Connecticut @ Oklahoma preview

The Skinny: The Fiesta Bowl meeting between the Big 12 champion Sooners and the Big East champion Huskies is the biggest mismatch of the BCS bowls on paper. The Sooners (11-2) head to Glendale, Ariz., as 17-point favorites. Bob Stoops’ team capped the regular season by beating four straight bowl teams, highlighted by a dramatic comeback win over Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game.

UConn (8-4) also finished strong and sneaks into the BCS party despite having twice as many losses as Boise State and Michigan State combined. The Huskies recovered from consecutive ugly losses to Rutgers (27-24) and Louisville (26-0) in October to win their last five games. UConn also has a 30-16 loss to Temple on its resume.

Point Spread: Oklahoma -17. Over/under – 55.

Oklahoma’s Edge: Oklahoma’s talented young secondary blossomed down the stretch and presents a severe test for a UConn passing offense that ranks 113th in efficiency. The Sooners picked off eight of their 17 interceptions in the final four games and finished seventh nationally in turnover margin.

UConn’s Edge: Running back Jordan Todman leads the Huskies offense and will press an Oklahoma run defense that allowed 151 rushing yards per game.
Todman finished second in the nation in rushing, averaging 143 yards per game.

The Huskies could have an advantage in field position, as well. UConn is sixth in the nation in kickoff returns. Oklahoma allowed three kickoff return touchdowns this season, including one in each of its losses.

The Quarterbacks: Oklahoma sophomore Landry Jones was one of only three quarterbacks to throw for more than 4,000 yards this season. Hawaii’s Bryant Moniz and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden are the others. Jones, 6-foot-4 pocket passer, will enter next season among the Heisman favorites.

UConn’s Zach Frazer has experienced a bumpy senior season, throwing just five touchdowns with four interceptions in an injury-plagued campaign. He lost the starting spot in preseason camp to sophomore Cody Endres, but regained it after Endres was suspended to start the season. Frazer missed two games in October with a knee injury, before returning to start the final five games, all of which were wins.

NFL Prospects: Oklahoma – OLB Jeremy Beal; RB DeMarco Murray; WR Ryan Broyles; S Quinton Carter. UConn – FB Anthony Sherman; OLB Larence Wilson; RB Jordan Todman.

Bowl history: Oklahoma is 25-17-1 all-time in bowls, but has lost of three its last four postseason appearances, as well as their last three trips to the Fiesta Bowl. The Sooners are 5-6 in bowls overall under Stoops, who has his team in a BCS bowl for the eighth time in his 12-year tenure.

This is UConn’s fourth straight bowl appearance under coach Randy Edsall. The Huskies upset South Carolina 20-7 in last season’s PajaJohns.com Bowl to improve to 3-1 all-time in bowl games.

Etc.: Edsall emerged as a candidate for the Miami (Fla.) coaching position in early December ... Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was hired as the new head coach at Indiana. Wilson is not expected to be with the Sooners at the bowl game but no official announcement had been made as of Dec. 11.