UCF @ South Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 29, 2013 ) South Florida 20, Central Florida 23

Central Florida looks to keep its hopes for an American Athletic Conference title alive when it visits South Florida on Friday afternoon. The Knights have won two straight games in blowout fashion, clinching a bowl berth in the process and enter the contest tied in the loss column with Memphis and Cincinnati heading into the final weeks. UCF knocked off USF 23-20 last season.

Mired by offensive struggles and with just two wins in its last seven outings, USF has been eliminated from bowl consideration. The Bulls wrap up their season Friday looking to play spoiler against their state rivals with whom they hold a 4-1 all-time series lead. The Bulls have to move the ball somehow and Marlon Mack, who went over 1,000 yards rushing last week, is their best option.

TV: Noon, ET, ESPN2. LINE: UCF -12

ABOUT UCF (7-3, 5-1 AAC): The Knights unleashed their best defensive game of the year last week against winless SMU, holding the Mustangs to just four first downs. UCF is ranked 12th in the nation in scoring defense at 18.5 points per game and have held opponents under double digits three times this season. Offensively, Justin Holman has been solid if not spectacular, throwing a TD pass in every game this season but also has a dozen interceptions.

ABOUT USF (4-7, 3-4): With little incentive on the line, coach Willie Taggart is playing up the rivalry card heavily. “We have a lot of young guys here that really don’t understand not only that rivalry tradition but the young tradition we do have here at USF,'' Taggart told reporters. "They have to understand the magnitude of this football game, the history behind it.” Quarterback Mike White was pulled last week after throwing for 244 yards and Steven Bench finished up throwing for 57 yards and a score.

EXTRA POINTS

1. USF averages 18.7 points per game - 114th in the nation among the 125 FBS teams.

2. UCF plays at East Carolina next week.

3. The Bulls are 2-4 at home this season.

PREDICTION: UCF 27, USF 17