Connecticut @ West Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2010 ) West Virginia 13, Connecticut 16

THE STORY: This series might be new to first-year coach Dana Holgorsen, but revenge will be on the minds of his 19th-ranked Mountaineers when they welcome Connecticut in the Big East opener for both. Last year's 16-13 overtime victory helped send the Huskies to a BCS bowl over West Virginia. The schools shared a three-way tie for first with Pitt). WVU's extra motivation aside, struggling UConn faces a near-impossible task to replicate last year's stellar defensive effort against the explosive Mountaineers, who average 40.4 points per game.

TV: ESPN3, SNY, Big East Network. LINE: West Virginia -20.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (2-3, 0-0 Big East): The Huskies' losses are to teams a combined 9-4, so they could be better than their record shows. On the other hand, foes Vanderbilt, Iowa State and Western Michigan will likely fall back to the pack in league play, and so victories over lowly Fordham and Buffalo say little for Connecticut. And it makes good Huskies' defensive numbers – 30th in total defense and 24th in points against – deceiving. However, after a slow start junior quarterback Johnny McEntee is improving each week and threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-31 loss to the Western Michigan last week. Last month he was 23-for-57 with no TDs and four picks against Vandy and Iowa State.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (4-1, 0-0 Big East): Holgorsen's gunslinging offensive reputation has perfectly suited junior quarterback Geno Smith, who might be hearing Heisman talk had WVU not lost to LSU. Smith has thrown for 1,709 yards and 12 scores, against just three interceptions. But perhaps more importantly, the Mountaineers may have also found a star tailback in Saturday's 55-10 thumping of Bowling Green. After trying out a host of running mates for Smith, WVU got a near-record performance from freshman Dustin Garrison, who amassed 291 yards – second-most in school history – and two touchdowns despite entering with just 65 yards for the season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. New UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni, who spent 14 years guiding Syracuse, is the Big East's all-time leader in league victories (62) and overall wins (109).

2. Last year's triumph was the Huskies' first against West Virginia, which had won the previous six meetings since UConn joined the conference by an average of 23.5 points.

3. The Huskies have led during the fourth quarter in each of their three losses.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 38, Connecticut 16 – The Mountaineers' defense also impressed Saturday in shutting down Bowling Green's Matt Schilz, and the Huskies simply won't be able to keep pace. WVU has already beaten ex-Connecticut coach Randy Edsall (37-31 at Maryland) and now get to exact revenge on his former team, too.