Boca Raton Bowl BYU vs UCF Odds, Lines and Spread
- UCF (6-3) and #16 BYU (10-1) face off in the Boca Raton Bowl
- BYU QB Zach Wilson will declare for the NFL draft after the game and is projected to be a 1st-round pick
- See the game odds, spread, and total along with a prediction below
Buckle up, it’s bowl season.
One of the most exciting games on the slate kicks off Tuesday at 7pm ET between UCF and #16 BYU. The Boca Raton Bowl will be on ESPN and is expected to be a shootout.
Boca Raton Bowl Odds
Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
---|---|---|---|
UCF | +6.5 (-106) | +175 | O 70.5 (-112) |
#16 BYU | -6.5 (-115) | -220 | U 70.5 (-109) |
*Odds taken Dec. 12th from Draft Kings
The Cougars missed out on a chance at a New Years 6 bowl game after losing to Coastal Carolina, but this is a nice fall back option. Two top offenses staking their claim as the best Group of 5 team? It should be a blast, with BYU currently 6.5-point favorites. Here’s a break down of both programs heading in as well as a pick that is offering some major value.
Zach Wilson Aiming To Impress NFL Scouts
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson has been amazing this season. He has completed over 73% of his passes for 30 touchdowns and only three interceptions. There is a reason Wilson could hear his name in the first half of the first round of this year’s NFL draft. He is an elite arm talent that will be looking to showcase his stuff on a big stage one final time.
Highest-graded QB seasons since 2014
🔹 1. Joe Burrow ('19) – 94.9
🔹 2. Zach Wilson ('20) – 94.8
🔹 3. Baker Mayfield ('17) – 94.6
🔹 3. Kyler Murray ('18) – 94.6
🔹 5. Mac Jones ('20) – 94.5 pic.twitter.com/ktx4oHc5J2— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 14, 2020
The Cougars’ offense is 10th in the country, racking up over 510 total yards per game. Head coach Kalani Sitake may not be working with the best athletes in college football, but he has a terrific scheme that is aided by Wilson at the quarterback position.
One thing to note however, is BYU’s inability to win in Florida. The program is 0-8 all-time in the Sunshine State, and while it’s hard to hold the current team accountable for that, it’s still worth considering if the long travel hurts their ability to play to their full potential.
Dillon Gabriel Capable Of Keeping Pace
UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel may not hear the same NFL buzz that Wilson does, but he’s still one hell of a player. He completed 65.5% of his passes this year for 30 touchdowns and four interceptions. His completion percentage isn’t as high, but the TD/INT ratio is almost exactly the same. As a whole, the Knights actually have the better offense, ranking second in all of college football with 585.6 yards per game.
Most valuable players in CFB (PFF Wins Above Average):
1⃣ Kyle Trask, Florida
2⃣ Mac Jones, Bama
3⃣ Zach Wilson, BYU
4⃣ Sam Howell, UNC
5⃣ Dillon Gabriel, UCF
6⃣ DeVonta Smith, Bama pic.twitter.com/jgh9GAvaMn— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 18, 2020
Marlon Williams is the most impressive receiver on UCF, finishing the year with 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was one of five different receivers on the Knights to average more than 14 yards per reception. Gabriel may have the accuracy numbers of Wilson simply because he loves throwing the ball deep down field.
Consider Betting The Total Instead Of The Spread
The travel is likely to hurt the BYU defense more than anything else. Will they be able to hold on and get a victory? It’s tough to say. What does appear glaringly obvious, however, is two elite offenses ranked in the top 10 are going to run up and down the field on each other.
Trust the two standout quarterbacks in Wilson and Dillon to have big performances to end the year. Bet the over and enjoy watching this bowl game, outside of the college football playoff it might be the most exciting one you’ll see.
The Pick: Over 70.5 (-112)