Akron @ UCF preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2012 ) Central Florida 56, Akron 14

Sterner tests will undoubtedly await Central Florida and quarterback Blake Bortles, but for now they will have to be satisfied with kicking off a new season Thursday in a non-conference game against undermanned and visiting Akron. Bortles, a redshirt junior, returns for his second season as the starter for coach George O'Leary, whose team moved from Conference USA to the new American Athletic Conference. J.J Worton, Rannell Hall and Breshad Perriman lead a strong receiving corps.

Terry Bowden begins his second season on the sideline at Akron, which has posted three straight 1-11 seasons. Sophomore Kyle Pohl was expected to take over at quarterback, but the recent arrival of transfer Nick Hirschman muddles the picture. The junior, who is eligible to play this season after earning his degree in three years, attempted 128 passes in two seasons at Colorado.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Central Florida - 21

ABOUT AKRON (2012: 1-11, 0-8 MAC): A.J. Milwee - a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill award, which goes to the top player in Division II - has been promoted from quarterback coach to offensive coordinator. The 26-year-old set several school passing records while playing under Bowden at North Alabama and will enter the season as the second youngest coordinator in the FBS. Former N.C. State coach Chuck Amato heads a defense that held only three opponents to less than 30 points last season.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (2012: 10-4, 7-1 C-USA): The Knights' season received a huge lift before it even started when the school won an appeal of a one-year postseason ban, which the NCAA instituted for recruiting violations in football and basketball. The reprieve allows Central Florida to compete for the automatic BCS bid that the AAC received for this season only. The Knights were picked to finish fourth in the conference by AAC media.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Redshirt junior Storm Johnson is in a battle with sophomore Cedric Thompson to determine who will serve as the top running back for Central Florida following the departure of Latavius Murray, who ran for 1,106 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.

2. Akron has lost 26 straight road games - its last victory away from home was a 42-35 verdict at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 18, 2008.

3. Safety Clayton Geathers, LB Terrance Plummer and DL Thomas Niles will lead a Central Florida defense that lost seven of its top 10 tacklers from a season ago.

PREDICTION: Central Florida 55, Akron 13