:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3014607/20120307_jla_aw8_841.0.jpg)
The South Florida Bulls and Central Florida Knights square off on Saturday night as both teams begin the new season.
In the battle of the in-state rivals, South Florida holds the edge with a 19-6 all-time record, including wins in 10 of the past 12 contests. The Bulls will attempt to build on their impressive 2011-12 season in which they won 22 games and held a 12-6 record in the Big East. In the NCAA tournament, South Florida fell just shy of the Sweet 16, winning two games before being bounced by the Ohio Bobcats.
For Central Florida, the Knights will look to make a strong impression against a Big East opponent, which they will be joining next season. Last year, the team went 22-11 and lost in the first round of the NIT tournament to the Drexel Dragons.
South Florida enters the game as the 5.5 point favorite. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. in the newly-renovated Sun Dome and can be seen nationally on ESPN 3.