Buffalo @ Connecticut preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 3, 2009 ) Buffalo 20, Connecticut 38

The UConn Huskies (1-2) take on their second straight foe from the MAC when they host Buffalo (1-2) Saturday.

Connecticut laid an egg at Temple last weekend, giving up 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in a 30-16 defeat. The Huskies had no answer for running back Bernard Pierce, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for 169 yards for the unbeaten Owls.

Jordan Todman was the only bright spot on offense for UConn as he ran for a career-high 192 yards and a touchdown. But the junior back also was involved in the game's pivotal play when a defender stripped him and returned the fumble 24 yards for the go-ahead, fourth-quarter touchdown.

Todman, who is averaging nearly 150 yards rushing per game, will sit out Saturday's game with an elbow injury. D.J. Shoemate, a transfer from Southern California, will start in his place.

That places more of a burden on quarterback Zach Frazer, who was just 16 of 31 for 150 yards last week. For the season, Frazer is completing 52 percent of his passes and has thrown two touchdown passes -- both coming in a 62-3 rout of overmatched Texas Southern.

Trying to inject some life into the offense, coach Randy Edsall will start sophomore wide receiver Dwayne Difton in place of Kashif Moore.

Frazer could also be on a short leash with the return of backup Cody Endres from a team-imposed suspension.

Buffalo is having its own offensive problems. The Bulls dropped a 24-10 decision to visiting Central Florida in their conference opener last week.

Following a 31-0 season-opening victory over Rhode Island – an FCS school – the Bulls have struggled to score. Wide receiver Marcus Rivers had seven catches for 102 yards last week, but the Bulls got little production elsewhere and were shut out in the second half.

Quarterback Jerry Davis is 33 of 77 with three interceptions in the last two games, and a mediocre running game will be further hindered by a season-ending injury to right tackle Matt Ostrowski.

Buffalo is in its first season under coach Jeff Quinn, who replaced Turner Gill after spending the last three seasons as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator.

Saturday’s game is a rematch of the 2009 International Bowl, won by Connecticut 38-20.

Buffalo has not had much success since UConn moved to Division I, getting shut out in its two previous trips to Rentschler Field in 2004 and 2005.

Additionally, the Bulls are 1-14 against teams from the Big East Conference, the only win coming against Rutgers in 2002.