Texas Longhorns vs. UCF Knights: Preview, Betting Odds, How to Watch

The Texas Longhorns and UCF Knights will face off as Big 12 opponents for the first time ever.

AUSTIN -- The Texas Longhorns will look to catch a rhythm ahead of a brutal stretch of ranked conference games when they host the UCF Knights at the Moody Center on Wednesday night in a matchup of two bottom-three teams in the Big 12.

Texas (12-4) has fallen out of the Top 25 after Saturday's 76-73 loss at West Virginia dropped the Longhorns to 1-2 in Big 12 play. UCF (10-5) was blown out in its Big 12 debut against Kansas State, but followed it up with a 65-60 upset over No. 3 Kansas on Jan. 10. The Knights then suffered a tight 63-58 loss to No. 18 BYU on Saturday, finishing a few possessions away from another ranked win.

© Ben Queen, USA TODAY

The Longhorns will need to continue leaning on what is developing into a star-studded one-two punch of Max Abmas and Dylan Disu, who have combined to score 98 of Texas' last 147 points over the past two games.

The Knights are led by guards Jaylin Sellers (17.5 points) and Darius Johnson (14.4 points), who are UCF's two leading scorers by a wide margin.

"(Johnson) is shooting as well as he has in his career and Sellers is an elite scorer who can provide offense from all three levels," Longhorns coach Rodney Terry said Tuesday.

Texas guard Ithiel Horton played at UCF last season before transferring to Austin this past offseason. He started all 34 games while averaging 12.3 points and 3.7 rebounds during his only season with the Knights.

Abmas Wins Big 12 Weekly Award After Impressive Two-Game Stretch

WHAT: Texas Longhorns (12-4, 1-2 Big 12) vs. UCF Knights (10-5, 1-2 Big 12)

WHERE: Moody Center - Austin, Texas

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, 7 p.m. CT

HOW TO WATCH: Longhorn Network

HOW TO LISTEN: Longhorn Radio Network

TICKETS: SI Tickets

BETTING Odds via SI Sportsbook

SPREAD: Texas -8.5

OVER/UNDER: 138.5

MONEYLINE: Texas -450, UCF +310