Would UCF be favored over Florida, Miami and FSU if they played? ESPN says yes

After UCF blasted a Georgia Tech team that previously beat Florida State, Knights quarterback Dillon Gabriel said they were the best team in Florida.

While the Associated Press rankings say otherwise, the Knights would be the favorites against the Sunshine State’s Big 3 comprised of Florida, Miami and Florida State, according to ESPN.

Using a neutral field with equal rest as the variable, ESPN has UCF as a 1.3-point favorite over the Gators, 12.8-point favorites over the Hurricanes and 14.2-point favorites over the Seminoles.

The Knights drew national attention after their unbeaten 2017 season, which culminated with a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn, for claiming to be national champions. That claim came with banners at their home stadium, T-shirts and championship rings. Auburn was the only team that season to defeat either of the College Football Playoff national title game participants, Alabama and Georgia, in the regular season.

In the summer of 2018, the NCAA officially recognized UCF as co-national champions in their record book.

The 2018 season saw UCF complete another undefeated regular season, despite losing star quarterback McKenzie Milton to a horrific leg injury in the regular season finale against rival USF. The Knights later played and lost to LSU in the Fiesta Bowl, and dropped three games in 2019.

Armed with a Top 25 ranking this season, UCF beat Georgia Tech 49-21 in its lone nonconference game, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has altered college football scheduling this season.

Both Florida (No. 5) and Miami (No. 12) sit ahead of the Knights, who are ranked 13th, in the latest AP poll. UCF does not have either program, or the unranked Seminoles, on their 2020 schedule.