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Friday Fast Facts – Central Florida Week
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Leading off …
— “T.I.P.S” … Our weekly preview postings are available for your review and comment. My weekly written preview, along with my predictions for CU’s first-ever game against Central Florida can be found here. The CU at the Game Podcast Review/Preview, looking back at the Baylor game, and previewing the UCF game, can be found at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and … the podcast can also be found here.
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Big Picture …
— First-ever … This Saturday will mark the first-ever game for Colorado against Central Florida. Of the remaining members of the new Big 12, CU has played only one game against Houston and only one game against Cincinnati, with both of those games played in the early 1970s (both CU victories);
— CU’s overtime win over Baylor … was the first for the Buffs in a Big 12 Conference game since CU defeated Kansas State, 44-36, on November 20, 2010. CU’s last loss as a member in the Big came in the 2010 regular season finale, a 45-17 loss to No. 15 Nebraska, on November 26, 2010. The Buffs haven’t won a Big 12 road game, however, since 2007 in a win over Texas Tech in Lubbock. As a result, CU enters this weekend’s game having lost their last 13 Big 12 road games;
— Fox loves Coach Prime … The Fox Big Noon Kickoff Show made its debut during the 2019 season. Until Coach Prime came along, however, the University of Colorado had never played in a game from a site where the Kickoff Show originated. The CU/UCF game will mark the fifth game in the 17-game Coach Prime era with the Buffs featured by the Big Noon Kickoff Show (with CU being 3-1 in the previous four appearances);
— More Rain … Hurricane Helene did not pass near Orlando, but there were impacts. The Buffs would have normally flown out to the game on Thursday, but left a day early in order to avoid the storm. The forecast for the game (as of this writing) is for a high of 86-degrees for the 3:30 p.m., ET kickoff, with a 30% chance of rain and around 80% humidity;
— The ESPN Power Index … doesn’t like CU’s chances in the game. The Buffs are given only a 17.8% chance of winning; the Knights 82.2%. Last week against Baylor, the Buffs were given an 55.8% chance of beating the Bears;
— The game will be telecast nationally by Fox, with Kevin Kugler on the play-by-play, Brock Huard on color, and Allison Williams on the sidelines. 850 KOA radio will have Mark Johnson with the play-by-play, and former CU head coach Gary Barnett as the analyst. The game will be the fifth in five games in which Colorado has been featured on a national network.
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Getting to Know the Knights …
— Not much in common … Central Florida has only been playing football since 1979, so it is not a surprise that CU has a dominating lead in most historical categories (e.g., Colorado is 30th in all-time wins, with 726; UCF is 123rd, with 298). The Knights started out as a Division III independent, moving up to Division I-A in 1996. Central Florida went through three conferences (Mid-American, 2002-04); Conference USA (2005-12); and the American Athletic Conference (2013-22) before joining the Big 12 in 2023;
— Scott Frost’s natty … Before returning to Lincoln as the prodigal son, Scott Frost led Central Florida to a “national championship”. Under Frost, the 2017 Knights completed a 13–0 perfect season. The Knights were not selected for the College Football Playoff, instead completing their season with a New Year’s Day win in the 2018 Peach Bowl over the No. 7 Auburn Tigers. UCF athletic director Danny White stated that UCF would claim the 2017 national championship, hang a national title banner, and hold a national championship parade and celebration;
— The Bounce House … FBC Mortgage Stadium is affectionately known as “The Bounce House”. Opened in 2007, it was found to be susceptible to considerable shaking when its crowd jumps in unison. Measures were undertaken following the stadium’s inaugural season to reduce these effects to ensure safety. Present capacity is 45,301, and a sell out is expected (the only non-sellout in the Coach Prime era came when the Buffs played in Pullman against Washington State last November).
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Stats Worth Noting …
— Clash of styles … While stats from the first third of the season are still a bit skewed, how the CU/UCF game will be fought is clear. Central Florida is No. 1 in the nation in rushing offense, at 375 yards per game. Meanwhile, the Colorado defense is 82nd nationally in rushing defense (giving up 150.8 yards per game). At the same time, CU is 5th in the nation in passing offense (335 yards per game), while Central Florida is 94th in passing yards allowed (238.7 yards per game);
— Third quarter dominance … CU’s scoring has been fairly well spread out by quarters in the first four games of the season. The Buffs have 21 first quarter points, with 27 in the second, 24 in the third, and 28 in the fourth (with a much appreciated seven points in overtime. CU’s opponents, though have had a great deal of success in the first half (30 points in the first quarter; 45 in the second), but have been stymied in the second (zero points in the third quarter; 19 in the fourth … and zero in overtime);
— Stopping them short … Colorado is 23rd in the nation in red zone defense, giving up 11 scores in 16 opponent opportunities. Even more impressive is the fact that the Buff defense has given up only seven touchdowns in those 16 drives (44%).
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Player Notes …
— On offense, Travis Hunter has now had, dating back to last season, five consecutive 100-yard receiving games (107 yards v. Utah; 132 v. NDSU; 107 v. Nebraska; 100 v. Colorado State; 130 v. Baylor). Hunter’s five consecutive 100-yard games is the longest current streak in the NCAA;
— Hunter is fifth in the nation in receptions (37) and receiving touchdowns (5). Hunter is 8th in the nation in receiving yards (472). On defense, Hunter is not getting too many opportunities … in 41 pass attempts by Baylor last weekend, Hunter’s receivers were targeted … zero times;
— LaJohntay Wester is No. 2 in the NCAA in career receptions among current players, with 270;
— Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has 1,340 yards passing after four games this season, fifth in the nation. Sanders is the only current quarterback in the NCAA with over 100 touchdown passes (108) and fewer than 20 interceptions (19)
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Big 12 Notes
— Five Big 12 teams are ranked in this week’s AP Top 25, with No. 22 BYU making its 2024 debut. The Cougars join No. 10 Utah, No. 18 Iowa State, No. 20 Oklahoma State, and No. 23 Kansas State;
— When the season started, Colorado was scheduled to play five ranked teams: No. 12 Utah; No. 17 Oklahoma State; No. 18 Kansas State, No. 21 Arizona; and No. 22 Kansas. Since then, Arizona and Kansas have fallen out of the Top 25, with the loser of the No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 23 Kansas State likely to fall out in the next poll … which means that Colorado, after facing six ranked teams in 2023, could wind up facing only two ranked teams in 2024;
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Big 12 Week Five – Game times and odds …
From DraftKings.com …
- No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 23 Kansas State … 10:00 a.m., MT, ESPN … Kansas State is a 5.0-point home favorite … up from 4.5 points on Sunday …
- BYU at Baylor … 10:00 a.m., MT, FS1 … Baylor is a 3.0-point home favorite, up from 2.5 points …
- Colorado at UCF … 1:30 p.m., MT, FOX … UCF is a 14.0-point home favorite, up from 13.5 points …
- TCU at Kansas … 1:30 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … Kansas is a 2.0-point home favorite … same as Sunday …
- Iowa State at Houston … 5:00 p.m., MT, FS1 … Iowa State is a 16.0-point road favorite … up from 12.5 points …
- Cincinnati at Texas Tech … 6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN 2 … Texas Tech is a 4.0-point home favorite … up from 3.5 points …
- Arizona at No. 10 Utah … 8:15 p.m., MT, ESPN … Utah is a 8.0-point home favorite, down from 12.5 points …
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