UCF (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) is set to face off against Arizona State (6-2, 3-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST, broadcasted on ESPN2.
The current betting odds from BetMGM favor Arizona State by three points.
In their all-time series, Arizona State holds a narrow lead at 1-0.

This matchup carries significant implications, particularly for Arizona State, which aims to maintain its impressive performance in its second season under head coach Kenny Dillingham.
After being predicted to finish at the bottom of the Big 12, the Sun Devils have a chance to record their best start since 2014 when they opened the season with an 8-1 record.
They are coming off a convincing 42-21 victory over Oklahoma State on the road.
Meanwhile, UCF aims to carry momentum from a decisive 56-12 win over Arizona, which allowed them to snap a five-game losing streak.

A vital battle will unfold as Arizona State’s defensive unit goes up against UCF’s standout running back, RJ Harvey.
The Sun Devils have shown strength against the run, permitting an average of just 111.9 rushing yards per game, positioning them 27th in the FBS.
However, they will be challenged by Harvey, who leads the Big 12 with an impressive 1,201 rushing yards, ranking third nationally, and has found the end zone 16 times, placing him fifth in the FBS.
Furthermore, Harvey has achieved 40 runs of at least 10 yards, leading all FBS players in that category.
With Harvey at the helm, UCF ranks second nationally with 2,451 rushing yards accumulated this season along with 26 touchdowns.

For UCF, look out for Dylan Rizk, a redshirt freshman who shone in his first starting appearance last week, throwing for 294 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 55 yards.
Rizk earned a commendable grade of 90.1, ranking as the sixth-highest among Power 4 quarterbacks according to Pro Football Focus.

From Arizona State, quarterback Sam Leavitt could become a crucial player in this contest due to the potential absence of running back Cam Skattebo, who is dealing with an undisclosed injury.
The Michigan State transfer has been reliable throughout the season, tossing 1,470 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing four interceptions.
Additionally, he has contributed on the ground, rushing for 284 yards and scoring four touchdowns.

In terms of interesting statistics, a victory for UCF would mark the 300th win in the program’s history.
Arizona State has made notable strides in third-down conversions, now succeeding 45% of the time, ranking 30th nationally, in contrast to their previous year’s performance where they ranked 120th with a mere 31.7%.
The Knights lead the country with 79 explosive running plays, each gaining at least 10 yards.
Arizona State is also ranked 18th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 210.4 yards each game.
Notably, UCF limited Arizona to only five rushing yards in their last match.
Additionally, Sun Devils’ defensive back Xavion Alford has allowed just six receptions during his 277 snaps in coverage.