Know your opponent

[RedBlueSMU]

I apologize if this has already been posted.

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com ... discu.html

Iliana Limon, of the Orlando Sentinel, took some time this week to provide insight into Central Florida, which hosts SMU at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Conference USA Championship.

1. Quarterback Jeff Godfrey is eighth in the FBS in pass efficiency and 11th in completion rate. He's also a threat to run the football. But in what areas has the true freshman struggled this season?

Godfrey had the toughest time dealing with Southern Miss' defense. The Golden Eagles didn't rush the passer immediately, instead cutting off rushing lanes to pin Godfrey in the box. Southern Miss' athletic secondary was able to effectively cover the UCF receivers. Godfrey wasn't able to manage the combination well and turned in his worst performance of the season.

2. What is UCF's biggest strength and biggest weakness entering the championship game?
UCF's biggest strength is probably the Knights' balance. UCF isn't dominant in any one phase of the game, but the team is capable of being very good in all three areas. The offense, defense and special teams all complement each other well and have jointly propelled UCF into the conference championship.
UCF's biggest weakness has been its pass coverage. The Knights' secondary is usually in the right position on coverage, but UCF has failed to consistently get its hands on balls and break up deep passes during the second half of the season. The Knights' presence near receivers often has been enough to break up plays, but it's clear UCF's secondary is going to have to step up its play against SMU's passing attack.

3. What makes UCF's defense so strong?
UCF has a lot of talented defensive players, but senior defensive end Bruce Miller truly stands out because of he refuses to give up on plays and inspires his teammates to push themselves harder. His attitude and work ethic has set the tone for a defense that aims to live up to his high standards. He has mentored undersized defensive linemen who use their speed to be menacing pass rushers. The linebackers have been effective at slowing down the run. And although the secondary is vulnerable to deep pass plays, they do have athletes who are capable of picking off passes when they focus on the ball.

4. Who's the player to watch Saturday that we may not have heard of?
On defense, sophomore safety Kemal Ishmael is probably UCF's best tackler and is capable of forcing turnovers. On offense, sophomore running back Latavius Murray has come on strong the past three games and will likely earn a lot of key carries against SMU.

5. What do you expect the game-day atmosphere to be like Saturday?
I expect there to a loud, rowdy crowd on Saturday. UCF's minimum fan turnout for every game is about 30,000. I would expect the team to draw a lot more casual fans because UCF is hosting the championship game. I also think it helps that the UCF basketball team upset No. 16 Florida Wednesday. The basketball team's win generated a lot of attention and was a reminder that UCF is enjoying arguably the best fall it has had in all sports in school history. More fans figure they will be rewarded if they show to cheer on the team.