Is UCF Ready To Be A Big 12 Championship Contender? - The Big 12 Watch

Josh Neighbors shares his thoughts on the latest news around the Big 12 and college football. He discusses what the win for UCF means last week. He talks about what Gus Malzahn is building at UCF & whether the nights have what it takes to keep it rolling.
He then shares his thoughts on K-State and their big victory this past week & West Virginia's struggles.
Is UCF Ready To Be A Big 12 Championship Contender? - The Big 12 Watch
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[@rileykennedy4066]

I think people are downplaying how well TCU played - blocked two FGs and an extra point, had no turnovers, and was at home on a night game. Their 3rd down conversion rate was nearly perfect in the first half. I don’t think many teams beat a team that blocks two of their FGs, an extra point, has no turnovers, and like 3 penalties, AT HOME at night. Yet UCF did it. It was a big W.

[@joelquidort6527]

You cannot go off statistics with a quarterback, KJ fits the system the average fan, which is probably most of people who cover sports on KZbin channels. Don’t understand what a good quarterback those within a system he’s not meant to throw the ball 38 times a game he’s improving every single game against better competition. That’s a great sign UCF has the deepest running back room in the entire country. So when I hear stats being thrown out is if well, he only threw for 180 yards that’s part of the system go back and look at Gus Malzahn with Cam Newton same system. Exact same usage of qb. Sometimes you guys reveal your lack of really covering the team and you just look at the stats or watch it from 10,000 feet view.

[@joelquidort6527]

You didn’t like that they had to come from behind is spoken from someone who either is has a bias, or doesn’t like UCF coming from behind is what made it special, and tells the character of your program on the road against the team who made the national championship two years ago and has the second most form five star talent on their team and TCU. Who cares they came back man ? That, in fact, shows championship caliber grit. It’s good thing actually 🙄🤦

[@DiO-fy5ex]

We were heavily officiated last year.

[@Blkarican]

With no bias I think it’s crazy to not think a team like UCF can’t be a contender and saying they have to prove it but if you look at it the only team that has proved it’s worth so far is kstate with the blowout win over Arizona. Utah has had countless close games this season so far OSU really hasn’t showed much other than bowman might be a threat this year but who can really believe that since they haven’t played anyone if you were to be far though you have to have UCF in the same ship as Utah and OSU until they prove they can beat a ranked team

[@brett3140]

People forget that UcF waxed Okst. UCF is also missing John Walker on defense

[@savannahfan]

That’s some weak sauce analysis Bro… I can look at stats too, please don’t just giving “feeelings about” or your hunch Let me show you how it’s actually done. 1. If the question is IF Central Florida will be in the B12 playoffs you need to examine their schedule first UCF plays its next Conference game at home after a bye week, against an tired and inconsistent Colorado that will be in its 5th game and third away trip in just 30 days… Playing a UCF at home (coming off a bye) and having improved second half defense against pass heavy TCU earlier.. likely win for UCF placing them 2-0 in conference play 2. Florida is a non conference, but if UCF is a winner it will cement their confidence and give them momentum and relevant experience to better play the remaining B12 games 3. Cincinnati is the next Conference game, again at Home, against a well known opponent that is having a down year. Should also be a win bring UCF’s Conference record to 3-0 4. The first likely loss will be in Ames against Iowa State. Hard to win on the road against this opponent, placing conference record at 3-1. Unless the Cyclones lose in Morgantown they will likely take conference lead with a 4-0 conference record 5. UCF then plays BYU at home… 🏠 while better, BYU will have difficulty out scoring UCF in Orlando so it should bring UCF to a 4-1 conference record 6. Arizona had the bad luck to get selected to travel to Orlando to play in the “Space Game”. It’s a bye week for the Knights, as the undefeated Citronauts take the field. For context, THAT was the team that beat 15th ranked OSU 45-3 last year. You can likely expect the same this year. UCF goes to a 5-1 Conference record 7. ASU away will be a tough game, it’s too early to tell for sure but UCF’s running game should be able to outscore ASU’s attack and give another road win to UCF, Knights go 6-1 on conference play 8. West Virginia will either remember how to be good or not. If they do remember it will be a loss, but it will be a close win for UCF otherwise, UCF 7-1 in conference play 9. Last game of the season will likely have direct conference playoff implications. UCF will play a Utah at season end at home, with the Utes playing their fourth game and second away trip in just twenty days, on Thanksgiving weekend, with all the accumulated injuries and fatigue it will have after playing arch rival. BYU, decent ASU, and an angry Colorado… UCF will have a hard game but the home advantage will put them above Utah for a win, and 8-1 in conference play That record would place UCF into the B12 playoffs against the winner of the Iowa State/KSU game on 11/30 Specifically, Much of UCF’s future success will depend upon the lessons special teams and secondary defense learned from the TCU game being applied, health of QB1, and DL and OL remaining healthy so depth issues don’t factor in Games to prevent this would be upsets at home by Colorado BYU or Utah, and ASU or WV away being better than expected. But given the prevalence of home games, especially against it’s hardest opponents, UCF should be well positioned for a run at the B12 Championship Thanks

[@DiO-fy5ex]

Iowa state - if UCF protects the ball. They win this game easy. Unless isu. Like 35-17.

[@joelquidort6527]

And also you’d much rather have a team have to throw against you then run against you why don’t you look at the stats on ucf‘s defense against the run?

[@mikenieves8881]

UCF offense is most definitely a contender. The passing defense is suspect after the TCU game but with new personnel there will be some growing pains.

[@armoredupknight2808]

You said you were going to talk about RJ Harvey later and then never did. I hope the rest of the Big 12 ignores him the way you ignored him

[@119Agent]

I'm not sold on UCF yet. They haven't beat a good team yet and last year the only good team they beat of OK State. I need to see more big wins and consistency.

[@brett3140]

They smoked okst. Ollie who? Bowman lol

[@savannahfan]

TCU will be one of the most successful teams in the B12 this year. I’d expect them to beat SMU this weekend.

[@CONSCIOUSCOMA]

its too early to tell. i feel they have the talent they just need the will.

[@joelquidort6527]

I do not totally disagree with the general assessment. There’s too many questions with ucf defense , but it has definitely improved from last year.. however, I look at it the other way you’re one they could’ve easily 18 games. I also look at the TCU game different typically for any program certainly for UCF. They make those extra points they make those field goals. UCF could’ve quite honestly won that game by 5 to 10 points. When you run the ball like they do, you’re gonna be in a lot of games, especially on the road they have in my opinion the top three running back in the country, but the depth of the talent is better than anybody in the country at running back. If ucf starts putting a little more pressure on qb, look out. It is the only element lacking

[@EZ-ri3pl]

UCF maybe. UNLV definitely.