UCF at Louisville Week 3 College Football Matchup UCF at Louisville Matchup - Week 3
Fri, Sep 17 2021 · Week 3 · 🏟 Papa John's Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY · Turf · 55,000 cap
UCF✈ 713 miSame TZ
Away
35 42
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
UCF
29
Louisville
34
P&R Line Louisville -5.5
P&R Total O/U 62.5
Confidence 75 Good
Vegas UCF -7 · O/U 67.5
Matchup Prediction
UCF has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor UCF entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
UCF wins
Lean
Game Control
49.4%
UCF wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
UCF -7
O/U 67.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
Advanced factors are split · No strong agreement signal
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Louisville 2nd straight Home Game
UCF 2021 Schedule
UCF's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 9/2UCF vs Boise State-6.5W36–3167.0W36–31UN
Sat 9/11UCF vs Bethune-Cookman-46.0W63–1467.0W63–14OY
Fri 9/17UCF at Louisville-7.0L35–4267.5L35–42ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/2UCF at Navy-15.0L30–3452.5L30–34ON
Sat 10/9UCF vs East Carolina-10.0W20–1665.0W20–16UN
Sat 10/16UCF at Cincinnati+21.5L21–5656.0L21–56ON
Fri 10/22UCF vs Memphis-1.5W24–763.5W24–7UY
Sat 10/30UCF at Temple-12.0W49–752.0W49–7OY
Sat 11/6UCF vs Tulane-13.5W14–1057.0W14–10UN
Sat 11/13UCF at SMU+7.0L28–5561.5L28–55ON
Sat 11/20UCF vs UConn-30.0W49–1756.0W49–17OY
Fri 11/26UCF vs South Florida-17.0W17–1362.0W17–13UN
Thu 12/23UCF vs Florida+7.0W29–1756.0W29–17UY
Louisville 2021 Schedule
Louisville's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Mon 9/6Louisville vs Ole Miss+9.0L24–4374.5L24–43UN
Sat 9/11Louisville vs Eastern Kentucky-30.0W30–362.5W30–3UN
Fri 9/17Louisville vs UCF+7.0W42–3567.5W42–35OY
Sat 9/25Louisville at Florida State+1.5W31–2361.0W31–23UY
Sat 10/2Louisville at Wake Forest+7.0L34–3764.5L34–37OY
Sat 10/9Louisville vs Virginia-2.5L33–3469.5L33–34UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/23Louisville vs Boston College-4.0W28–1457.5W28–14UY
Sat 10/30Louisville at NC State+6.0L13–2857.0L13–28UN
Sat 11/6Louisville vs Clemson+3.5L24–3046.0L24–30ON
Sat 11/13Louisville vs Syracuse-3.0W41–355.5W41–3UY
Thu 11/18Louisville at Duke-20.0W62–2260.0W62–22OY
Sat 11/27Louisville vs Kentucky-3.0L21–5258.0L21–52ON
Tue 12/28Louisville vs Air Force+1.0L28–3155.0L28–31ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Louisville PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
UCF
+0.469
Louisville
+0.482
Louisville Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
UCF
+0.447
Louisville
+0.528
Louisville Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
UCF
0.190
Louisville
0.166
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
UCF Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
UCF
+8.653
Louisville
+7.961
UCF Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
UCF
+0.853
Louisville
+0.844
UCF Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
UCF
68.8
Louisville
71.4
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
UCF Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Louisville Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
UCF
4.2
Louisville
10.8
Offense Rating
UCF
17.6
Louisville
21.9
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
UCF
13.4
Louisville
11.2
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? UCF Edge
Avg sequences created per game
UCF #71
1.00
Louisville #37
0.50
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
UCF #109
1.00
Louisville #87
1.00
UCF +0.50
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? UCF Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
UCF #1
57.3
Louisville #1
53.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
UCF #37
27.7
Louisville #50
39.6
UCF +3.8
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on UCF, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
UCF
Gus Malzahn #1
2–1 (67%) · Yr 1 at school
OC G. J. Kinne Yr 1 #1
DC Travis Williams Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Louisville
Scott Satterfield #1
14–13 (52%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Scott Satterfield Yr 1 #1
DC Bryan Brown Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself