Can the likes of Memphis and Houston challenge the UCF Knights in the AAC this year?
Can the likes of Memphis and Houston challenge the UCF Knights in the AAC this year?
Although the University of Central Florida’s football program has a few questions to answer, especially in the QB position, the Knights are favourites to win the 2019 American Athletic Conference title after going 12-1 last year. They will have some competition, however, with Memphis and Houston not far back in the NCAAF betting markets.
+140 at Bovada
Central Florida won the AAC last season but don’t have the QB spot locked down as yet, with Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush and sophomore Darriel Mack to fight it out for the starting slot. Still, the Knights return RB Greg McCrae and WR Gabriel Davis, and they should have one of the better offensive lines in the nation. The secondary should be a strength for UCF this season, but they had issues against the run in 2018 and that is a big concern for the defensive unit. Their two toughest games may be against Memphis at home and Cincinnati on the road.
+360 at Bovada
It will be hard for Memphis to replace RB Darrell Henderson, who now plays in the NFL with the LA Rams, but Patrick Taylor may be primed for a big senior season and QB Brady White (3,296 yards, 26 TD last season) are back. The Tigers’ defense may be better than last season with eight starters returning on that side of the ball. The ACC South Division may come down to the mid-season game at Houston.
+600 at Bovada
Houston will put up the points this season, but can they keep other teams from doing the same? D’Eriq King is a dynamic dual-threat QB that passed for 2,982 yards last term and rushed for 674 yards, while the Cougars may have one of the deepest WR corps in the nation. UH gave up an average of 37.5 ppg last year and go into 2019 without star DT Ed Oliver, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills. They host Memphis and Cincinnati and don’t play UCF, and they should be ready for the conference season with early games against Oklahoma and Washington State.
+700 at Bovada
Cincinnati went 11-2 last season and their offense is loaded with QB Desmond Ridder and 1,000-yard rusher Michael Warren. One concern for the Bearcats is that they have to replace three starters on the offensive line. Like UCF, Cincy are stacked in the secondary, but a few new faces in the front-line defensive unit have to step up right away. The schedule for the Bearcats is a tough one, with Ohio State in the second game and road trips to Memphis and Houston in conference play.
+875 at Bovada
South Florida blew out of the gates last season, going 7-0 before losing their last six games. QB Blake Barnett returns and has a lot of weapons at his disposal, but the defense, which gave up 32 ppg last season, is the big concern. The tail end of the season is a killer for the Bulls, with Cincy, Memphis, and UCF all on the road in their last three games.
+1575 at Bovada
Temple went 7-1 in conference play last season and while they have Anthony Russo, they lost some big-time players in the latest NFL draft. The defense was pretty average last season and must be much better this time around for the Owls to have any chance at the conference crown.
+3450 at Bovada
Tulane may be a dark horse, as they have a good defense with many players returning and one of the best WR tandems in the conference in Darnell Mooney and Jalen McCleskey. The backfield is deep as well and QB Justin McMillan has to have a big season. The Green Wave have a lot of talent but open the AAC season against Houston, have Memphis on the road, and host UCF in their second-last game.
Here are the latest NCAA Football betting lines for the 2019 AAC title:
Central Florida +140 Memphis +360 Houston U +600 Cincinnati U +700 South Florida +875 Temple +1525 Tulane +3450 SMU +3750 Tulsa +4500 Navy +5250 East Carolina +20900 Connecticut +50900
See more college football odds online at Bovada