West Virginia at UCF Picks and Prediction, Saturday, October 18, 2025
Use Code WWWC It’s a key Big 12 Conference game for two teams with long losing streaks on Saturday, Oct. 18. Read our West Virginia vs UCF prediction along with our other NCAAF Betting Picks! The Mountaineers are 2-4 and they have lost three straight games. The injury bug continues to hit West Virginia hard as they are still looking to find their new starting quarterback, while their top running back option is also out. UCF brings back their starting quarterback from the injury report, but they have lost three straight games with their 3-3 record. These two teams will meet with kick-off set for 12 P.M. EST.
West Virginia in an injury crisis
West Virginia is 2-4 overall this season. The Mountaineers picked up two wins in their first three games of the season. They defeated Robert Morris and Pitt in OT before they lost three straight games. They are winless on the road this season as they are coming off their bye week.
In their last game, West Virginia lost 38-24 to No. 23 BYU on Friday, Oct. 3. West Virginia never led in the game as they were dominated throughout. The Mountaineers’ defense allowed 516 yards of offense while the offense accumulated just 291 yards. West Virginia’s defense did force three turnovers, but they couldn’t do much with the extra possessions. Quarterback Khalil Wilkins threw for 81 yards on 7-for-15 passing and two picks. He did rush for a team-high 89 yards, too.
The quarterback room has been a mess for West Virginia. Starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol is out for the year with an injury and he intends to redshirt. Jaylen Henderson, a backup signal caller, is listed as doubtful. The two quarterbacks set to lead West Virginia is between Wilkins and Scotty Fox Jr. Both players have completed fewer than 10 passes this year. Wilkins leads the team in rush yards and rushing attempts.
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"The two young guys have been getting reps, which is good for them," West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriquez said about his quarterbacks. "Every rep they can take is going to help their growth. They are still learning our stuff, of course, but they are also still learning the speed of the game at this level and all of the stuff it takes to execute at a high level.”
Starting running back Tye Edwards remains sidelines with a hip injury, too. The senior has featured in just two games which included a breakout performance against Pitt where he scored three touchdowns and rushed for 141 yards.
Fred Perry leads the West Virginia defense with 43 total tackles. Chase Wilson has a team-high three sacks on the year, while the rest of the team has accounted for a total of 12 sacks. The Mountaineers have forced 10 turnovers on the season, too.
West Virginia is averaging 22.3 points per game, which ranks 104th. They are the 25th-ranked rushing offense as they are averaging 206.2 yards per game on the ground. The Mountaineers are throwing for 172 passing yards per game, which ranks 117th.
On defense, West Virginia is allowing 28.5 points per game, placing them 99th. They are allowing 234.5 passing yards per game, which places them 84th. The Mountaineers are also allowing 155 rushing yards per game, ranking them 87th.
West Virginia is 3-3 against the spread this season. They are 1-2 against the spread when playing on the road. They are 1-2 against the spread in Big 12 play, while they also hold a 2-2 against the spread record as an underdog. The under is 4-2 when the Mountaineers have played. The under is 2-1 when they have played on the road while the over is 2-1 during Big 12 play.
UCF struggling in the Big 12
UCF is 3-3 overall this season. They are 0-3 in Big 12 play as they have struggled over the previous few weeks. They opened the season with wins over Jacksonville State, North Carolina A&T, and North Carolina. They have followed it with three straight losses to K-State, Kansas, and Cincinnati. Two of their three losses have been by 9 points or less.
In their last game, UCF lost 20-11 to Cincinnati on the road on Saturday, Oct. 11. UCF never led in the game as the Bearcats dominated from the get-go. The offense for UCF struggled as they couldn’t find points on key drives. They had the ball for 19 more minutes, but they went 7-for-18 on third-down and 3-for-6 on fourth-down. Quarterback Cam Francher threw for 222 yards on 18-for-49 passing. He is ruled out for the game against West Virginia, though.
"I know he played tough," UCF head coach Scott Frost said following the game about Francher. "I thought he made some great throws in the first half. We missed on a couple shots; he made some other ones that got called back (due to penalties).”
In Francher’s place will be Tayven Jackson. He’s been dealing with an injury this year and could have played last week in case of an emergency. He should be healthy for this weekend’s game. He has thrown for 906 yards and has completed 65% of his throws. He’s tossed three touchdowns and one pick in five appearances.
On defense, UCF is led in tackles by linebacker Lewis Carter. He has 38 total tackles, which is three more than anyone else. The team has secured nine sacks this year. The defense has only forced seven turnovers this season.
UCF is averaging 28.3 points per game, which ranks 73rd. They are the 29th-ranked rushing offense, going for 200.3 yards per game. The Knights are throwing for 222.7 passing yards per game, placing them 75th.
On defense, UCF is allowing 17.8 points per game, which ranks 26th. They are the 13th-ranked passing defense, giving up 157.5 passing yards per game. The Knights rank 77th in rush yards allowed, giving up 148.3 yards per game.
UCF is 3-3 against the spread this season. The Knights are 2-2 against the spread when they have played at home. They are 2-1 against the spread when they have been favored. The Knights are 1-2 against the spread when they have played Big 12 opponents. The under is 4-2 this season. The under is 3-1 when UCF has played at home. The over is 2-1 when the total has been set at 51 or lower.
West Virginia vs UCF Picks
West Virginia vs UCF Spread Pick
- UCF -7 (5 units)
It’s a key matchup for teams on losing skids. Both teams have lost three straight games and are in desperate need of a victory. The injury bug has hit both teams, especially West Virginia. They will be playing their reserve quarterback; the decision has yet to be made. The choices they have both played in their last game, but struggled to make an impact against BYU. The Mountaineers are also without their starting running back, as West Virginia has yet to win on the road.
UCF brings back its starting quarterback, who will be key in this game. The offense for the Knights has relied on the rushing attack and they have the 29th-ranked rushing offense. They will find success against a West Virginia defense that ranks 87th in rush yards allowed. UCF will be the more comfortable team at home and in a low-scoring game, continuity in starting players will be key.
Take UCF to cover.
West Virginia vs UCF Over/Under Pick
- Under 47.5 (5 Units)
Both teams are decimated with injuries on the offensive side of the ball. The losses from both teams have not necessarily been because of the defense, but the lack of offensive scoring options. It’s why this will be a low-scoring game in Orlando. The Knights are the 26th-ranked scoring defense while also ranking 13th best in rush defense. West Virginia’s defense hasn’t been ranked very high, but UCF’s offense won’t blow them out of the water. The under is 3-1 when UCF has played at home, while the under is also 4-2 during West Virginia games.
Take the under on Saturday.
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