Virginia @ Connecticut preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2008 ) Virginia 10, Connecticut 45

Poor clock management cost Connecticut dearly in its comeback bid against Navy last week and brought out a slew of critics aiming their barbs at coach Bob Diaco. The Huskies on Saturday look to rebound from their embarrassing finish a week ago when they host Virginia, which was routed at No. 21 Oregon last week and has lost 16 consecutive road games.




Connecticut dropped a 28-24 decision to the Midshipmen with its final drive ending on a second down at the Navy 1-yard line after running the ball with 17 seconds remaining. UConn's offense, though, was disorganized and could not run another play. The Cavaliers were never in it against the Ducks, trailing 30-6 at the half en route to a 44-26 loss after dropping a home game to FCS foe Richmond in coach Bronco Mendenhall's coaching debut. Following a year away from the field after transferring from East Carolina, Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert threw five touchdown passes in his two games for the Cavaliers, but also threw three interceptions and was sacked nine times -- a major point of concern for Mendenhall.
TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, SNY, ESPN3. LINE: Connecticut -4.5

ABOUT VIRGINIA (0-2): The Cavaliers are off to a shaky start as they had negative rushing yardage heading into the fourth quarter of their season-opening loss and watched Oregon rack up 632 yards of offense last week. Mendenhall has his hands full switching his base defense to a 3-4 while guiding a team that hasn't won on the road since 2012 - a 33-6 victory over North Carolina State. Running back Albert Reid rushed for a career-high 126 yards at Oregon last week and has topped the century in two of his last three games.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT (1-1): Last week's finish was a mess and Diaco took full responsibility after the Huskies managed to erase a 21-0 deficit. "This is no one's fault other than mine," Diaco told reporters. "If you're looking for someone to blame I'm standing here ready to take it." Quarterback Bryant Shirreffs certainly had a hand in the final sequence but has been superb to start the season, going 23-for-26 against Navy while wide receiver Noel Thomas already has 20 receptions.

EXTRA POINTS
1. Diaco’s first career game as a head coach came in 2014 as UConn faced Mendenhall’s BYU squad and the visiting Cougars rolled 35-10.
2. Virginia, which is ranked 125th among the 128 FBS teams in the nation in total defense, hasn't had a winning season since 2011.
3. The series is even at 1-1, with UConn winning the last meeting 45-10 in 2008.

PREDICTION: Connecticut 24, Virginia 21