SB Nation Tampa Bay - College Football Week 1: UCF Starts Off With Big Win Over Akronhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2012-08-30T22:24:43-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30401022012-08-30T22:24:43-04:002012-08-30T22:24:43-04:00UCF Vs. Akron Final Score: Knights Pound Akron In Season Opener, 56-14
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<p>Central Florida was never threatened by Akron on Thursday night in the 2012 season opener. The Knights won 56-14.</p>
<p>It was bad enough for Akron that UCF went into the half with a 35-0 lead, which didn't mean good things for Akron's chances of getting off to an undefeated start to the season. But <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/48460/dalton-williams" class="sbn-auto-link">Dalton Williams</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/121576/l-t-smith" class="sbn-auto-link">L.T. Smith</a> connected on a 13-yard touchdown early in the third quarter and there was a little life for the Zips.</p>
<p>Not so much, though, when the Knights responded with back-to-back touchdowns, separating themselves with a 49-7 advantage. Akron went for an 11-play, 61 yard touchdown drive, but it was too little too late and UCF came back with yet another score of their own.</p>
<p>With the win, the Knights are 1-0 to start the 2012 season.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on Central Florida football stay tuned to <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a target="_blank" href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #004175;">SB Nation Tampa Bay</a> </b>and for more on Akron head on over to the </i><a target="_blank" href="http://hustlebelt.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: #ffffff; color: #004175; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Hustle Belt</i></b><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">.</i></a></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/central-florida-knights/2012/8/30/3281262/akron-vs-ucf-2012-score-game-recapBrandon Scott2012-08-30T20:22:09-04:002012-08-30T20:22:09-04:00UCF Vs. Akron Score Update: Knights Lead Big At Halftime, 35-0
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<p>Central Florida is off to a menacing start in its season-opening matchup against Akron. The Knights went into halftime with a convincing 35-0 lead, taking a one-touchdown lead after the first quarter, then scoring three more touchdowns in the second.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/128013/blake-bortles">Blake Bortles</a> threw a five-yard touchdown toss to Chris Martin for the Knights' first score. The next two touchdowns were short yard gains by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38162/latavius-murray">Latavius Murray</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114392/storm-johnson">Storm Johnson</a>, respectively. Bortles got with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/144097/rannell-hall">Rannell Hall</a> for an 18-yard touchdown pass with just over three minutes to go in the half. Johnson just scored another touchdown right before the first half ended.</p>
<p>UCF have a total of 249 yards, compared to Akron's 128. The Knights have also converted on three out of six third down attempts, but Akron just three of nine. UCF has the clear advantage going into the final half.</p>
<p>Especially if Bortles keeps dealing it like he has been -- 9-for-11 in the first half -- Akron can expect it to be a long night.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on Central Florida football stay tuned to <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a target="_blank" href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #004175;">SB Nation Tampa Bay</a> </b>and for more on Akron head on over to the </i><a target="_blank" href="http://hustlebelt.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: #ffffff; color: #004175; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Hustle Belt</i></b><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">.</i></a></p>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/central-florida-knights/2012/8/30/3281014/ucf-akron-score-update-halftimeBrandon Scott2012-08-30T10:00:34-04:002012-08-30T10:00:34-04:00UCF Vs. Akron 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Spread And More
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/central-florida-knights">Central Florida Knights</a> open up their 2012 season on the road against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/akron-zips">Akron Zips</a> on Thursday night. The Knights are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-7 season in 2011, and the odds makers think there is a good chance they get off to a good start, as they're favored by more than three touchdowns over Akron.</p>
<p>The Zips did not beat a single Football Bowl Subdivision team in 2011 -- their lone win came against VMI. They ranked 115th in total offense and 94th in total defense last season, so there is a lot of room for improvement on both sides of the ball as the Zips head into 2012.</p>
<p><b>Game time/date:</b> 7 p.m. ET, Thursday</p>
<p><b>Location</b>: InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field, Akron, Ohio</p>
<p><b>TV Schedule/Streaming</b>: <a href="http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index">ESPN3/WatchESPN</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/odds" target="_blank"><b>Odds</b></a>: Central Florida is favored by 24 points</p>
<p><i>For more on Central Florida football stay tuned to <b><a target="_blank" href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com">SB Nation Tampa Bay</a> </b>and for more on Akron head on over to the </i><a target="_blank" href="http://hustlebelt.com"><b><i>Hustle Belt</i></b><i>.</i></a></p>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/central-florida-knights/2012/8/30/3278649/akron-ucf-2012-schedule-game-time-oddsSteven Muma2012-08-27T11:46:44-04:002012-08-27T11:46:44-04:00UCF Vs. Akron Game Preview: The Knights Head To Ohio To Start Season
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<p>The Knights were picked to finish first in Conference USA.</p> <p>Central Florida will gets its season started a little earlier than most teams when it takes on Akron on Thursday night. The Knights, who are coming off a 5-7 season, will try to head back toward bowl eligibility with a win in their first game.</p>
<p><b>Game time: </b>7 p.m. ET</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Akron, Ohio</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> ESPN3</p>
<p>Despite a poor 2011, a lot is expected of Central Florida this season. The Knights were picked to finish first place in Conference USA in a media poll.</p>
<p>Safety Kemal Ishmael, defensive lineman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/87260/victor-gray" class="sbn-auto-link">Victor Gray</a>, offensive lineman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38177/theo-goins" class="sbn-auto-link">Theo Goins</a> and kickoff return specialist <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/144097/rannell-hall" class="sbn-auto-link">Rannell Hall</a> all secured spots on the preseason All-Conference USA team.</p>
<p>The Knights figure to have no trouble with Akron. In 2011, the Zips went 1-11 and have beaten just one FBS team in the last two seasons.</p>
<p>Central Florida's season opener will be one of 17 games that begin the college football season on Thursday night.</p>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/central-florida-knights/2012/8/27/3271675/ucf-knights-akron-game-previewDavid Cassilo