The UCF Knights will attempt to stay unbeaten on Saturday as they host No. 12 South Carolina at the BH Networks Stadium in Orlando. This weekend's non-conference meeting between the two schools is scheduled to get underway at 12:00pm ET on ABC. Week five College Football Picks from 5Dimes are favoring Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks at -7.5 against the spread and -300 on the money line ($300 wins $100). UCF is drawing a +250 money line ($100 wins $250) to win its fourth game of the season.
After two SEC games, South Carolina heads into non-conference waters again, and they could be choppier than some expect. UCF has won double digit games two of the last three seasons, and it enters this weekend's game with a 3-0 record.
The Knights beat up on patsies to open the season, taking out Akron 38-7 and Florida International 38-0, but they took a big step up in competition two weekends ago. UCF headed to Happy Valley to face an improved Penn State squad, and it left Beaver Stadium with a 34-31 victory.
The performance was no fluke as the Knights racked up 507 total yards and rushed for 219 yards on 38 carries (5.8 ypc) against a defense that allowed just 24 points to its other three opponents (Syracuse, Eastern Michigan, Kent State).
Saturday will represent an even higher hurdle for George O'Leary's squad, but it does get the Gamecocks within the friendly confines of Bright House Networks Stadium. The venue has not been kind to visitors in recent seasons as the Knights are 21-5 in their last 26 home games.
Obviously South Carolina will not be intimidated, having faced No. 9 Georgia in Athens a couple of weekends ago, but Coach Spurrier is, no doubt, aware of the problems UCF presents.
The Gamecocks have been sloppy at times in the early going as they turned the ball over three times in their most recent outing, a 35-25 win over Vanderbilt, and their defense got gashed for 41 points and 536 yards in a loss to the aforementioned Bulldogs.
While the Knights are not as prolific on offense as Todd Gurley and company, they are more than capable of putting points on the scoreboard.
O'Leary has seven starters back from last year's 35.4 points per game unit, including quarterback Blake Bortles, who has completed 71.4 percent of his passes this season for 816 yards and seven touchdowns.
South Carolina is favored for a reason, but anything less than its best effort could result in a loss.
South Carolina vs UCF College Football Picks:
South Carolina Gamecocks -7.5 (-110), -300 (Moneyline)
UCF Knights +7.5 (-110), +250 (Moneyline)
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