How to watch UCF vs. Houston: Game guide, TV/streaming, odds

Two of the AAC’s non-East Carolina contenders will square off Thursday night, when the Houston Cougars host the UCF Knights.

UCF opened the season with back-to-back losses against Power 5 opponents, losing 26-24 to Penn State in Ireland and 38-10 on the road against Missouri. Its first home game was a breeze against FCS Bethune-Cookman, ending in a 41-7 victory, and the Knights now have another chance to prove themselves against an FBS opponent. They’ll have to see a better performance from their offense, which has struggled since the departure of Blake Bortles.

With an impressive passing attack and a number of key returning players, many expected Houston to contend for the AAC crown. The team still has the chance to do so, but early returns have not been promising -- the Cougars lost 27-7 to UTSA and 33-25 to BYU, with their only FBS victory coming over UNLV.

Game time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN, with Dave Lamont, Ray Bentley and Kayce Smith on the call.

Radio: Here’s a list for UCF. Here’s one for Houston.

Online streaming: WatchESPN

Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked. UCF is 1-2 this season, while Houston is 2-2. This is the conference opener for both teams. The Knights hold a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series, winning the last three games between the two schools.

Vegas: Houston opened as a 2.5-point favorite. The line has since moved to 3.

Weather forecast: 81 degrees with a chance of thunderstorm

UCF is winless against FBS competition, and has an opportunity to get on the right track before its big game against BYU.

Houston’s stock has fallen considerably after losses to UTSA and BYU, but conference play offers a chance to start anew.

Deontay Greenberry vs. UCF secondary. A former blue-chip prospect, Greenberry signed with Houston over Notre Dame coming out of high school and has excelled with the Cougars ever since. He’s caught 18 passes for 297 yards and a pair of touchdowns so far this year, and grabbed headlines when he reportedly said the Knights “weren’t that good“ last season and that the Cougars ”don’t really expect this game to be close.”

UCF, meanwhile, has struggled to contain opposing passing games this season, giving up 454 yards to Christian Hackenberg and Penn State and allowing four passing touchdowns to Maty Mauk and Missouri. The Knights do have big-play potential at cornerback, however -- Jacoby Glenn has two interceptions, while Jordan Ozerities has one as well. Glenn will likely be tasked with covering Greenberry, but we’ll see how the Knights decide to match up.

For more on both teams and the rest of the AAC, head to Underdog Dynasty.