Bowl bid still a possibility for UConn, which visits Tulane

There's no shortage of motivation heading down the home stretch.

The UConn football team is highly motivated by the fact that qualifying for a bowl game is still within reach with three games remaining.

A year ago, the Huskies finished with just two wins in coach Bob Diaco's first season.

"There's a determination," tight end Tommy Myers said. "You smell a bowl game and you want it so bad you UCONN AT TULANE 4 p.m., Yulman Stadium, ESPNews

play your heart out. From the start of the season to right now, it's a huge goal."

"... When you're so close to that bowl game, you just forget about the little nicks and bruises and you go out and practice as hard as you can. When you get to the game, you try to play as hard as you can."

It will take their best effort down the stretch, and maybe a break or two, for the Huskies (4-5 overall, 2-3 American Athletic Conference) to achieve their bowl goal. They hope to ride the momentum from last week's 31-13 win over East Carolina.

It starts with today's game against Tulane at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans (4 p.m., ESPNews). It's a crucial game because after playing the Green Wave, UConn finishes by hosting No. 18 Houston (8-0, 4-0) and visiting No. 23 Temple (7-1, 4-0 prior to Friday night's game at SMU).

Tulane (2-6, 1-4) has struggled mightily against the top tier programs in the conference, losing four straight versus AAC teams with a combined overall record of 29-2. It has started three different quarterbacks.

UConn's toughest challenge may be containing Tulane's big, fast and physical defensive front, led by senior defensive end Royce LaFrance who owns a team best 10 tackles for loss, including five sacks. The Green Wave have recorded 17 sacks in the last five games.

"Missouri had a very strong defensive line," Diaco said. "BYU's defensive line, collectively, we saw some very talented players. But this Tulane front is as good or potentially better than anyone we've played to this point. It will be a huge, huge challenge for our offensive line and tight ends."

The Huskies lost both to Missouri and BYU. They're 1-3 on the road, with their only win coming at winless Central Florida, 40-13, on Oct. 10. g.keefe@theday.com Twitter: @GavinKeefe