Free College Football Picks Today: University of Central Florida Knights vs Cincinnati Bearcats 10/29/22

The American Athletic Conference’s top two scoring offenses are set to meet at FBC Mortgage Stadium on Saturday, as the No. 20 University of Cincinnati Bearcats (6-1, 3-0 AAC) head to face the University of Central Florida Knights (5-2, 2-1 AAC). The Knights are 1.5-point favorites, and the total is 56.Cincinnati is coming off a narrow 29-27 win over SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium last Saturday, their sixth consecutive victory.

Ben Bryant threw for 200 yards. Charles McClelland ran 16 times for 129 yards and a touchdown. Jadon Thompson caught four passes for 69 yards. UCF lost 34-13 to East Carolina at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium last Saturday. John Rhys Plumlee was 25 of 37 for 296 yards and three interceptions. Isaiah Bowser carried 11 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. Kobe Hudson caught five receptions for 85 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Bearcats won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 56-21 victory in October, their third straight win against UCF. Jerome Ford had four touchdowns for Cincinnati.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Bearcats are averaging 36.9 points per game for the season, 24th in FBS, and they are facing a Knights defense that has surrendered 17.1 PPG (15th). Meanwhile, UCF has scored 37.3 points a game this season, 20th in the country, and Cincinnati is allowing 22.0 PPG (38th).

The Bearcats rank 41st in the nation in passing yards per game (267.4) and 61st in rushing (159.7), while the Knights are 66th in passing yards allowed per game (226.7) and 48th against the run (129.4).UCF has been one of the nation’s top rushing teams, averaging 242.4 yards per game (6th), while ranking 39th in passing yards (268.6). The Bearcats are allowing 185.3 passing yards (18th) and 120.1 rushing yards per game (29th).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through seven games, Ben Bryant has thrown for 15 touchdowns (6 INT) and 251.6 yards per game to lead Cincinnati in passing. In four away games this season, he has six TDs (3 INT) and an average of 257.0 yards passing.

Charles McClelland leads the team in rushing with an average of 90.1 yards a game over seven games. He has six touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Tyler Scott is the Bearcats’ leading receiver with 100.0 yards a game and six TDs.

John Rhys Plumlee has 11 passing touchdowns (6 INT) with 258.9 yards per game through seven games to lead UCF. In five home games this season, he has thrown for 10 TDs (2 INT) and an average of 235.4 yards. John Rhys Plumlee also leads the team in rushing with an average of 72.3 yards per game.

He has seven touchdowns on the ground. Javon Baker has been the primary target in the Knights’ aerial attack. He has two touchdowns and a 58.7 yard per game average through seven appearances.