PITT - UCONN: GRIDIRON BATTLE

December 5, 2008


The much anticipated battle for Big East supremecy is looking like it could come down to the wire with a battle between the Pittsburgh Panthers and Connecticut Huskies. In Five Big East Questions With...Mike DeCourcy, the national college basketball writer for the Sporting News believes the league title could be decided March 7th when the two programs meet.

Wait...that is in basketball! While many around the Big East is geared up for an exciting basketball season ahead, there is still the matter of a few football games this weekend around the Big East, each with NCAA Bowl Game Implications, including when the Panthers travel to Storrs to take on the Huskies, on the football field.

Pittsburgh, after a late rally, comes into the game on the toes of a 19-15 victory over arch rival West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. Panther star LeSean McCoy rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter, to give Pitt the win.

McCoy's final TD came in the games last minute following a Pat White interception as WVU tried to ice the game with a couple first downs.

On the other side, UConn relies on their star running back, Donald Brown, to lead their attack. Brown has amassed 1,633 yards this season (compared to 1,308 of McCoy) and 16 touchdowns on the ground (compared to 20 for 'Shady'). The Huskies are 3-3 in the Big East and 7-4 overall, both putting them one game behind the Panthers in the standings and bowl pecking order.

Current NCAA Football Odds have the Huskies listed as 2 1/2 point home favorites. Neither team has been setting the world on fire with their play from under center, as both quarterbacks have struggled lately. That usually means a little trouble for the road team, and, coming off the emotional victory over their rival, a let down is certainly possible for the Panthers in this one.

Prediction:

Connecticut 20
Pittsburgh 16

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BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW: GAME #8 UCONN

October 24, 2008


It is late October and Cincinnati is still undefeated in the Big East football conference, albeit 1-0. Saturday's high noon showdown in the Nutmeg state against Connecticut is the beginning of six conference games in six weeks for the 5-1 Bearcats, whose only loss has come against highly ranked Oklahoma on the road.

UC's top 15 rush defense will be highly tested by Connecticut star back Donald Brown, who has already ammassed 1,174 yards on the ground along with 12 touchdowns through the first 7 games of the season (168/game).

The Huskies got off to a 5-0 start and where generating some talk around the country. However, a 34-12 pasting on the road at the hands of North Carolina and a tough 12-10 loss to Rutgers have knocked UConn back a bit. Now they will have to deal with the distraction of head coach Randy Edsall being a top candidate to replace Greg Robinson at his alma mater at Syracuse. Reports have surfaced that a search firm that the Syracuse administration has reached out to has pegged Edsall as the #1 candidate.

UConn is 1-1 in the Big East, winning at Louisville and suffering the loss last week at RU. WVU, USF and Pitt remain onthe conference schedule for both teams, so winning this one will help one team get the inside track at challenging for one of the four Big East NCAA Bowl Game tie-ins. The College Football Odds list the road Bearcats as a 2 1/2 point favorite, with a stout run defense and UConn's quarterback merry-go-round, look for the road team to make their play in the conference this weekend.

Prediction:

Cincinnati 24
Connecticut 21

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BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW: GAME #7 UCONN

October 17, 2008


Connecticut and Rutgers might be on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to records, with the Huskies at 5-1 and the Scarlet Knights at 1-5, they do have one thing in common, both have been blitzed by North Carolina this season. RU lost to the Tar Heels 44-12 back on September 11th while UConn fell to UNC in their last outing, 38-12, on October 4th.

Last year, Ray Rice was the engine that made the Scarlet Knight's train go, this year, however, No Rice has Meant No Dice for RU Football as their offense has been awful to date, scoring no more than 21 points agains Division 1-A foes. Their lone win, a 38-0 trouncing of Morgan State, really means little as Greg Schiano is watching the shine dim very quickly from his coaching star.

What UConn has this season is their own version of Ray Rice as running back Donald Brown continues to pile up astronomical rushing totals despite not much backing from the passing attack. Brown has rushed 179 times for 1,067 yards (6.0 yds/carry) and 12 touchdowns in six games. He also leads the team with 14 receptions on the year. UConn will continue to ride Brown as far as he can carry them and do not expect anything different on the road this weekend.

College Football Odds currently have Rutgers as a 1 1/2 point underdog on their home field in this match-up. Are the Scarlet Knights ready to turn the tide on their season and make some noise in the Big East...expect another tight game, but so far, RU has not shown they can win this kind of game this year, until they prove otherwise, don't count on it.


Prediction:

Connecticut 23
Rutgers 20

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BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW: GAME #4 UCONN

September 18, 2008


The week long exposure week for the Big East continues on ESPN Friday night as Connecticut hosts Baylor in a primetime match-up. The Huskies left us quite impressed last Saturday with a 45-10 drubbing of the ACC's Virginia squad and now look to continue a statement that they are a team to be reckoned with this year in the Big East.

Baylor is 2-1 and is coming off a 45-17 win over Washington State. At first glance, that looks somewhat impressive, but then realizing that Cal demolished Washington State 66-3 on their own field the previous week and, well, it doesn't look so special anymore.

The biggest development in their win over Virginia for the Huskies was Tyler Lorenzen having an effecient performance, completing 13 of 15 passes. We know Donald Brown can run the ball, and he did it impressively again against UVA with three TD's, 206 yards on just 20 carries. For the season, Brown has 566 yards, 8 TD's on 79 carries in three games. He might be one of the best in the country that you do not head about.

Baylor was roughed up in their opener at home by Wake Forest. I see Wake and UConn to be similar teams in overall strength, although it was Wake that beat UConn in their bowl match-up last season. I would not be surprised to see the Huskies, who NCAA Football Lines indicate as a 12-point favorite, to cover that number, and then some, in this match-up.

It might be a little too early for Connecticut fans to start checking the NCAA Basketball Odds for a national championship for the Huskies. UConn has a football team!


Prediction:

Connecticut 41
Baylor 21

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BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW: GAME #3 CONNECTICUT

September 12, 2008


The Connecticut Huskies are 2-0, however, their overtime snoozefest victory over lowly (albeit improving) Temple is not inspiring a lot of confidence in the Huskies heading into their match-up with Virginia Saturday night. After watching Big East hopeful Rutgers get smoked by North Carolina on their home field, this year's Big East is looking down right pitiful. Can UConn score one against the ACC for the conference?

Despite over 200 yards rushing last week from Donald Brown, the Huskies were very lucky to escape Philadelphia with the win. Another poor game in the passing department from Tyler Lorenzen (just 86 yards in the air) and the the receiving corps contributed to the game being a major struggle. Now, they face a Virginia team that is coming off a New year's Day bowl appearance last season, but are out of the game rather slowly this season, mostly due to their 52-7 loss to USC.

Connecticut will have to find a better balance offensively, through two games, Donald Brown has 5 of their six total touchdowns while the passing game has not led to a score, but has been picked off four times against Temple and Hofstra while completing just 51% of his throws for 270 yards in two games.

Looking at the NCAA Betting Odds for the weekend, UConn is favored by 10 points, even 10 and a half with some Online Sportsbooks, too much for me...

Prediction:

Connecticut 23
Virginia 20

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BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW: WEEK #2 UCONN

September 5, 2008


A high noon showdown in the city of Brotherly Love will pit current Big East football member Connecticut against former Big East football member Temple. The Owls are showing some signs of life since becoming a member of the MAC, going 4-4 in league play last season (4-8 overall) and opened their 2008 season with a 35-7 win over Army last week.

UConn swallowed the pride of Hofstra last weekend 35-3 as they hope to challenge again in the Big East. Last year the Huskies finished 9-4 on the season, however, the did drop three of their last four contests.

One of Connecticut's nine wins last year came against Temple, a hard-fought 22-17 home victory. The Owls held a 17-16 lead into the 4th quarter before falling to UConn.

With starting QB Adam DiMichele returning and looking solid against Army last week, a team that blasted Temple in 2007, the Owls are likely to take another step forward this season as a program. I am not quite ready to predict an outright upset as NCAA Football Betting houses have made the Huskies a 7-point favorite, but like last season, I expect this to be a close one with UConn running back Donald Brown, fresh off a four-TD performance in the opener, getting the key yards to put the Owls away late in game.


Prediction:


Connecticut 27
Temple 23

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