The Kansas football team turns from the road to face UCF on Saturday. The Jayhawks will try again to overcome their self-destructive ways that have plagued them all season, preventing them from winning several games.
The Jayhawks' loss to TCU was more of the same. Kansas fully outplayed the Horned Frogs in the first half, yet scored only 13 points. Early in the second half, KU had a chance to extend their lead to 20-0 but was stopped on fourth down on the one-yard line. A touchdown there would have put tremendous pressure on TCU, and the Jayhawks would have been in firm control of the game.
After Kansas stopped TCU again, the Jayhawks had the ball just inside Horned Frogs' territory. Inexplicably, head coach Lance Leioplod decided to go for it on fourth and five. Backup quarterback Cole Ballard was forced out of the pocket, threw into traffic, and the ball was batted in the air, back toward the line of scrimmage. A TCU defender intercepted the ball and rumbled unimpeded all the way back for a touchdown. Suddenly, TCU had life in the game and the momentum for the first time.
Two possessions later, TCU scored again, taking the lead for the first time. KU did muster a measly field goal in the fourth quarter to take the lead, but the Horned Frogs had plenty of time to march downfield and score the winning touchdown with a little more than a minute on the clock.
UCF is the only team Kansas beat on the road last season. The Jayhawks cannot allow the Knights to exact their revenge this season. This is yet another winnable game for KU, and at some point, Kansas needs to win more of these games than they lose.
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Kansas vs. UCF: Where and when
The Kansas Jayhawks (3-5, 1-4) and the UCF Knights (4-4, 2-3) will clash at the David Booth Kansas Family Stadium on Saturday, November 7th, at 2:45 pm CT.
How to watch Kansas vs. UCF
The game between Kansas and UCF will be broadcast on ESPN2 and can be streamed on FuboTV and on Disney+ with the ESPN package. A subscription is required for both.
BetMGM betting lines for Kansas vs. UCF
Kansas is a slight three-point home favorite against UCF, according to BetMGM. The money lines are Kansas -150 and UCF +125. The over/under sits at 48.5.
What will the weather be like for Kansas vs. UCF?
According to Weatherbug, expect a partly cloudy day with a slight chance of rain. Temperatures for the game should be in the low 60s throughout. It should be a mild autumn day, ideal for a college football game.
Phoggy Notes
- Kansas is now sitting in the cellar of the Big 12, tied with Kansas State and Colorado with a 1-4 conference record. The Jayhawks and the Buffaloes are tied at 3-5 for the worst overall records among the Big 12 schools.
- Cole Ballard didn't have a bad statistical day, going 20 for 35 with a touchdown. The pick-six, though, was a key turning point in the game. He also did well in the running game, with 45 yards on 13 carries. Still, KU missed Isaiah Marshall's athleticism, and it was obvious that Ballard does not have Marshall's arm strength. Marshall tends to overthrow receivers, but Ballard wasn't obviously better.
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- Kansas had the ball in the red zone five times against the Horned Frogs but came away with only nine points on three field goals, a missed field goal (26 yards out), and getting stopped at the one. It's hard to win games if you can't score touchdowns in the red zone.
- Kansas has been in every game they've lost this year, but a handful of plays have turned the game against them. The TCU matchup was no different, as it hinged on three plays: when KU was stopped at the one-yard line and the interception. KU just can't finish off games, and it is frustrating for everyone.
The weather forecast may change between now and kickoff.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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