Southern Methodist @ Central Florida preview
Spectrum Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2008 ) Southern Methodist 17, Central Florida 31
Central Florida is on a roll and a championship is there for the taking if it can keep it going.
The Conference USA title is on the line Saturday when No. 25 Central Florida hosts Southern Methodist.
Central Florida (9-3, 7-1 C-USA East) has won seven of its last eight games, all against conference opponents. The Knights, whose only loss in league play came at home against Southern Mississippi, are coming off a 37-17 victory over Memphis to wrap up the regular season.
The Knights are hosting the Conference USA title game for the third time since the league split into two divisions in 2005. They are 1-1 in the previous two games.
If Central Florida is to win a second C-USA title, it will likely need a strong game from true freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey.
Godfrey is eighth in the country in passing efficiency with a rating of 164.79 and he guides an offense that is averaging 35.2 points per game, good for 21st in the country.
SMU (7-5, 6-2 West) clinched its spot in the C-USA Championship game with a 45-38 overtime victory over East Carolina.
The Mustangs have undergone quite a transformation under coach June Jones.
After a pair of 1-11 seasons, including Jones’ first year with the program, SMU went 8-5 a year ago and now finds itself a win away from a conference title.
The Mustangs tied Tulsa for the top spot in the West Division but won the head-to-head matchup between the teams in October. A win over the Knights would give the Mustangs their first conference title since they finished tied for first in the Southwest Conference in 1984.
SMU will have its work cut out for it playing in the Knights’ stadium and facing a defense that ranks first or second in the conference in every major category.
That will mean Jones needs a big game from running back Zach Line, who has rushed for 1,297 yards, quarterback Kyle Padron (28 TD passes) and receiver Aldrick Robinson (57 receptions, 1,182 yards).
The winner of Saturday’s title game is likely headed to the Liberty Bowl.
The Liberty Bowl has the first selection among C-USA teams, but also has an out clause in its agreement. Conference USA also has agreements with the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, and the Beef O’Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl.
Army has already accepted a bid to the Armed Forces Bowl.
Central Florida leads the series with SMU 2-0, including a 31-17 victory in the last meeting in 2008.