Kent State at UCF - 2023 Matchup Preview

Kent State Golden Flashes at UCF Knights

Thursday, August 31st 2023 (7:00 PM EDT)
UCF -35 (54.0) (0) Open: 0.0
UCF 56 - Kent State: 6

Golden Flashes (1 - 11) (3 - 8 - 1)
Coach Kenni Burns (1 - 2)
Avg Score : 21 - 34 (18 - 43 on Road)
Record Prediction: 2.1 - 9.9 (#133)
'23 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Our Line: UCF -30.5 (SP+ UCF -31)
Projected Score: KENT: 12 - UCF: 42 (54)
UCF Win prob: 99% | Cover: 47%
KENT Travel: 866 miles

Knights (6 - 7) (5 - 8 - 0)
Coach Gus Malzahn (21 - 9)
Avg Score : 24 - 24 (33 - 16 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 7.4 - 5.6 (#51)
'23 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
KENT Players
UCF Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Kent State's 2023 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/31	Kent State at UCF	+35.0	54.0	L 6 - 56	O	N
Sat 9/9	Kent State at Arkansas	+38.0	57.5	L 6 - 28	U	Y
Sat 9/16	Kent State vs Central Connecticut	-21.5	46.5	W 38 - 10	O	Y
Sat 9/23	Kent State at Fresno State	+27.5	47.5	L 10 - 53	O	N
Sat 9/30	Kent State vs Miami (OH)	+14.0	51.5	L 3 - 23	U	N
Sat 10/7	Kent State at Ohio	+24.5	45.5	L 17 - 42	O	N
Sat 10/14	Kent State at Eastern Michigan	+7.0	40.0	L 14 - 28	O	N
Sat 10/21	Kent State vs Buffalo	+6.5	44.0	L 6 - 24	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/1	Kent State at Akron	+4.0	39.0	L 27 - 31	O	Y
Wed 11/8	Kent State vs Bowling Green	+10.5	41.5	L 19 - 49	O	N
Sat 11/18	Kent State at Ball State	+10.5	41.5	L 3 - 34	U	N
Sat 11/25	Kent State vs Northern Illinois	+20.5	44.5	L 27 - 37	O	Y

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Kent State's Schedule

UCF's 2023 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/31	UCF vs Kent State	-35.0	54.0	W 56 - 6	O	Y
Sat 9/9	UCF at Boise State	-3.0	58.5	W 18 - 16	U	N
Sat 9/16	UCF vs Villanova	-26.5	54.0	W 48 - 14	O	Y
Sat 9/23	UCF at Kansas State	+6.0	53.5	L 31 - 44	O	N
Sat 9/30	UCF vs Baylor	-8.0	56.5	L 35 - 36	O	N
Sat 10/7	UCF at Kansas	-2.0	65.0	L 22 - 51	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/21	UCF at Oklahoma	+17.0	67.5	L 29 - 31	U	Y
Sat 10/28	UCF vs West Virginia	-6.5	59.5	L 28 - 41	O	N
Sat 11/4	UCF at Cincinnati	-3.5	59.5	W 28 - 26	U	N
Sat 11/11	UCF vs Oklahoma State	+2.5	63.5	W 45 - 3	U	Y
Sat 11/18	UCF at Texas Tech	+2.0	59.0	L 23 - 24	U	Y
Sat 11/25	UCF vs Houston	-15.5	61.5	W 27 - 13	U	N
Fri 12/22	UCF vs Georgia Tech	-6.0	66.5	L 17 - 30	U	N

Important Stats (2022)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
KENT	.22	44%	21.3	47%	3.33	203	42%	215	3.64	.27	48%	33.6	47%	51%	3.81	54.3	1.1	1.3
UCF	.24	47%	24.3	51%	3.38	228	44%	241	4.08	.21	41%	23.6	40%	43%	3.53	46.4	1.5	1.5

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
KENT		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
UCF		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2022

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
KENT Offense	12	21.3	17.7	44.5%	3.64	1.1	23	418	203	215	4.7	57%	42%	47%	42%	19%	.22
UCF Defense	14	23.6	15.7	41.2%	3.53	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	51%	49%	40%	43%	16%	.21

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
KENT Defense	12	33.6	42.9	48.4%	3.81	1.3	-	-	-	-	-	49%	50%	47%	51%	15%	.27
UCF Offense	14	24.3	32.6	47.4%	4.08	1.5	24	469	228	241	5.2	53%	46%	51%	44%	14%	.24

Additional Stats 2022

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Kent State	12	26:07	22.8	41%	50%	6.7	54.3	1.1	1.3	5.8	2.2	2	30
UCF	14	30:51	24.2	46%	63%	4.9	46.4	1.5	1.5	5	1.5	2	28

Run Game Stats (2023)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
KENT Offense	12	57%	47%	43.1	202.8	4.7	23	.22	3.33	84%	11%	1.03
UCF Defense	14	51%	40%	-	-	-	-	.16	2.95	66%	10%	1.12

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
KENT Defense	12	49%	47%	-	-	-	-	.13	3.1	72%	10%	0.91
UCF Offense	14	53%	51%	43.9	228	5.2	35	.29	3.38	73%	10%	1.05

Pass Game Stats (2023)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
KENT Offense	12	42%	42%	16.2	29.1	215.2	7.4	13.3	17	8	.25	1.5	32%	34%	.44	8%	2.2
UCF Defense	14	49%	43%	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	.3	1.5	33%	30%	.29	6%	1.9

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
KENT Defense	12	50%	51%	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	.46	1.5	27%	35%	.37	5%	1.9
UCF Offense	14	46%	44%	20.8	32.2	241.2	7.5	11.6	22	9	.21	1.4	27%	32%	.27	4%	1.9

Kent State's Power Ratings
Kent State's Power Rating: -21.19 #133
Kent State's Offense Rating: 9.49 #124
Kent State's Defense Rating: 19.32 #132
2023 Talent Rating: 373.33 #118
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #75
Kent State's 2023 Expected Record: 2.10 - 9.90
Kent State's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: -26.4 #133
Kent State's Offense SP+ Rating: 8.1 #133
Kent State's Defense SP+ Rating: 34.8 #115

Average Talent
Average Mid-American Talent Rating is 378.85
Average Power Five Talent: 738.21
Average FBS Talent: 573.89

Power Ratings Matchup
Kent State: -21.19 UCF: 6.465

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Kent State: -26.4 UCF: 4.5

UCF's Power Ratings
UCF's Power Rating: 6.465 #46
UCF's Offense Rating: 22.78 #23
UCF's Defense Rating: 11.34 #89
2023 Talent Rating: 653.97 #53
Blue Chip Ratio: 8 #53
UCF's 2023 Expected Record: 7.40 - 5.60
UCF's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: 4.5 #48
UCF's Offense SP+ Rating: 31.4 #35
UCF's Defense SP+ Rating: 25.3 #54

Average Talent
Average Big 12 Talent Rating is 669.44
Average Power Five Talent: 738.21
Average FBS Talent: 573.89

Kent State Scoring
Offense: 21.3 PPG
Offense on Road: 17.7
Defense: 33.6 PPG
Defense on Road: 42.9

Kent State's 2023 Record
Record: 1 - 11
Record vs Spread: 3 - 8 - 1
Over/Under Record: 8 - 4
Record on Road: 0 - 7
Record vs Spread on Road: 1 - 5 - 1
Record as Dog vs Spread: 2 - 8 - 1
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 1 - 5 - 0

Projected Score
UCF 42
Kent State 12

Projected Total Points: 54

UCF Scoring
Offense: 24.3 PPG
Offense at Home: 32.6
Defense: 23.6 PPG
Defense at Home: 15.7

UCF's 2023 Record
Record: 6 - 7
Record vs Spread: 5 - 8 - 0
Over/Under Record: 6 - 7
Record at home: 4 - 2
Record vs Spread at home: 3 - 3 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 2 - 7 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 2 - 3 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2023	08/31	UCF	56	Kent State	6	UCF -35	UCF	54.0	Over
2004	11/23	UCF	24	Kent State	41
2003	09/27	Kent State	36	UCF	16

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
UCF	1	1	1 Overs
Kent State	2	0	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	2 - 1	1 - 0	1 - 0	0 - 0
Road Teams	1 - 2	0 - 1	0 - 0	0 - 1

(#133) KENT at (#46) UCF

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	KENT	UCF
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#133	#46
SP+SP+	#133	#48
Perf GradeGrade	#131	#38
OffenseOff	#123	#21
DefenseDef	#129	#87
Spec TeamsST	#97	#109
TalentTal	#118	#53
Blue ChipsBC%	#75	#53

Kent State Injury Report

UCF Injury Report

Kent State on Offense


CategoryCat	KENT Off	UCF Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#123	#87
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	#124	#89
SP+SP+	#133	#54
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Kent State Run Game


CategoryCat	KENT Off	UCF Def
Run GameRun	#132	#90
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#133	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#88

Kent State Pass Game


CategoryCat	KENT Off	UCF Def
Pass GamePass	#84	#64
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#126	#94
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

UCF on Offense


CategoryCat	UCF Off	KENT Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#21	#129
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	#23	#132
SP+SP+	#35	#115
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

UCF Run Game


CategoryCat	UCF Off	KENT Def
Run GameRun	#10	#118
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#59	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#118

UCF Pass Game


CategoryCat	UCF Off	KENT Def
Pass GamePass	#30	#126
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#14	#131
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Program Comparison
UCF 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg P4
'23 Profile: Remains Below Avg P4

KENT 5 Year Profile: Declining Below Avg G5
'23 Profile: Up to Poor G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Bright House Networks Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 1
UCF -35.0 (54.0)
UCF won vs Kent State this year (56-6)

Previous Matchups
UCF beat Kent State in 2023 (56-6)

KENT's OC Matt Johnson (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Michael Alaimo	79	144	55%	932	2	4	6.5
Tommy Ulatowski	60	121	50%	737	7	2	6.1

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Gavin Garcia	138	544	2	3.9	42
Jaylen Thomas	133	460	2	3.5	34
Xavier Williams	42	137	1	3.3	18
Tommy Ulatowski	47	89	1	1.9	39

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Chrishon Mccray	41	610	4	14.9	42
Luke Floriea	39	414	4	10.6	43
Trell Harris	26	400	1	15.4	43
Jameel Gardner Jr.	24	298	1	12.4	50

View Kent State's Full Roster

KENT's DC David Duggan (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Bryce Sheppert	75	1	0	2	7
Nick Giacolone	50	5	0	0	1
Stephen Daley	47	6	1	7	0
D.J. Miller	46	1	0	0	3

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
CJ Harris	31	6	2	0	1
Marcus Winfield	11	3	2	1	0
Macyo Williams	18	3	2	2	0
Stephen Daley	47	6	1	7	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Capone Blue	30	0	0	0	10
Bryce Sheppert	75	1	0	2	7
Alex Branch	32	2	1	0	3

UCF's OC Darin Hinshaw (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
John Rhys Plumlee	161	256	63%	2271	15	8	8.9
Timmy McClain (Tr)	64	102	63%	1065	9	3	10.4

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
RJ Harvey	226	1416	16	6.3	92
Johnny Richardson	87	573	1	6.6	79
John Rhys Plumlee	106	505	5	4.8	32
Xavier Townsend	15	163	0	10.9	39

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Javon Baker	52	1139	7	21.9	86
Kobe Hudson	44	900	8	20.5	75
Xavier Townsend	33	325	3	9.8	37
Alec Holler	24	244	2	10.2	38

View UCF's Full Roster

UCF's DC David Gibbs (in his second season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Jason Johnson	104	6	3	0	1
Walter Yates	68	1	0	0	2
Lee Hunter	57	10	2	1	1
Tre'Mon Morris-Brash	50	16	9	2	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Tre'Mon Morris-Brash	50	16	9	2	1
Malachi Lawrence	24	9	6	5	1
Jason Johnson	104	6	3	0	1
Lee Hunter	57	10	2	1	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Corey Thornton	22	0	0	6
Quadric Bullard	28	0	0	3
Brandon Adams	19	1	1	2