Kent State at South Florida
Kickoff 10/17/2026, 6:00:00 PM CDT · Raymond James Stadium
Mid-American / American Athletic · Week 7
Article published 10/13/2026, 12:09:33 PM CDT · last material update 10/13/2026, 12:09:33 PM CDT
Kent State
10.6PROJECTION
South Florida
35.4Model projections are estimates. Forecast timestamp 10/11/2026, 2:14:44 PM CDT · feature-data cutoff 10/11/2026, 2:14:44 PM CDT. Verified stored season-to-date statistics; descriptive comparisons are separate from the original scoring-model feature window. Comparison snapshot 10/13/2026, 12:09:33 PM CDT.
Official betting selection
Awaiting Odds
The model projection is available, but no eligible verified sportsbook offer has produced a locked official selection.
Team statistics & league rankings
Season-to-date comparison · ranks use covered teams within College Football · #1 is best for each metric.
| Metric | Kent State | South Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Points / game | 13.7#137 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 26.2#88 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Points allowed / game | 32.5#123 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 17.3#25 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Total yards / game | 279.8#134 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 334.8#111 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Yards allowed / game | 379.0#94 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 341.3#59 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Passing yards / game | 170.7#123 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 182.3#115 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Rushing yards / game | 109.2#125 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 152.5#76 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Yards / play | 4.45#136 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 5.63#88 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Yards allowed / play | 6.23#121 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 5.38#67 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Third-down conversion | 37.0%#94 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 42.4%#62 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Third-down conversion allowed | 36.5%#67 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 37.0%#72 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Turnovers / game | 1.67#110 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 0.67#23 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Takeaways / game | 1.00#87 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 1.00#87 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Offensive EPA / play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| EPA allowed / play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Offensive success rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Success rate allowed | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Red-zone scoring rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Turnover differential / game | -0.67#116 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 0.33#45 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Defensive sacks / game | 1.83#81 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 1.67#91 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Tackles for loss / game | 4.83#85 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 6.83#24 of 138 covered teams · 6 games |
| Passing EPA / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rushing EPA / rush play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Explosive-play rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Sacks suffered / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| QB hits / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Adjusted strength of schedule | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Statistical matchup analysis
South Florida has the higher observed scoring average: Kent State scores 13.7 points per game and South Florida scores 26.2, a 12.5-point difference. These are unadjusted season averages, not an estimate of this game's winning margin.
Kent State allows 32.5 points per game, compared with 17.3 for South Florida. South Florida has the stronger defensive scoring figure by 15.2 points per game. Opponent quality and game situations can affect this comparison; a better raw rank is not proof of a better adjusted defense.
Kent State's offense produces 279.8 yards per game; South Florida's defense has conceded 341.3. The 61.5-yard difference compares two observed averages rather than predicting a yardage total. Kent State averages 4.45 yards per play, which puts it #136 among 138 covered teams.
South Florida's offense produces 334.8 yards per game; Kent State's defense has conceded 379.0. The 44.2-yard difference compares two observed averages rather than predicting a yardage total. South Florida averages 5.63 yards per play, which puts it #88 among 138 covered teams.
Turnover differential / game is another measurable difference: Kent State records -0.67, while South Florida records 0.33. Higher is better for this metric. Compare the sample counts in the table before treating a difference as stable.
Third-down conversion is another measurable difference: Kent State records 37.0%, while South Florida records 42.4%. Higher is better for this metric. Compare the sample counts in the table before treating a difference as stable.
The stored production forecast is Kent State 10.6, South Florida 35.4. South Florida is projected to win by 24.8 points. SE v3.0 uses recent team and opponent profiles rather than just the full-season averages shown here. The college football model includes home/away context; an independently attributable home-field point adjustment is not exposed for this game, so none is claimed.
Saved sportsbook observations
Spread unavailable
Total unavailable
Observed Not verified. Saved market observations can differ from the original locked betting line.
Final model assessment
South Florida is the projected winner in the original stored scoring forecast, with a 24.8-point margin and 46.0 combined points. The comparisons above describe the scoring, defensive and efficiency context for this matchup. The official selection, when published, remains the specific wager in the tracker.
Explore this matchup
Game previews · Spreadsheet entry · Tracked betting record · Kent State statistics · South Florida statistics · American Athletic previews
Related team matchups
Definitions, coverage & original timestamps
Game ID college-football:401862806. Article creation is not the original prediction timestamp. Original forecast 10/11/2026, 2:14:44 PM CDT; final stored pregame forecast 10/11/2026, 2:14:44 PM CDT. Rates use summed observed numerators and denominators; game averages use games with that statistic. Rankings use competition ties within the covered league population. NFL data uses regular-season games. EPA / play uses observed PBP EPA counts; success means positive EPA. Explosive plays use the source aggregation’s 20-yard passing / 10-yard rushing thresholds. CFB red-zone scoring includes field goals and touchdowns; a different NFL red-zone rate is not substituted. Quarterback hit rate is a hit proxy, not a complete pressure rate. Missing adjusted strength of schedule, pressure rates or archived inputs remain unavailable.