Arizona Wildcats vs. Central Florida Knights Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 2nd 2024

Preview and Prediction

Arizona is set to make a trip to Orlando, Florida to take on UCF on Saturday afternoon in a matchup between two teams that have both undergone changes in coaching and play-calling this season.

The Knights (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) suffered their fifth consecutive loss with a 37-24 defeat against then-No. 11 BYU last Saturday. Just two days later, head coach Gus Malzahn made the decision to fire defensive coordinator Ted Roof and hand over play-calling duties on offense to offensive coordinator Tim Harris.

Replacing Roof as the defensive coordinator is Addison Williams, who has primarily coached defensive backs.

"These decisions were solely made by me," Malzahn stated during his weekly press conference. "I believe it gives our team the best chance to break out of this losing streak."

Earlier this season, first-year Arizona coach Brent Brennan made the decision to switch play-calling responsibilities from offensive coordinator Dino Babers to tight ends coach and passing-game coordinator Matt Adkins.

The Wildcats (3-5, 1-4) have now lost four consecutive games after falling 31-26 to West Virginia last Saturday.

Their last victory was on September 28th, when they defeated Utah 23-10 in Salt Lake City. At the time, Utah was ranked 10th in the nation.

UCF started the season strong with a 3-0 record, including a 35-34 win over TCU on September 14th. However, they have struggled since then.

"I would assume that some elements of their previous schemes will still be present," Brennan commented on Monday regarding UCF's coaching changes. "It presents a challenge because it's something different than what we've seen on film."

UCF currently ranks 19th in the nation in total offense, averaging 454.8 yards per game. Their running game is even more impressive, ranking third in the country with an average of 267.9 yards per game.

Running back RJ Harvey has been a standout for the Knights, rushing for 1,017 yards on 149 carries.

However, UCF's defense has struggled to stop opponents on third and fourth down, allowing a conversion rate of 47.5% and 77.8%, respectively.

On the other side, Arizona's defense has been plagued by injuries, with captains Jacob Manu, Treydan Stukes, and Gunner Maldonado all out for the season with leg injuries.

The Wildcats' offense is led by the connection between quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

McMillan currently ranks third in the nation in average receiving yards per game with 122.8.

PREDICTION

Arizona Wildcats

Central Florida Knights

Arizona Wildcats vs. Central Florida Knights Recap NOV 2TH 2024

UCF scored touchdowns on seven consecutive possessions and tallied 602 yards in total offense in a 56-12 rout of Arizona in a Big 12 game Saturday at Orlando, Fla.

The Knights (4-5, 2-4 conference) played their first game since coach Gus Malzahn fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof and replaced him with Addison Williams, who has coached primarily defensive backs.

Malzahn also relinquished play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. heading into the game with Arizona.

Dylan Rizk, a redshirt freshman, made the first start in his college career and completed 20 of 25 passes for 294 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Rizk also had 55 yards rushing on nine carries.

RJ Harvey rushed for 184 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns.

The Knights' Jacoby Jones finished with five catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Randy Pittman Jr. had five receptions for 80 yards with two TDs.

Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita was 24 of 33 for 256 passing yards and two TDs with no interceptions. Seven of those passes were caught by Chris Hunter for a total of 102 yards.

Tetairoa McMillan had six catches for 84 yards with a touchdown. He became the first Arizona receiver to have two 1,000-yard seasons in a career. McMillan totaled 1,402 yards last season and is at 1,066 this year.

Rizk completed a 48-yard Hail Mary pass to Pittman as time expired in the first half, giving UCF a 35-6 lead.

That occurred 46 seconds after Arizona (3-6, 1-5) scored its first touchdown of the game, a 24-yard pass from Fifita to Sam Olson.

Arizona cut the lead to 42-12 with 8:08 left in the third quarter on a 2-yard pass from Fifita to McMillan.

The Knights struck back fast again less than two minutes later on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Rizk to Jones.

UCF went on its run of scoring a touchdown on seven straight possessions after a missed field goal concluded its first drive.

The streak ended with a punt with 13:32 remaining.

The Knights snapped a five-game losing streak with the victory.

Arizona is now on a five-game losing streak, failing to win since upsetting then-No. 10 Utah 23-10 on Sept. 28 in Salt Lake City.