The UCF Knights have started the 2022-23 NCAA Basketball season 1-1 as they prepare to take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks, who are currently 2-1 this season. The Knights will host this matchup at the Addition Financial Arena on Monday, November 14th. They are part of the American Athletic Conference whereas the Leathernecks are part of the Summit League Conference. The home team had to face defeat in their opening game of the season against the UNC Ashville Bulldogs (98-95). Western Illinois faced defeat in their last outing against the DePaul Blue Demons (86-74).
Bet $5+ on any sport pre-game ML, Get $200 If Your Bet Wins With DraftKings Sportsbook
UCF Knights vs Western Illinois Leathernecks: Betting Odds
The Knights are a dominant team at home. Even though they lost their opening game, it was their first home defeat in nine games, showing how strong they are. However, it is important to note that ten of the last eleven games in this arena have seen a total of 143 or fewer.
Taylor Hendricks really shone in the opening game, where he scored 23 points, including 5 rebounds and 2 assists. CJ Kelly was another player who came off the bench and scored 20 points. In a low-scoring second game, Hendricks was once again among the scorers with 15 points.
Leathernecks started the season with two wins and a loss. They won their opening game away from home against Illinois State (71-68) and followed it with another win at home against the Rockford Regents (113-56). They now have a tough task at hand to stop the Knights from earning their second win of the season.
UCF Knights vs Western Illinois Leathernecks: Match Details
Fixture: UCF Knights @ Western Illinois Leathernecks
Date & Time: Monday, November 14, 08:00 p.m EDT
Venue: Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, Florida
UCF Knights vs Western Illinois Leathernecks: Pick
Taylor Hendricks will need to step up once again for the Knights against Leathernecks. He is averaging close to 20 points per game and the team needs a similar kind of performance from him. If other players chip in as well, it could turn out to be a great game for the Knights.
Best Pick: Total Under 144 (-110)
UCF Knights vs Western Illinois Leathernecks: Prediction
This is going to be the first-ever meeting between the two teams. However, the conferences both teams come from have a huge difference in terms of class and quality. Teams from the American Athletic Conference are far better than teams from the Summit League Conference. The Knights are the hosts as well, which automatically gives them a competitive advantage.
Final Prediction: UCF -15 (-110)
Bet $5+ on any sport pre-game ML, Get $200 If Your Bet Wins With DraftKings Sportsbook