The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Daunting task for Huskies
UConn defense will be challenged by potent UCF offense
STORRS — Anticipating a sticky Saturday night in Central Florida, the UConn football team did all it could to simulate the weather conditions during practice this week.
The Huskies ran through indoor practice with the heat blasting inside the Shenkman Training Center, elevating the temperature to mimic the climate at Disney World. The players will seemingly be prepared for the Orlando heat when they line up against UCF.
Consider that box checked. Preparing for the other elements at the home of the nation’s 22ndranked team? There may only be so much Randy Edsall and his staff can accomplish in the days leading up to a daunting task, as UConn prepared to line up against a roster of elite talent.
The Huskies (12) are in rebuilding mode, a collection of players that lack experience and a unit that lacks depth. Edsall has talked about the challenge of developing players while, well, competing against stiff competition each week.
The past two games sum it up — UConn was competitive against Illinois in a 3123 loss at Rentschler Field before stumbling in a 383 loss at Indiana. Two Big Ten opponents, two losses. Some signs of promise, some glaring holes exposed This week?
“This will be the best team that we’ve played so far this year,” Edsall said.
The oddsmakers’ view: UCF is favored by 43 points. The Knights are coming off a rare loss — UCF had won 27 consecutive regular season games and its lone loss the past two seasons came against LSU in last season’s Fiesta Bowl — as they host the Huskies, but this is a solid Top 25 program.
UCF (31) is averaging 47.2 points. The Knights have scored 30 or more points in 30 consecutive games and 40 or more in 18 of those 30 games. They’ve also reached 50 points 10 times.
This season, UCF is seventh in the nation in total offense (559 yards per game) and eighth in the country in points per game. The Knights’ 109
first downs ranked third in the country.
On the other side of the ball, UConn’s defense has allowed 30 points and 324 yards per game — significantly better than last season, when the Huskies allowed 50.4 points and 617 yards per game.
So after the historically poor defensive season, UConn has progressed through three games. More experience, added weight and muscle on the young players, a new defensive coordinator … the trend is upward.
But there’s no masking the challenge this week,
“I’m going to be very upfront and honest with our team,” Edsall said this week. “I’m not going to tell them something that isn’t factual or isn’t true. I’m telling them we’re going to have to step up our game up quite a bit this week. We have the ability to do that. But I’m not going to lead them down a path that isn’t going to get them where they want to go. … The challenge this week is even bigger and better.”
A year ago, UConn opened the season with a 5617 loss to UCF at Rentschler Field. The Knights compiled 652 yards that night, although UConn countered with 486 yards.
But that was at home, with a younger and less experienced UConn roster. This time, the Huskies are back on the road after experiencing a hostile environment last week in Indiana.
“Now you know what the expectations are when you have to go on the road and play,” Edsall said. “Nobody’s young anymore. It’s the truth, but you’re out there playing. So you can’t have a crutch. You can’t have an excuse.”
UCF opened as a 39.5 point favorite and the point spread has risen. Last week, Clemson was a 42point favorite over Charlotte before winning 5210. In Week 2 this season, Alabama was tabbed as a 55point favorite over New Mexico State and the Tide rolled to a 6210 win.
And UConn’s not the only deep underdog this week. Ole Miss is a 38point underdog against Alabama.
Beyond UCF’s level of talent, the Vegas oddsmakers consider that the Knights are home and — perhaps — extra motivated coming off a loss while UConn has fallen to consecutive Big Ten opponents.
But UCF coach Josh Heupel dismissed the notion that losing will somehow ignite his players.
“Their motivation is this is the next step, this is the next game on our schedule,” Heupel said. “One loss doesn’t change your competitive spirit, man. It’s been a long time since we’ve lost a regular season game, but your kids are excited about the opportunity, man. Let’s go play ball.”
The opponent? Not an issue, Heupel said. It was suggested this week that UCF would need to send a message with an emphatic win over an overmatched opponent.
Hence, the point spread. “It’s about going 10, man,” Heupel said. “They got good coaches, right? They got 85 guys on scholarship, too. It’s about finding a way to go win one ballgame.”