Houston (7-2) vs UCF (4-4)
November 7, 2025 at 08:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: UCF +1.5 — Over/Under: +47.5
The Houston Cougars and the Central Florida Knights meet Friday in college football action from FBC Mortgage Stadium. Here’s a Houston vs Central Florida prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Houston vs Central Florida pick. We will examine:
The Houston Cougars recent form and player performance
The Central Florida Knights recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Houston Cougars
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Central Florida Knights
Recent betting trends in games played between Houston and Central Florida
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Houston vs Central Florida game
The Cougars plowed through their first four games this year, blowing past Stephen F. Austin, Rice, Colorado and Oregon State with victories. Houston took their first loss at the hands of Texas Tech in game five, then came back with wins over Oklahoma State, Arizona and Arizona State in the next trio. In the win over the Sun Devils, Houston gave up 426 yards and 6.4 yards per play but also had just 5-of-15 allowed on third-down conversion attempts. Arizona State’s 12 penalties for 76 yards didn’t hurt Houston’s victory chances either.
The Cougars fell back into the loss column in their latest game versus West Virginia on Saturday. Houston was all tied up 21-21 by the end of the first half, then got outscored 24-14 from there in a 45-35 defeat in the end. QB Conner Weigman finished 25-of-35 for 309 yards, four scores and two interceptions in the loss, and Dean Conners added 71 yards off 13 carries. Amare Thomas had a very nice game on 10 catches for 99 yards and three touchdowns as the team’s leading receiver in the defeat, though.
over on the Central Florida side, they opened up their season on a nice run as well. The Knights took out Jacksonville State, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina in the first three outings before falling versus Kansas State, Kansas and Cincinnati in the next trio. UCF blew out West Virginia in the next game, though. In that matchup the Knights notched 578 yards total, 255 rush yards and 7.7 yards per play but went just 5-of-16 on third-down tries.
Matched up against Baylor last weekend, UCF was looking at a 20-3 deficit by the end of the half. The Knights gave up 10 more unanswered points from there in a 30-3 blowout loss. QB Tayven Jackson was 18-of-33 for 151 yards and two interceptions. Tops in rushing was Myles Montgomery with 50 yards on 12 carries, and Duane Thomas had eight catches for 77 yards in the losing effort.
I’m just going to stay with Houston. The Cougars need a good bounce-back effort after their rough upset loss at home versus West Virginia, and this is a nice spot to get it. Houston managed 400 yards in the defeat along with 6.0 yards per play but also had just 5-of-12 on third-down tries along with four turnovers. The defense held up well on third downs (5-of-17) but not fourth (4-of-4) while giving up 246 rush yards and notching no takeaways. Houston is still scoring well right now though, with 24 or more points in four straight outings.
As for UCF, they posted just 225 yards, 151 pass yards, 4.0 yards per play, 13 first downs and a miserable 1-of-11 on third downs in their loss to Baylor—not to mention the two picks and eight penalties. The Knights are going to have to sharpen up in a big way this weekend, and I don’t think they’ll get it done against Houston.
The Houston Cougars recent form and player performance
The Central Florida Knights recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Houston Cougars
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Central Florida Knights
Recent betting trends in games played between Houston and Central Florida
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Houston vs Central Florida game
Houston Cougars Betting Preview
The Cougars plowed through their first four games this year, blowing past Stephen F. Austin, Rice, Colorado and Oregon State with victories. Houston took their first loss at the hands of Texas Tech in game five, then came back with wins over Oklahoma State, Arizona and Arizona State in the next trio. In the win over the Sun Devils, Houston gave up 426 yards and 6.4 yards per play but also had just 5-of-15 allowed on third-down conversion attempts. Arizona State’s 12 penalties for 76 yards didn’t hurt Houston’s victory chances either.
The Cougars fell back into the loss column in their latest game versus West Virginia on Saturday. Houston was all tied up 21-21 by the end of the first half, then got outscored 24-14 from there in a 45-35 defeat in the end. QB Conner Weigman finished 25-of-35 for 309 yards, four scores and two interceptions in the loss, and Dean Conners added 71 yards off 13 carries. Amare Thomas had a very nice game on 10 catches for 99 yards and three touchdowns as the team’s leading receiver in the defeat, though.
Central Florida Knights Betting Preview
over on the Central Florida side, they opened up their season on a nice run as well. The Knights took out Jacksonville State, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina in the first three outings before falling versus Kansas State, Kansas and Cincinnati in the next trio. UCF blew out West Virginia in the next game, though. In that matchup the Knights notched 578 yards total, 255 rush yards and 7.7 yards per play but went just 5-of-16 on third-down tries.
Matched up against Baylor last weekend, UCF was looking at a 20-3 deficit by the end of the half. The Knights gave up 10 more unanswered points from there in a 30-3 blowout loss. QB Tayven Jackson was 18-of-33 for 151 yards and two interceptions. Tops in rushing was Myles Montgomery with 50 yards on 12 carries, and Duane Thomas had eight catches for 77 yards in the losing effort.
Houston vs Central Florida Prediction
I’m just going to stay with Houston. The Cougars need a good bounce-back effort after their rough upset loss at home versus West Virginia, and this is a nice spot to get it. Houston managed 400 yards in the defeat along with 6.0 yards per play but also had just 5-of-12 on third-down tries along with four turnovers. The defense held up well on third downs (5-of-17) but not fourth (4-of-4) while giving up 246 rush yards and notching no takeaways. Houston is still scoring well right now though, with 24 or more points in four straight outings.
As for UCF, they posted just 225 yards, 151 pass yards, 4.0 yards per play, 13 first downs and a miserable 1-of-11 on third downs in their loss to Baylor—not to mention the two picks and eight penalties. The Knights are going to have to sharpen up in a big way this weekend, and I don’t think they’ll get it done against Houston.