Massachusetts
12th MAC1-11
Connecticut
7th Big East5-7
Massachusetts @ Connecticut preview
Rentschler Field
The last time Connecticut finished below .500 in back-to-back seasons
was in 2005 and 2006. Coach Paul Pasqualoni will try to avoid equaling
that in his second year at the helm, which begins with a visit from
former Yankee Conference rival Massachusetts on Thursday. The Huskies
return 1,000-yard rusher Lyle McCombs, but junior college transfer
Chandler Whitmer makes his debut at quarterback with two new starters at
wide receiver. UConn’s defense, with eight starters back, will battle a
Minutemen offense filled with new faces. Charley Molnar, formerly the
offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, takes over at UMass, which is in
its second year of transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Starting
quarterback Kellen Pagel is out indefinitely with post-concussion
symptoms, so Molnar looks to 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman Mike Wegzyn to
run his no-huddle, spread offense.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3, SNY. LINE: Connecticut -24.5
MASSACHUSETTS (2011: 5-6, 3-5 CAA): The Minutemen will have to lean on their deep, talented defensive line to keep them in games until the offense comes together. Michigan transfer Michael Cox, a fifth-year senior who ran for 169 yards with the Wolverines, will help fill the void left by Jonathan Hernandez (1,190 yards, 12 touchdowns in 2011) at running back. Molnar hopes he can get the experienced Pagel back soon, but Wegzyn has shown promise in the preseason. Senior defensive back Darren Thellen had a team-leading five interceptions last season. The Minutemen play in the Mid-American Conference this year, but will not be eligible for the league title or a bowl berth until 2013.
CONNECTICUT (2011: 5-7, 3-4 Big East): Whitmer steps in to take the reins after throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns at Butler Community College in Kansas last year. Whitmer passed for 187 yards and two scores in the Blue-White spring game, and won the job over last year’s starter Johnny McEntee (51.3 completion percentage in 2011). McCombs ran for 1,151 yards as a freshman and should get the ball plenty again. Boston College transfer Shakim Phillips could help at wide receiver along with senior Mike Smith, who was academically ineligible last season. Second-team All-Big East tight end Ryan Griffin will also be a key target. Cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson leads the defense.
EXTRA POINTS
1. UConn junior Chad Christen takes over the place-kicking duties after all-time points leader Dave Teggart graduated.
2. UMass leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1897, 36-33-2. They have not met since 1999.
3. The over is 12-5 in UConn’s last 17 games as a favorite.
PREDICTION: Connecticut 34, Massachusetts 10
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3, SNY. LINE: Connecticut -24.5
MASSACHUSETTS (2011: 5-6, 3-5 CAA): The Minutemen will have to lean on their deep, talented defensive line to keep them in games until the offense comes together. Michigan transfer Michael Cox, a fifth-year senior who ran for 169 yards with the Wolverines, will help fill the void left by Jonathan Hernandez (1,190 yards, 12 touchdowns in 2011) at running back. Molnar hopes he can get the experienced Pagel back soon, but Wegzyn has shown promise in the preseason. Senior defensive back Darren Thellen had a team-leading five interceptions last season. The Minutemen play in the Mid-American Conference this year, but will not be eligible for the league title or a bowl berth until 2013.
CONNECTICUT (2011: 5-7, 3-4 Big East): Whitmer steps in to take the reins after throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns at Butler Community College in Kansas last year. Whitmer passed for 187 yards and two scores in the Blue-White spring game, and won the job over last year’s starter Johnny McEntee (51.3 completion percentage in 2011). McCombs ran for 1,151 yards as a freshman and should get the ball plenty again. Boston College transfer Shakim Phillips could help at wide receiver along with senior Mike Smith, who was academically ineligible last season. Second-team All-Big East tight end Ryan Griffin will also be a key target. Cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson leads the defense.
EXTRA POINTS
1. UConn junior Chad Christen takes over the place-kicking duties after all-time points leader Dave Teggart graduated.
2. UMass leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1897, 36-33-2. They have not met since 1999.
3. The over is 12-5 in UConn’s last 17 games as a favorite.
PREDICTION: Connecticut 34, Massachusetts 10