Pitt Panthers vs. UCF Knights Picks and Prediction for Thursday, November 20, 2025

It’s an early-season clash on the hardwood and it brings a non-conference tilt between foes from the ACC and the Big 12 on the hardwood in the Sunshine State as the Pitt Panthers take on the UCF Knights Thursday night in a first-round matchup of the Skyscanner Legends Classic presented by Old Trapper, and we have you covered with our Pitt vs. UCF prediction. Pitt comes in off an 84-50 home win over Bucknell on Monday in their previous contest, covering the line as a 15.5-point favorite. UCF edged Oakland 87-83 at home in their previous contest Monday night, failing to cover the line as a 13-point favorite. In the lone previous meeting, the Panthers took a 53-44 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee back on March 19, 2004. Read more about this Pitt vs. UCF prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!

Panthers Looking to Roll to 5-1 Start

Pitt rebounded from a pasting on the road to West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl as they routed Bucknell at home in their previous contest. The Panthers improved to 4-1 on the season and look to start at least 5-1 for the third straight season with a win here. Against Bucknell, Pitt trailed 11-9 with 13:14 to play in the first half but reeled off the next 12 points for a 21-11 lead and didn’t look back. The Panthers were up 38-25 at the half and led by as many as 40 points as they rolled to the victory. Pitt shot 50.8% from the field, including 13 of 23 from three-point range, and won the rebounding battle 42-29 in the game. Barry Dunning Jr. led the Panthers with 23 points and seven rebounds off the bench in the win.

The Panthers average 72.6 points per game on the season, putting them 285th in the nation in scoring offense. Pitt pulls down an average of 41 rebounds per contest (99th) while dishing out 14.6 assists a night. The Panthers are above average on the defensive end of the floor, ranking 20th in the country by allowing 61.2 points a contest. Brandin Cummings is one of three players averaging in double figures for Pitt offensively as he contributes 13.8 points and rebounds per contest. Damarco Minor (10.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists) and Cameron Corhen (14 points, 9.8 boards) are solid secondary scoring options. Omari Witherspoon, Nojus Indrusaitis, Roman Siulepa, Barry Dunning Jr. and Papa Amadou Kante have to step up for coach Jeff Capel and the Panthers to have success. Pitt is shooting 45.1% from the floor as a team, which is 203rd in Division I. The Panthers hit 8.4 three-pointers a game and knock down 38.2% of their attempts from beyond the arc. Pitt is a below-average team at the free-throw line as they convert 67.6% of their chances at the stripe this year, leaving them 273rd in the nation in that department.

Key Injury Report for Pitt:

• No Key Injuries

UCF Shooting to Pick Up Victory

UCF ran their win streak to three as they held off Oakland to pick up a win at home Monday night. The Knights improved to 4-1 on the year and look to maintain their momentum with a win here. Against Oakland, UCF led by as many as eight in the first half and settled for a 44-40 edge at intermission. The Knights led 70-55 with 11:20 to play, saw the Golden Grizzlies reel off 15 straight points to tie the game, and took the lead for good at 73-70 on Riley Kugel’s three-pointer. UCF shot 47.7% from the floor, including seven of 23 from three-point range, and won the rebounding battle 42-32 in the game. Jamichael Stillwell led the Knights with 20 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

The Knights put up an average of 89 points per contest (67th in the country) this season. UCF pulls down 38.4 rebounds per contest (167th) while dishing out 20 assists per game (21st) this season. The Knights are a below-average team on the defensive end of the floor, ranking 280th in the nation by allowing 80 points per game. Riley Kugel is one of three players averaging in double figures with 18 points plus 3.2 assists a night this season. Jordan Burks (13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Jamichael Stillwell (10.6 points, 7.8 rebounds) provide secondary scoring punch. Themus Fulks, Carmelo Pacheco, John Bol, Devan Cambridge, Chris Johnson, Kris Parker, George Beale Jr.,  Jeremy Foumena and Elijah Hulseve are all important rotation players for the Knights. UCF is shooting 50.5% from the floor as a team this season. The Knights drain 10.2 triples a night while shooting 47.7% from beyond the arc, which is second in the nation. UCF is cashing in 73.8% of their chances at the free throw line, which leaves them 114th in the nation in that department.

Key Injury Report for UCF:

• No Key Injuries

Pitt vs. UCF Pick

Pitt vs. UCF Moneyline Pick

• Pitt -105 (4 units)

Both teams are off to 4-1 starts on the year as they take the floor here. While Pitt was clubbed in their lone game away from the Petersen Events Center, they’re facing a UCF team that has struggled to defend to this point of the season. The Knights have surrendered at least 74 points in four of their five games on the year, with the lone exception coming in a game against a Florida A&M team ranked 354th in the KenPom rankings. Pitt has all four of their wins by double figures on the year. The Panthers are sound defensively and that helps make the difference as they earn a tight win here.

Pitt vs. UCF Over/Under Pick

• Under 155.5 (4 units)

Pitt has stayed under the total in four of their five games this season as they take the floor here. The Panthers are 43rd in defensive efficiency, 19th in effective field goal percentage defense (41.3%), 20th in field goal percentage defense (35.9%), 20th in scoring defense and 26th in two-point defense (41.1%) this season. Pitt is a slow-paced team as they are 320th in adjusted tempo with 68.1 possessions a night. UCF has been clicking offensively in the early going but their hot three-point shooting will be tested by a Pitt team that is limiting opposing teams to 27.7% shooting from beyond the arc. The Knights are 73rd in adjusted tempo with 72.8 possessions a night but Pitt will take the air out of the ball. That keeps this game under the total.