2005 Central Florida Knights Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

After posting a winning record of 7-5 straight up and 6-5 against the odds including a season ending run of 4-0 straight up and 3-1 against the pointspread to conclude 2002, Central Florida collapsed in 2003 with a record of 3-9 straight up and 2-9 against the odds in a strong sports handicapping market correction. If the pattern held, it was figured, South Florida, under new head coach George O’Leary, would figure to experience another and more positive sports handicapping market correction for 2004. Many sports betting bloggers, citing O’Leary’s success at Georgia Tech, posted that Central Florida might be not only a sleeper and bargain but also a surprise team straight up.

In their season opener for 2004 at Wisconsin, the Knights were installed as 23-point dogs and were blown out 6-34 against a Wisconsin team with a plodding offense and poor sports handicapping record as large home chalks: not a good sign. Central Florida’s problems were magnified and confirmed in their next game at West Virginia where they were beaten 20-45 as 20.5-point dogs. As 22.5-point dogs at Penn State, another Big Ten team with a struggling offense and marginal record as large home chalks, the Knights faltered yet again 13-37. Finally, in their next game at Buffalo, the Knights appeared to be playing a team that they could handle and were installed as 7-point chalks, only to fail in a humiliating 20-48 loss to one of the Mid-American Conference’s doormats. At this point Central Florida stood at 0-4 both straight up and against the odds.

Incredibly enough, just as everyone in sports handicapping was ready to put this team at the top of their “go against” category of football picks, they traveled to MAC power Northern Illinois, a highly respected team that was installed as 17.5-home chalks. Central Florida scared the Huskies to near death, barely losing 28-30 as they caught NIU and many sports bettors napping with their first cash grab of the season.

Central Florida returned to form, however, in their next two games losing to Akron 21-26 as 2.5-point home chalks and then getting bombed at Miami of Ohio 7-43 as 22.5-point dogs. The Knights then covered their next two games as dogs before losing their final two games against the odds to complete the 2004 campaign at 0-11 straight up and 3-8 against the sports betting line for their second straight season in the red, and unlikelihood of appearing on many lists of football picks in the future.