UCF Is +125 Chalk in the 2019 AAC Conference Title Odds; Memphis Next at +300

• UCF won the American Athletic Conference Championship for the 2nd straight year in 2018
• Brandon Wimbush will be the starting QB after injuries to both Mackenzie Milton & Darriel Mack Jr
• Wimbush started for parts of 3 seasons at Notre Dame before transferring to UCF

The 2019-20 college football season is right around the corner and it’s time to start taking advantage of the pre-season conference championship odds.  In sportsbooks, there could be decent value if you’re willing to get ahead of the game and bet on the AAC early.

American Athletic Conference Champion Odds

*odds taken 7/10

Central Florida is firmly atop the  AAC title odds, but UCF got some very bad news today.  QB Darriel Mack Jr. suffered a broken ankle and will be out long-term.  From a betting perspective ,there’s something to consider here:the news may scare other bettors away, giving you the opportunity to jump on UCF at plus money.  Even without Mack Jr. they are the value play and here’s why.

UCF says QB Darriel Mack Jr. suffered a broken ankle in a non-football related injury this week and will miss fall practices.

The injury makes Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush the clear favorite to start for the Knights.https://t.co/Ob9bnz3kDG pic.twitter.com/xqoy9fWq91

— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) July 10, 2019

QB Brandon Wimbush Set to Star for UCF

Brandon Wimbush transferred after playing parts of the last three seasons with Notre Dame.  The stats last year? Well, to put it lightly, they aren’t pretty.  He threw for only four touchdowns and six interceptions and was benched after just three games.  That led to his transfer this off-season, one that the Knights are happy they landed.

Wishing DJ a speedy recovery ✊ #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/t0oUxD077S

— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) July 10, 2019

A deeper look into the numbers shows there’s a chance for the senior to star for UCF.  Two years ago, Wimbush had 16-6 TD-to-INT ratio in a much more successful season.  The reality is, he offers the best roster in the AAC a quarterback with starting experience and confidence under center, which may be all they need.

McKenzie Milton Won’t Return This Year

This isn’t the first time UCF has had to deal with a devastating injury to a quarterback; McKenzie Milton suffered a gruesome leg injury this past season. He had 25 passing TDs and nine more on the ground before suffering an injury so severe it almost resulted in the amputation of his right leg.

We likely won't see him this season, but there is no denying McKenzie Milton was having an excellent year. pic.twitter.com/B9daEYd0iE

— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 5, 2019

While it would be remarkable to see Milton in 2019, it isn’t the likely outcome. He’s stated his plan to skip this year and return to UCF healthy and ready to contribute in 2020.

With that in mind, the QB job should belong to Wimbush.  The two other threats for the job are redshirt freshman Quadry Jones and true freshman Dillon Gabriel.

Despite QB Issues Expect, UCF to Three-Peat

Last season, UCF finished 6th in total offense out of the 130 teams in the FBS.  They rode that offense to their second straight AAC championship and are a true threat to do it again this year.

Despite the switch at QB, I fully expect UCF to find a way to rack up points yet again. My suggestion? Bet on the Knights before the season kicks off and the odds get shorter.

PICK: UCF Knights (+125)