Every league game is important, but UCF's Conference USA opener looms especially large.



The Knights (2-2) welcome East Carolina (3-2) into Bright House Networks Stadium on Thursday at 8 p.m. for the first of their eight conference games.



It's not ECU's league debut as the Pirates are the early East Division leader holding a 2-0 record inside the conference.



With a win, UCF would overtake ECU at the top of the division.



A loss, however, could be devastating. The would-be 3-0 Pirates would be in the driver's seat holding the valuable tiebreaker over UCF. The Pirates' five remaining games are very favorable with Memphis (home), UAB (road), Houston (home), Tulane (road) and Marshall (home), teams that are a combined 3-18 after the first month of the season.





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