Phil Steele’s Cliffs Notes: Central Florida

Steele is bullish on Central Florida. He predicts a second-place finish within their division and thinks they could win the conference again.

Despite losing the nation's leading rusher, the Knights will field an experienced defense and should provide us with a serious challenge early in the season.

Nuggets and notes of interest
-- Central Florida has five offensive starters returning and nine defensive starters returning. In total, they have 37 returning lettermen.
-- George O’Leary is 1-11 vs BCS teams as Central Florida’s coach.
-- O’Leary is 10-14 on the road at UCF.
-- Central Florida is 1-8 vs ACC teams.
-- Despite their success in running the ball last season, they still passed 57.2% of the time.
-- Their top seven tacklers from last season return.
-- They were only +1 in the turnover ratio.
-- They have the 81st most difficult schedule
-- They are 70th in Steele’s power ranking
-- Although they have to replace four offensive line starters (including three that were all conference), five guys on their projected offensive line have started at one point in their careers
-- UCF had the 8th best special teams unit of 2007.

Two looks at Central Florida and other links

Central Florida is our latest opponent to get the New York Times treatment.

SMQ provided his look at Central Florida. He doesn't expect them to beat us.

BC recruit Dillon Quinn is now in the Rivals 250 ranking.