UCF Knights (2-0) vs. Louisville Cardinals (1-1)
September 17, 2021 7:30 pm EDT
The Line: Louisville Cardinals +7 ; Over/Under: -64.5
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The Louisville Cardinals meet the UCF Knights Friday in college football action from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. UCF is coming off a week two matchup versus Bethune-Cookman. In that one, the Knights secured a huge win. As for Louisville, they played Eastern Kentucky in their last game. The Cardinals got a big victory of their own. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
UCF played Boise State in their opener, coming back from an early 14-0 deficit to power out a 36-31 victory. Knights quarterback Dillon Gabriel put up 318 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, while Isaiah Bowser rushed 33 times for 172 yards and a score.
In the week two game versus Bethune-Cookman, UCF didn’t have much trouble. The Knights jumped out to a 35-7 halftime lead and cruised to a 63-14 result. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel put up 312 yards and a pair of scores, while Trillion Coles had 11 carries for 78 yards and a TD.
Over on the Louisville side, they opened their 2021 season up against Ole Miss. The Cardinals didn’t fare too well in that one, falling 43-24. Louisville QB Malik Cunningham put up 191 pass yards with a TD and a pick while also leading the rush on 79 yards and two scores from 18 carries.
In Louisville’s second game versus Eastern Kentucky, the Cardinals scored in every quarter on the way to a 30-3 blowout win. QB Malik Cunningham put up 277 yards with a pass score and two rush TDs, and Jalen Mitchell had 90 yards from 18 carries.
The Knights are 3-8 ATS in the last 11 overall and 1-4 ATS in the last five road games. UCF is 1-5 ATS in their last six after an ATS win as well.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 7-2-1 in their last 10 after an ATS loss and 7-23-1 ATS versus a team with a winning record. Louisville is 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall.
PICK: I’m going to try UCF here. The Knights had a field day in their last game, posting 671 total yards—381 passing and 290 from the rush—and 7.8 yards per play. UCF was great on rush defense as well, holding B-CU to just 24 yards.
As for Louisville, they were solid as well with 441 total yards and 86 rushing yards allowed in their last outing. I like this game to be fairly close the whole way, with UCF eking out a late cover. Should be a fun matchup all around.
