Free NCAA Football Prediction: Knights vs. Cardinals Odds
Looking for UCF Knights vs. Louisville Cardinals free picks? College football betting sees the UCF Knights taking on the Louisville Cardinals on Friday, September 17, 2021, at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 3 predictions like this Knights Cardinals free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 3
UCF Knights (2-0) vs. Louisville Cardinals (1-1)
Date: Friday, September 17, 2021
Time: 7:30 pm EST
Venue: Cardinal Stadium
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: UCF -7 / Louisville +7
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: UCF -250 / Louisville +220
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 67.5
Week 3 college football sees the Knights and Cardinals meet at Cardinal Stadium.
The UCF Knights enter week 3 of the season 2 – 0 after picking up wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman to start the 2021 campaign. UCF head coach Gus Malzahn took over the program this season and he had 17 returning starters to work with with a handful of newcomers worth their weight in salt. The Knights brought in a handful of new receivers to help Gabriel develop his game, as he already has over 20 starts under his belt in this being only his official Sophomore season.
A 63 – 14 win over BC last weekend will not impress anyone for the most part, but it will help boost the UCF numbers. Dillon Gabriel threw for two scores and 312 yards while also finding the end zone with his legs in the win. Gabriel is up to 630 passing yards through the first two outings of 2021 and he will hope to build on those stats this weekend favored on the road against an ACC program.
The Cardinals easily got past FCS Eastern Kentucky last weekend after an opening day loss to Ole Miss. At 1 – 1, the Cards look to build their non-conference resume with a challenge against UCF as home dogs this weekend. Louisville opens their ACC slate next weekend against Florida State on the road with a trip to Wake Forest to follow.
The Knights are favored by 7 points in this AAC vs. ACC matchup.
UCF Knights
UCF comes into Louisville favored by a TD and is expected to find their third win of the campaign this Saturday at Cardinal Stadium. The last time these two teams played in 2013, Blake Bortles was in a UCF jersey eventually making his way to Jacksonville with the NFL.
Gabriel has already found 6 TD passes in the early going although he has been picked off twice this year as well. Gabriel was expected to put up decent numbers in 2021 and he is already doing just that.
Through 2 games, UCF is ranked #2 in the country with 622 total yards and they have not turned the ball over yet. Gabriel already has 3 receivers over the 100-yard plateau which has the UCF passing game ranked 9th in the country.
Defensively, only 1 team can be the best and UCF sits #1 against the run having only allowed 22 rush yards
Louisville Cardinals
Cards QB Malik Cunningham also benefitted from a 2020 grace which makes this officially his junior season at Louisville. Cunningham has already has earned 27 starts over the last 3 years which gives him 2 years of eligibility left to play with.
Cunnigham has completed 37 of his 60 pass attempts this year although he only has 2 TDs to go with 1 INT. Cunningham is already over the century mark in rushing through two games, however, adding to his dual-threat capability.
Jalen Mitchell has accumulated 139 rushing yards and 33 yards in the passing game to add to his versatility out of the backfield. Ahman Higgins-Bruce will catch anything thrown in his general direction averaging 28 yards per catch with 6 receptions.
The issues still remain on defense, as we all saw when the Cards played Ole Miss opening weekend. There are a lot of holes to fill and that is almost certainly why UCF is favored to walk into Louisville and pick up a win. The Cards defense ranks 102nd against the pass already and Eastern Kentucky was their only other game besides Ole Miss.
Apparently, the line setters seem to be expected another boatload of points, being that the total in this game is well into the 60s. Both of the totals in Louisville’s first two games have been sky high and easily came in Under the numbers.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Knights are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 games on field turf.
- Knights are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite.
- Over is 7-0 in Knights last 7 games in September.
- Over is 6-1 in Knight’s last 7 non-conference games.
- Over is 7-2 in the Cardinals’ last 9 home games.
- Over is 7-3 in Cardinals’ last 10 games on field turf.
Free Week 3 NCAA Football Pick
The line is sitting in a spot where the favorite bettors are happy with enough room to suck in the dog bettors. Unfortunately, there is no bark in birds and the Cardinals defense might just cost the team another win.
4* Free Week 3 NCAA Betting Pick:
UCF is the best play to make at -7, as I expect the Knights to take a 38 – 28 win o the road.
4* Free Week 3 NCAA Betting Pick: UCF -7
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