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This is a decent price with which to take the key number on a matchup that bodes well for a sneaky cover spot by the Knights. They are coming off a bye following a disastrous stretch in which they blew a 28-point lead to Baylor and were blown out by Kansas. The return of QB John Rhys Plumlee from injury will help UCF keep pace on the scoreboard, and the Sooners could be in a hidden letdown spot with extra rest following their upset of rival Texas.
The return of John Rhys Plumlee scares me because the UCF offense looks much difference with him in the lineup. But the Sooners have rolled at home this season, and they know that style points may come into play later this season in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee. Also, Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who faces his former team, needs to keep posting big numbers for his Heisman campaign. Give me the Sooners.
A little extra oomph in this one, perhaps, for Sooner QB Dillon Gabriel, who transferred to Norman from UCF before last season. OU probably needed last weekend off after the Texas thriller the preceding Saturday, but nothing has stopped the Sooners as Brent Venables hasn't lost SU or vs. the spread while the aforementioned Gabriel (16 TDP, 2 picks) is now in the Heisman conversation. Things not going nearly as well for Gus Malzahn in Orlando, as the Knights don't yet have a Big 12 win, and electric QB John Rhys Plumlee at less than 100%. No matter the QB, this matchup can only point in one direction.
Oklahoma has blown the doors off teams at home all year long, and UCF has struggled in Big 12 play in its first season in the league. The Knights should have John Rhys Plumlee back, but I don't know that he makes much of a difference.
This has jumped 5 points since its open. UCF will get starting QB John Rhys Plumlee back from injury -- he did try to play on Oct. 7 but didn't last long. That's good news for an Under because JRP is a much better runner than passer. And one would think the Knights have an idea how to defend Sooners QB Dillon Gabriel considering he used to play there. OU's offense has been sensational, so UCF must chew clock. The SL Model has 60 points scored and that's about where I lean.
Gus Malzahn says starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee is good to go coming out of the off week, and that should lead to an upgrade for an offense that still rates as one of the top attacks in the Big 12 even with Plumlee sidelined. Plus, Oklahoma has had two weeks to soak in the praise and good vibes from the Texas win, so I'm factoring in the possibility that the Sooners are a shade off of their previous form in their first game back.
The Sooners have burst onto the scene in Brent Venables’ second season at the helm due, in part, to an improved defense. However, it’s really hard to slow down Knights quarterback John Rhys Plumlee – who will return this week after missing or limited due to injury in his last four games. The dual-threat star will keep this game within 20 points – especially if coach Gus Malzahn leaves him in during mop-up duty.