This is why they play the games.
Two of college football’s biggest disappointments in terms of failing to meet preseason expectations finally bring their seasons to an end.
The preseason betting favorite to win the Big 12, Utah (4-7), instead finds itself second to last in the conference standings. The Utes have lost seven straight and will miss a bowl in a full-length season for the first time since 2013.
UCF (4-7) wasn’t quite as hyped leading up to the season, but it was a popular dark-horse contender thanks to what was expected to be one of the most dynamic offenses in America.
These teams are a combined 1-14 since September 28, but one will have the good fortune of at least finishing the season on a positive note.
Which team will be slightly less disappointing on Friday’s night's final game? UCF is a 9.5-point favorite on the spread with a 47.5-point over/under.
Read on for my Utah vs UCF predictions and college football picks.
Utah vs UCF Prediction
- Utah vs. UCF Pick: UCF -9.5
My Utah vs. UCF best bet is on the Knights to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Utah vs UCF Odds
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 47.5 -110 / -110 | +275 |
| UCF Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 47.5 -110 / -110 | -350 |
- Utah vs UCF Point Spread: Utah +9.5 (-110) · UCF -9.5 (-110)
- Utah vs UCF Total: Over/Under 47.5
- Utah vs UCF Moneyline: Utah +275 · UCF -350
Utah vs UCF Preview
Utah Utes Betting Preview: Quarterback Play
Success in football often boils down to quarterback play, and Utah has had quite a bumpy ride at that position throughout the season.
The Utes first lost Cam Rising to a season-ending injury. Backup quarterback Isaac Wilson was then benched for poor play in favor of Brandon Rose. Rose then suffered a season-ending injury three games ago against BYU, forcing the Utes to turn back to Wilson.
The results have not been kind. Utah has thrown more interceptions than any other Big 12 team and ranks 118th nationally in Pass Success Rate. The Utes have been held below 200 yards passing in three of their past five games.
With a ground game that ranks 110th in Rush Success Rate, no facet of the Utah offense has been able to muster much scoring. Utah’s 23.2 points per game rank 14th in the 16-team Big 12.
Typically a calling card of any Kyle Whittingham team, the Utah defense has begun to show cracks. Over the last three games, Utah has allowed an average of 34 points, including three rushing touchdowns in each of its last two games.
Early-season defensive success, however, still ranks the Utes in the top 11 in both Defensive Line Yards and Rush Success Rate allowed, which will be critical for Utah to rekindle against a strong UCF ground game.
UCF Knights Betting Preview: Rinse and Repeat
The quarterback position for UCF is a rinse-and-repeat from the Utah story.
The Knights expected Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson to be one of the best dual-threats in the nation, but the veteran quarterback has instead found himself benched.
After benching backup Jacurri Brown, UCF has found much more success with redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk. The more traditional pocket passer has thrown for nearly 800 yards and five touchdowns in three starts, helping reignite a passing offense in a mid-season swoon.
The real engine of this team, however, is running back RJ Harvey. Harvey’s 1,458 rushing yards are the fourth most in the country on an offense that ranks fifth nationally in Rush Success Rate. Harvey's scored at least two rushing touchdowns in UCF’s last five games.
The UCF defense has been surprisingly good against the run all season, ranking third in the Big 12, but the same cannot be said for its pass defense, where the Knights rank just 88th in Pass Success Rate allowed.
UCF has been particularly susceptible to explosive pass plays. Its 108 allowed pass plays with at least 10 yards in length are the third-most in the Big 12.
Utah vs UCF
Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Utah and UCF match up statistically:
Utah Offense vs. UCF Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 110 | 13 | |
| Line Yards | 106 | 13 | |
| Pass Success | 118 | 88 | |
| Havoc | 121 | 67 | |
| Finishing Drives | 114 | 116 |  |
| Quality Drives | 107 | 81 | |
UCF Offense vs. Utah Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 5 | 6 | |
| Line Yards | 4 | 8 | |
| Pass Success | 81 | 34 | |
| Havoc | 56 | 22 | |
| Finishing Drives | 72 | 20 | |
| Quality Drives | 47 | 19 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 121 | 89 |
| PFF Coverage | 65 | 66 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 44 | 87 |
| Middle 8 | 70 | 103 |
| Seconds per Play | 30.3 (128) | 24.8 (23) |
| Rush Rate | 52% (84) | 64% (10) |
Utah vs UCF Pick & Prediction
While Utah hasn’t won since September, its defense has generally been good enough to keep it in games at least. Utah’s last four games have all been decided by one score.
That defense, however, hasn’t been nearly as good on the road, allowing almost a full 10 points more away from Salt Lake City.
UCF doesn’t have a great passing defense, but there’s no reason to think Isaac Wilson can take advantage of that. RJ Harvey and the Knights rushing offense should be able to find enough scoring success to keep this out of reach and complete a sour season with a sweet finish at home.
Pick: UCF -9.5 | Bet to -10
Utah vs UCF Start Time, Channel, Streaming, How To Watch center=
| Location: | FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL |
| Date: | Friday, Nov. 29 |
| Kickoff Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | FOX |
Utah vs UCF will be played at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. ET. You can stream the game live on FOX.
