After avoiding a potentially-devastating upset loss against Temple, UCF responded last week by blowing out Rutgers, and now the Knights are two wins away from a perfect run through AAC play. On Friday night, they host the punchless South Florida Bulls, who are enduring a difficult rebuilding year under new head coach Willie Taggart.
How to watch USF vs. UCF 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
Here’s the information you need to catch the game between the Bulls and Knights.
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The Bulls will have to figure out some way to generate more offense to have any shot at an upset. They rank last in the league in total offense, next to last in yards per play and they haven’t managed to put up more than 26 points in a game all season. Over the course of their current four-game losing skid, the Bulls have scored a total of 42 points, 23 of them coming in their loss to Houston on Halloween.
The numbers
Rankings and records: UCF is 9-1 (6-0) this season, which has them on top of the AAC. The Knights are ranked 17th in the AP Poll and 19th in the Coaches’ Poll. South Florida is 2-8 (2-4) and tied for sixth in the league. USF has won all four of the previous games between these teams.
Vegas: Central Florida opened as a 26-point favorite.
Weather: The high in Orlando is expected to hit 70. No rain is in the forecast.
Three names to know
Blake Bortles -- Bortles has been nearly as efficient as preseason Heisman hopeful and AAC rival Teddy Bridgewater. Bortles is completing 68.3 percent of his throws while averaging 9.7 yards per attempt, and he has 20 touchdown tosses against just five interceptions.
Storm Johnson -- The Miami transfer has been a key part of the Knights' attack and has gone over 100 yards rushing on four occasions. He leads the AAC in rushing yards (916) and rushing scores (11).
Andre Davis -- It’s been a long season on the offensive side of the ball for South Florida, which is averaging 13.9 points per game. Davis is one of the few brights spots; he leads the team with 634 yards receiving on 41 catches.
Two things at stake
Central Florida remains on track to win the AAC and earn a BCS bowl bid, but an upset loss to USF could open the door for another team to take control. There are two one-loss teams lurking behind UCF in the standings -- Louisville and Cincinnati. The Knights hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cardinals.
With a losing season assured, USF is just hoping to put an end to its current losing streak before the end of the season. Doing so while also putting a dent in UCF’s conference title hopes would be a bonus, unlikely as it is.
How to witness
TV: ESPN, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: USF’s affiliates are listed here. UCF’s broadcast can be heard locally on 740 AM.
Further reading
Stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football hub for complete coverage of the action around the country this weekend.
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