The Central Florida Golden Knights had little basketball tradition or reputation as they entered Conference USA for the 2005-06 season and had fewer expectations either from themselves or from gamblers. As a result, few teams were more of a mystery to gamblers than Central Florida, who also had some curious on court opponents.
Quiet start
Central Florida Knights broke into play with six unlined games in their first seven to start 2005-06. They began their season with a 68-58 win over Rollins at home. They stayed at home for their next three games, winning them all, starting with an 86-67 win over Nova Southeastern. That was followed by a 74-66 win over Stetson and then a 61-48 win over Bethune Cookman for a quiet start at 4-0 straight up. In their first lined game of the season, the Golden Knights couldn’t have had a tougher opponent than the eventual national champion Florida Gators, who clobbered the Golden Knights 80-47 as 21-point chalks. Central Florida went back to unlined action and lost at Florida Atlantic 54-59 and followed that up with a 63-47 home win over Norfolk State.
Up and Down
Back on the board against Western Kentucky as a 9-point neutral court dog, UCS scored a 68-73 loss/cover. That was followed by a 63-68 win over Sam Houston State as 2-point neutral court chalks. The Golden Knights returned to unlined action with a 69-57 home win over North Florida and then were defeated by Birmingham Southern 50-58 in a disappointing home performance. Back on the board for another brutal road game, this time at Central Florida Knights as a 22-point dog, the Golden Knights almost pulled off the major upset with a 57-59 loss/cover. They were unable to sustain momentum however, and were likely out of gas, with a 69-73 loss to Marshall as 5-point home chalks as they continued up and down against the spread.
No real pattern
At Houston in their next game, the Golden Knights pulled off a stunning 66-56 upset win as a 14.5-point dog. They let down their guard in their next game, however, as they lost to South Dakota State in a shocker 64-69 in an unlined loss that could not be explained. There was no real pattern for gamblers to grasp when it came to Central Florida Knights and no real historic reference either. They became one of the most challenging teams to handicap, therefore, throughout the season. In their next game at home against Tulsa, the Golden Knights scored a 45-44 win but failed to cover as a 4.5-point chalk, that was followed by a 64-59 win at East Carolina as 4-point dogs.
Reality check
Central Florida’s win at Houston was not forgotten nor was their stirring performance at Kentucky, which is what made more than a few gamblers reach too far with them in their next game at Memphis, which was a 61-94 blowout loss as a 21.5-point road dog in a reality check.
More of the same
Central Florida did get off the mat and get the cash against UAB in a 68-75 home loss as 9-point dogs. But it was more of the same as just when you believed one way about Central Florida Knights, they would cross you up as proven by their 51-59 loss at Southern Miss as a 1-point dog. The Golden Knights bounced back at home with a 72-51 win over Tulane as 4-point chalks. They next suffered a revenge loss to Houston, 71-78, as 4-point home dogs, however. They then went to SMU and lost 55-77 as 6.5-point dogs. UCF did finish well however, as they won and covered four of their final six games of the season and made the second round of the CUSA tournament in the process.