Syracuse @ Connecticut preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 20, 2010 ) Connecticut 23, Syracuse 6

THE STORY: The only thing keeping Syracuse from a second straight bowl game is the man who last guided it there – Connecticut coach Paul Pasqualoni. The Huskies’ head man, the winningest coach in Big East history, spent 14 seasons on the Orange sidelines from 1991-2004. His first season in Connecticut hasn’t gone nearly as smoothly, but a win against his former team could spark the Huskies to a late-season bowl bid of their own. Three of their last four games are at home – a place the Orange have never won. They’ll have another shot Saturday in a matchup of the Big East's worst defenses.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: Connecticut -1.5

ABOUT SYRACUSE (5-3, 1-2 BIG EAST): The Orange followed up a season-high 49 points in an upset win over West Virginia with a season-low 10 points in a 17-point loss at Louisville last weekend. Ryan Nassib remains the most accurate quarterback in the Big East with a 65.4 percent completion rate, but the senior continues to be rattled by blitzes. Nassib was outplayed by freshmen quarterbacks in both conference losses. If he can stay calm in the pocket, though, big plays will be available for him. Pittsburgh quarterback Tino Sunseri torched the UConn secondary for a career-high 419 yards last Wednesday.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (3-5, 1-2 BIG EAST): The Huskies have lost three of four, giving up at least 35 points in every defeat. That’s why it’s imperative the offense chews up clock against a potentially potent passing attack like Syracuse. Connecticut failed to do so in a 35-20 loss to Pitt last time out, as it converted just 3-of-14 third downs. Lyle McCombs, the conference’s second-leading rusher, is arguably the only big-time offensive playmaker on either side. The Huskies need him to produce in the red zone, where they have only scored nine touchdowns in 19 chances.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Connecticut has won four straight in the series and owns a 5-2 alltime mark against Syracuse.

2. Chandler Jones has three sacks in his last two games for Syracuse. He’s been a disruptive defensive end on third down and faces an offensive line that has allowed the second-most sacks (30) in the Big East.

3. Connecticut benefitted from a few extra days of preparation since last playing on Oct. 26. The Huskies, however, have been distracted by the weather, as last weekend’s storm still left some of the players and coaches without power late into this week.

PREDICTION: Syracuse 34, Connecticut 24 – Tight end Nick Provo, who earned a spot on the midseason watch list for the Mackey Award, needs to be Nassib’s safety blanket in a hostile environment. Provo had three touchdowns two weeks ago against West Virginia but had just five total targets – none in Louisville territory – in last week’s loss. Nassib should be able to find Provo against a porous UConn secondary.

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