UCF vs Kent State 08/31/23

The Kent State Golden Flashes visit FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Thursday to play the UCF Knights in the opening game of the college football regular season for both teams. Kent State was 5-7 overall and 4-4 in Mid-American Conference play last season and will have a tough time this season rebuilding after losing their starting quarterback to UCLA, their top wide receiver to Penn State, their kicker joined Ohio State and two starting offensive lineman also jumped ship. Keep up with College Football, with ourCollege Football picks.

The top running back returning from last season rushed for only 211 yards which was fourth and the top right receiver returning had only four receptions. When looking over Kent State's schedule most football handicappers will tell you they have just one likely victory and leading up to the first game they still have not decided on who will be their starting quarterback.

The UFC Knights will open the season as the newest member of the Big 12. That transition will be difficult but talented quarterback John Rhys Plumee returns as do plenty of its skills position players. Plumlee also led the Knights in rushing last season with 862 yards, while passing for 2,586 and 14 touchdowns, but was picked off eight times. The running game returns RJ Harvey who rushed for 796 yards last season and Johnny Richardson.

Kobe Hudson and Javon Baker are the top returning wide receivers, while the running back unit has added Demarkcus Bowman who transferred from Clemson. On defense, the line is the strongest, led by Rickey Barber a tackle and ends Tre-Mon Morris-Brash and Josh Celiscar. The linebackers and secondary have holes to fill with only one linebacker returning with experience while the secondary is a complete rebuild with transfers and recruits.

This matchup for UCF is a great way to start the season, as their opponent Kent State is far less talented than in previous seasons and that will give the Knights time to get up to game speed before they start playing a tough Big 12 schedule. Look for UCF to use its running attack led by signal caller Plumlee and wear down the Kent State defense, resulting in UCF easily covering as double digit chalk. Final Score Prediction, UCF Knights win and cover ATS 55-10.