UCF Knights 2022 College Football Preview

UCF Knights 2022 College Football Preview

July 9, 2022

2021 Recap

Record – 9-4

ATS – 5-8

The Knights took down Boise St in a very exiting season opener (W 36-31) but lost three of their next five games. Losing their starting QB didn’t help, yo. They got things together in the second half and won five of six to finish the regular season at 8-4. UCF kept rolling in the Gasparilla Bowl and defeated SEC foe Florida by a score of 29-17.

Are the Knights ready to get back to the top of the AAC pecking order?


UCF Knights 2022 Outlook

OFFENSE

The Knights lost starting QB Dillon Gabriel early on last year and it took a few games for them to figure things out. They did a fine job on the ground (196 YPG, #28) and got serviceable play from freshman QB Mikey Keene (17-6 TD to INT, 64%). Ole Miss transfer John Rhys Plumlee, who just might be the fastest man on Earth, will battle for the starting QB gig and gives the Knights yet another scary ground game option. Plumlee joins a loaded RB group that returns everyone including the HOME RUN HITTER Johnny Richardson (750, 7.0). Five of the top-six in terms of receiving yards are back in the mix including the crafty Ryan O’Keefe who caught 84 (!) balls LY whilst averaging 17 yards on 16 carries. Malzahn also poached Auburn’s #1 (!) WR in Kobe Hudson. Four starters return to the offensive line and they added GIGANTOR RT Ryan Swoboda from Virginia (6-10, 325). We expect this offense to do major damage.

DEFENSE

UCF has been rock solid on defense every year since 2016 with the exception of the 2020 SCAMDEMIC season. Last year they finished #4 in the AAC in total defense (369 YPG) and #3 in scoring defense (24.5 PPG) whilst tallying 36 sacks (#3). Eight starters are back in action but they lose a pair of key pieces in LB Tatum Bethune and the ultra-disruptive DL Big Kat Bryant (14 TFL, 10 QBH). The DL and LB personnel are above-average AAC groups but the real CROWN JEWEL is a secondary that returns basically everyone. The Knights were excellent vs the pass in 2021 (#6 FBS pass efficiency D, 12-11 TD to INT, 58%, 5.8) and we expect a similar performance in 2022.

SPECIAL TEAMS

There’s plenty of continuity aboard but they need to get better performance from PK Daniel Obarski (8-14 FG, 1-6 40+) and find some SPICIER options at PR and KR.

Schedule Analysis

Overall – It looks really good. They only play five road games and five of their first six games are at the BOUNCE HOUSE. They don’t have any killer non-conference games, don’t have to play Houston, and take on Cincinnati in Orlando.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot – November 26 – at South Florida

This will be the Knights fourth road game in six weeks and seventh consecutive week taking the field. We expect South Florida to be a much-improved bunch. GET CHO POPCONE for this one!

Season Win Total

per BetOnline July 9

Over 8.5 -135

Under 8.5 +105

MEGALOCKS says:

Lean: Over

It’s not crazy to think that UCF could be favored in all 12 regular season games.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

The Knights are an absolutely DEVASTATING 30-2 (!) at home since 2017 with the only two losses coming during the wacky 2020 CASEDEMIC season.

The WAR on I-4 has been heavily slanted to UCF recently as the Knights have taken down their hated rival from South Florida five straight times.


MEGALOCKS Outlook:

SCARY. That’s the look of this team heading into 2022. Gus Malzahn has got this roster stocked CHOCK FULL of talent and the schedule is extremely manageable. We’re not 100% sold on the QB situation but we still expect to see these guys in the AAC Championship Game.


Want more UCF Knights football ?

WEBSITE

https://ucfknights.com/sports/football

FORUM

https://ucf.forums.rivals.com/forums/ucf-fan-forum.8/

http://ucf.247sports.com/Board/UCF-Knights-Message-Board-Forum-59489

NEWS

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/

http://knightnews.com/category/sports/football/

https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2116/ucf-knights