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The BYU Cougars take on the UCF Knights in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, Oct. 24. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
BYU is favored by -6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -260. UCF, meanwhile, enters as a +6.5 underdog and is +210 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 43.5 total points.
Here’s my BYU vs. UCF prediction and college football pick for Saturday, October 24.
BYU vs UCF Prediction
- BYU vs. UCF Pick: BYU -6.5
My UCF vs. BYU best bet is on the Cougars to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
BYU vs UCF Odds
| BYU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -115 | 43.5 -110o / -110u | -260 |
| UCF Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -105 | 43.5 -110o / -110u | +210 |
- BYU vs UCF point spread: BYU -6.5 (-115), UCF +6.5 (-105)
- BYU vs UCF over/under: 43.5 (-110o / -110u)
- BYU vs UCF moneyline: BYU -260, UCF +210
BYU vs UCF College Football Preview
BYU Cougars Betting Preview: Big Bear
All eyes are on now No. 2Â BYU following its stunning win over Notre Dame. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier was sensational in the win over the Irish, going 23-for-36 for 224 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for two more scores.
The BYU QB has stuffed the stat sheet on a weekly basis, generating more than 250 yards of offense per game.
Not only has Bachmeier been efficient with his arm, but his running ability also makes him a dynamic threat in the backfield, averaging nearly six yards per carry.
With running back LJ Martin out with an injury, the Cougars need to rely on Bachmeier’s legs to scramble the second level to help pull linebackers to the trenches.
Once the middle starts to cheat up, this will create larger gaps in their coverage, increasing Bachmeier’s chances of creating an explosive play through the air.
Defensively, the Cougars' blitz has played a major role in their success, entering Week 8 ranked 24th in Havoc. When BYU gets a linebacker in the backfield, opposing quarterbacks are forced to scramble outside, making it difficult to connect with their pass-catchers while throwing into tight windows.
BYU can send so much pressure because the secondary has excelled in coverage, ranking top-40 in Passing Success Rate, allowed Passing PPA allowed and Explosiveness allowed.
With the back end holding its own in single coverage, the Cougars can shade more bodies to the middle, making it easier to bottle up running backs at the line of scrimmage.
UCF Knights Betting Preview: Boom or Bust
After kicking off conference play with a win, UCF has struggled to build on that momentum, dropping games to Houston and Oklahoma State.
Despite the loss to the Cowboys, Keyone Jenkins kept the Knights offense afloat, throwing for 265 yards and four touchdowns.
With Jenkins under center, the Knights have been boom-or-bust, ranking 89th in Success Rate and 36th in Explosiveness. When UCF is inside the 20-yard line, Jenkins has put points on the board, averaging 4.97 Points Per Opportunity.
Running back Duke Watson has been a menace in the backfield, averaging 6.9 yards per carry.
Like Jenkins, Watson’s production has been reliant on explosive plays, residing near the top of the board in Rushing Explosiveness while ranking 86th in Rushing Success Rate.
Fortunately for UCF, the Knights have been more consistent on defense, holding opponents to a 40% Success Rate while ranking above league average in Defensive Finishing Drives and Explosiveness allowed.
Until the offense can start to methodically move the ball down the field, UCF will be overreliant on its defense to keep it competitive. That feels unsustainable.
BYU vs UCF Pick, Betting Analysis
At first glance, this spot screams UCF.
Not only is BYU fresh off a massive win over Notre Dame, but the Cougars have to hit the road to battle against a well-rested UCF team coming off a bye.
In years past, the Knights would be listed at a much higher number, making this an easier decision.
Yet at -6.5, the Cougars are still the play, sitting just below the key number of -7, while Action Network senior writer Collin Wilson's Betting Power Ratings have them favored by double digits.
Schedule spot aside, BYU still has clear advantages on defense, giving the Cougars offense the time it needs to find its footing to avoid falling too far behind.
With the Cougars capable of collapsing the pocket shortly after the snap, Jenkins will struggle to create explosive plays, which should force UCF to stall out early in drives.
On the other side of the ball, Bachmeier will have no issue taking care of the ball while combating against a UCF defense that ranks 82nd in Havoc. With the Knights struggling to create disruptions, BYU will consistently stay ahead of the sticks, leading to an uptick in scoring opportunities.
At -6.5, place a wager on BYU to cover the spread with the intention of adding more to your position should it steam down to a flat -6.
If you want to avoid the possibility of getting burned by the number, you can pair the Cougars with Indiana in a two-team moneyline parlay, which pays out around -110.
Pick: BYU -6.5
BYU vs UCF Betting Trends
