New Hampshire vs UCF Prediction College Football Picks 8/29/24

The New Hampshire Wildcats and UCF Knights meet Thursday in week 1 college football action at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Here’s a New Hampshire vs UCF Prediction. This article will include a New Hampshire vs UCF Pick.

New Hampshire Wildcats Betting Preview

The New Hampshire Wildcats won 6 games last season and enter the fourth year under coach Ricky Santos. New Hampshire returns 6 starters on offense, including a third team all conference player in wide receiver Logan Tomlinson. Seth Morgan hopes to become the starting quarterback after previously putting on a show for the VMI Keydets. Defensively, New Hampshire was god awful a year ago, but there’s talent on that side of the ball, particularly on the line with all conference players Dylan Ruiz and Josiah Silver.

New Hampshire returns 5 starters on defense overall. Cornerback Noah Stansbury is as experienced as they come, and defensive back Zeroun Skinner comes over from FAU. New Hampshire has to find stability at quarterback and needs depth to make sure another disappointing season doesn’t take place. This will be a nice test for New Hampshire as a measuring stick game.

UCF Knights Betting Preview

The UCF Knights won 6 games last season and enter the fourth year under coach Gus Malzahn. UCF landed Arkansas transfer quarterback KJ Jefferson, who threw for nearly 8,000 yards and 67 touchdowns while rushing for 1,876 yards and 21 touchdowns. The addition of Jefferson is why UCF is a serious contender to win the Big 12, but the Knights also snagged Texas wide receiver Agiye Hall and Toledo running back Peny Boone. Hall was a highly rated prospect who couldn’t find a home at Alabama or Texas, while Boone has over 2,000 career rushing yards and was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year last season.

Defensively, Lee Hunter returns after 69 tackles, Malachi Lawrence had 7.5 sacks and Demari Henderson led UCF with 3 interceptions. Former 4-star defensive end Nyjalik Kelly comes over from Miami. This is as talented of a team as UCF has had in quite some time, and the Knights are sure to give Utah and Kansas State a run for a conference title.

Why the UCF Knights will win

• UCF has won 14 of its last 15 games against non-conference opponents at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
• UCF has covered the spread in seven of its last eight Thursday games against non-AP-ranked teams.

Total Points Facts

• Each of UCF’s last five games have gone UNDER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• UCF ranked T15th among FBS teams for Q1 win percentage last season (.615).
• UCF was one of only 22 FBS teams to lose 2+ games when leading after Q3 last season.

New Hampshire vs UCF Prediction

This is a massive line for a season opener, and you have to question just how motivated UCF is to win by endless touchdowns. The problem is, there’s such a talent gap between New Hampshire and UCF that it may not even matter. UCF is as talented as it’s been under Gus Malzahn and that’s not great news for a New Hampshire team that’s been a middle of the road FCS team for the most part over the last few years. Not a game I’m running to the window to bet week 1, but it’s UCF or pass for me. I have better things to do on Thursday night than hoping New Hampshire to get a backdoor cover.