with 277 yards on 15/23 through the air while his QB rating was 180.7. He didn't throw any interceptions and his average yards per pass attempt was 12.0. Jalen Mitchell ran the football 18 times for 90 yards, ending the contest with 5.0 yards per carry for Louisville. Louisville rushed the football for 4.2 yds per carry, finishing the contest with 158 yds on 38 carries. The Cardinals finished the game with 441 yds on 64 plays (6.9 yds per play). The Cardinals pass defense gave up a completion rate of 67.6%, relinquishing 149 yards on 23 out of 34 through the air. Louisville allowed 22 attempts on the ground for 86 yds (3.9 yds per rush).

The Louisville Cardinals maintain an average of 398.0 yards/contest, which has them sitting 49th in the country. The Louisville offense has totaled 115 yds of penalties on 15 violations, which is 24th in college football in terms of helping out the opposition. During the season thus far, the Cardinals have thrown for a total of 483 yards via the pass together with an average of 241.5 passing yards per outing, ranking them 40th in college football. When it comes to the points being put on the board, the Cardinals are 85th in Division 1 by tallying 27.0 PPG.

Louisville has given up a total of 274 yards rushing (137.0 yards per game) in addition to 4 touchdowns on the ground this season. They have given up 1 touchdown through the air and 265.0 yards per game, which has them ranked 123rd in D-1. The Cardinals defense has taken the field for 129 plays, which ranks them 78th in the nation. The Cardinals are surrendering 23.0 PPG, ranking them 84th in Division 1. Over the course of the season, they have given up 46 points in total.

Who will win tonight's Knights/Cardinals college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Cardinals +7.5

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