GT 7.5 Home Dog to UCF

SOWEGA Jacket

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I’m not buying all the UCF love, we may lose but i think these teams are prob a lot more even than people are giving us credit for. Also they say a team makes its biggest improvements btwn games 1-2 🤞
It’s not love for UCF, it’s called respect. The last 3 seasons they’ve won 13, 12, and 10 games. I’ve seen them play a lot of games. They have legit players and legit coaching staff. We’ve been a dumpster fire for 3 years. Yes, we feel good right now after Saturday, but UCF plays with a chip. I‘m really looking forward to see how Collins gets this team to respond. More so than any scenario we’ve seen under Collins I am most interested to see how we respond in this situation.
 

boger2337

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It’s not love for UCF, it’s called respect. The last 3 seasons they’ve won 13, 12, and 10 games. I’ve seen them play a lot of games. They have legit players and legit coaching staff. We’ve been a dumpster fire for 3 years. Yes, we feel good right now after Saturday, but UCF plays with a chip. I‘m really looking forward to see how Collins gets this team to respond. More so than any scenario we’ve seen under Collins I am most interested to see how we respond in this situation.
Something we haven't seen in the Collins era. How do you respond after winning a game "you shouldn't win". Id be nervous playing Cuse let alone UCF.
These are 18-24 yr old kids(24 being Curry 🤣)
Do they settle down and focus, or taste the victory too long and get abused? We will see in a few days.
My bet is somewhere in the middle. There will be guys who cannot focus, and some will still have a chip on their shoulder. I'm positive Mason will come out hungry and angry.
 

billga99

Ramblin' Wreck
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I think a much better chance for our team to come out focused against UCF since they are a ranked opponent. Had out next opponent been Syracuse (particularly since they got beat handily), I think a good chance our team would have come out over confident. I just don't see that against a ranked opponent and us being an underdog.
 

Scubapro

Banned
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Are you referencing Auburn as their opponent in UCF's bowl game which topped off their undefeated season? If I recall Auburn's big-time RB was hurt and that bowl game was one of those where the game was clearly a let-down for Auburn. Auburn had gotten smacked down by ugag in the SEC Champ game but were hoping for playoff birth with a win over ugag.
Yeah...all the ALLbarn fans in my neighborhood were making excuses. Auburn didn't wanna play UCF since it wasn't a real challenge. :)
 

Jacoooooob

Jolly Good Fellow
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UCF was darn good the year they went undefeated. It makes me chuckle to hear GT fans disparage them because it’s exactly what we heard in 1990. Would they have won the title? Doubtful, but they were really good with a legit QB. This is gonna be a shoot out type game and we’ll need every bit of Sims using his legs to keep drives going. We should be able to run on them which will open up Brown and Carter downfield. I like our chances because our DB’s are a strength. It’s going to be a fast fun game that will give us what we need - reps against a legit top 25 team.
Please do us all a favor and never compare 2017 UCF to the ‘90 Tech team again. The ‘90 tech team wasn’t playing teams like Eastern Carolina and Marshall every week, they were playing BIG football, UCF was basically playing junior colleges. And no one talks about how Auburn’s defense was injury ridden in that bowl game, if it hadn’t been, you would’ve seen a different outcome
 

YJMD

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UCF may have some depth issues on their defensive front 7, and while they return a lot they lost some important players for them. They also have some transfers they expect to fill the gaps. They are a lot different than the Noles. I'm worried about their speed at RB, and they got at least 1 WR who can burn you deep. They play fast so if we're not well prepared we can end up out of position or unable to mix up the defensive calls. I can see us bottling up the running game like we did FSU, but if we don't they can get chunks. I think we can disrupt timing for them with our physical press man, but they're liable to bust one now and then and run up and down the field if they get a rhythm. I like the matchups on individual plays, but over the course of the game I'm not so sure. Offensively, we could have a big output if we can get the run game going. We are much more physical with our skill guys. Jeff will need to read the defense quickly, put velocity on the ball, and put it in the right spot. If we do that consistently, I feel really good about the O, but that is far from a given. They're vulnerable to a mobile quarterback escaping the pocket and cutting upfield. It's a good matchup for us, but it can be hard to produce consistent output and we may struggle in the redzone/kicking game. The thing that scares me most is them returning kicks/punts. We weren't very impressive in that against FSU. Pressley booming one might end up being our worst nightmare. I am most hopefully for Jahmyr Gibbs to see the field. If he's ready, he can put the pressure on them all by himself. Rip off a few gains on the ground then send him downfield on a passing route. Jeff will have to manipulate the defense with his eyes, but I think we can steal a touchdown in a big situation.
 

BCJacket

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Are you referencing Auburn as their opponent in UCF's bowl game which topped off their undefeated season? If I recall Auburn's big-time RB was hurt and that bowl game was one of those where the game was clearly a let-down for Auburn. Auburn had gotten smacked down by ugag in the SEC Champ game but were hoping for playoff birth with a win over ugag.

Yes, precisely. Their argument for being National Champions was beating Auburn who beat [actual champion] Bama and some lesser SEC teams in the regular season. I may have stated it inartfully, but basically Auburns big wins that season were at home, and for the other reasons you mentioned, maybe that wasn't necessarily an accurate barometer. Other than that win, they canceled two games, won out in conference and beat a 4-8 Maryland. They were clearly good, but how good were they really?
 

BainbridgeJacket

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Yes, precisely. Their argument for being National Champions was beating Auburn who beat [actual champion] Bama and some lesser SEC teams in the regular season. I may have stated it inartfully, but basically Auburns big wins that season were at home, and for the other reasons you mentioned, maybe that wasn't necessarily an accurate barometer. Other than that win, they canceled two games, won out in conference and beat a 4-8 Maryland. They were clearly good, but how good were they really?
Just good enough that their coach left them for Nebraska right after their "National Championship"
 

CuseJacket

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I really don't understand what's happening on VegasInsider vs. other sites.

Every sportsbook on VegasInsider has GT opening as a 4 point favorite, now down to 2.5 to 3 point favorites: https://www.vegasinsider.com/[email protected]/date/09-18-20

Every other site shows GT as 7 to 8 point underdogs. Ex:

It's not a timing issue. It's also not an issue where VegasInsider just reversed the spread incorrectly. Anyone figure out the reason for the variance? Seems to me VegasInsider is wrong.
 

boger2337

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I really don't understand what's happening on VegasInsider vs. other sites.

Every sportsbook on VegasInsider has GT opening as a 4 point favorite, now down to 2.5 to 3 point favorites: https://www.vegasinsider.com/[email protected]/date/09-18-20

Every other site shows GT as 7 to 8 point underdogs. Ex:

It's not a timing issue. It's also not an issue where VegasInsider just reversed the spread incorrectly. Anyone figure out the reason for the variance? Seems to me VegasInsider is wrong.
I can only guess 3 issues. All are unlikely but have happened.

1. This is an old line from a previous years supposed match up.
2. Someone crunched the wrong numbers on either side and its giving a false spread.
3. This is the correct spread for vegas, but the 7.5 is the public given spread. (Lets dive deeper into this for the uninformed). Vegas will have their true spread for a game. So the number they think really happens. Then they have the number they know the public will "buy". Essentially a number that will cause interest. GT being -3 may scare some UCF bettors off by thinking vegas knows something and GT bettors will say thats way too much for GT.
Setting GT at 7.5 gives UCF bettors confidence that UCF is superior due to their ranking and past records, and gives GT bettors confidence that a 7.5 spread is achievable. You never see the VEGAS number, but sometimes its exposed on accident on some websites due to error. Could this be it? Who knows.
 

Heisman's Ghost

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100% agreed.
To think we will blindly beat this UCF team is laughable. This is a hard working good team. If you under value a team they will punch you in the mouth.

I love what Curtis Ryans said. We are back to 0-0 sweep the win under the rug. STAY HUNGRY.

If they keep that energy and mindset we will be okay and have shots to win the game.

Curtis Ryans is my new favorite player. Came out of obscurity to play an outstanding game against the Criminoles. More pressure please Curtis. Mess up that pretty boy quarterback nice clean jersey for us.
 

takethepoints

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Looks about right to me.

Last week was a "first game" for both teams. We won, but we were lucky. They could easily have been up 20 -0 at the half, if their kicking wasn't as bad as ours and they didn't drop the pick-six. This week we'll learn more. If we can get our sea legs under us, we have a chance, even against a team like UCF. We are at home, after all.

Oth, we could regress. With a team this young, you never know. Also, I doubt seriously that UCF will allow as many open routes for short throws as FSU did; they'll press from the git-go.

It'll be a test alright. We have the talent to win, but I expect a squeaker. Every game this year, I might add.
 

SOWEGA Jacket

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Please do us all a favor and never compare 2017 UCF to the ‘90 Tech team again. The ‘90 tech team wasn’t playing teams like Eastern Carolina and Marshall every week, they were playing BIG football, UCF was basically playing junior colleges. And no one talks about how Auburn’s defense was injury ridden in that bowl game, if it hadn’t been, you would’ve seen a different outcome
Please take the time to read a post before you respond. I never compared the teams. I’m comparing the general reaction to those teams. Outside of Atlanta GT was disparaged and still are regarding 1990. Just like UCF was and is. Sure, we can make fun of their self declaration of a title but the bottom is line they went undefeated and beat an SEC giant in the bowl game. They’ve won double digit games since. They are good. If we win then that will be a nice feather in our cap. I expect to win but I have a lot of respect for the little guy who takes on all comers.
 

Heisman's Ghost

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We should look at this in the reverse going into the UCF game. Talent alone doesn’t win games.



Very true. FSU's worst class in the past five years was ranked #22. They had two classes that were in the top ten including one that was #2. In contrast, neither Tech nor UCF have had a class higher than FSU's worst class which was last year by the way. I don't think UCF has had a class higher than in the 40s or 50s in the past five years. Could be wrong about that. I do remember they had one that was ranked #75 which was their worst class in the past five years. FSU squanders talent, UCF makes the most of what they have.
 

Heisman's Ghost

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It’s not love for UCF, it’s called respect. The last 3 seasons they’ve won 13, 12, and 10 games. I’ve seen them play a lot of games. They have legit players and legit coaching staff. We’ve been a dumpster fire for 3 years. Yes, we feel good right now after Saturday, but UCF plays with a chip. I‘m really looking forward to see how Collins gets this team to respond. More so than any scenario we’ve seen under Collins I am most interested to see how we respond in this situation.

Yep, this is a challenging scenario for Coach Collins and his staff. Get the guys down to earth and focused on a team that is the very definition of explosive. Averaging over 500 yards a game last year and over 42 points a game. They can ring them up in a hurry. That said, last year they lost three games: Pitt, Tulsa, and Cincy. Not exactly a murderer's row but they still finished 2nd in the AAC and were first in the conference in total offense and scoring offense. The key is shutting down their fine all purpose back Otis Anderson. Fast, not very big but explosive running, receiving and returning kicks. If he is isolated on one of our safeties it might be a quick six. We will see. The best way to beat this team is to do it like Cincy did: smash mouth running the ball, make them go the length of the field and slow the game down. We can win this game but have to play clean. This is a momentum team that will get a game out of reach in a hurry.
 
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