The UConn Huskies will open up conference play when they hit the road for the first time this season against South Florida on Friday.
With both teams at 1-2, this game offers an even record to the winner, and for UConn it could be a momentum builder before taking on the meat of its AAC conference schedule.
USF has the tougher immediate schedule, with a trip to No. 19 Wisconsin next week before a date at home with East Carolina. That being said, UConn could spoil the season in South Florida with a third straight home loss for the Bulls.
Both teams’ only win came against FCS teams, and both were by one score or less.
Not thrilling, I know.
Even though it is South Florida’s fourth home game in a row, it will be a homecoming party for 10 Huskies as they return to their home state. Specifically, cornerback Jhavon Williams and kicker Bobby Puyol will play in front of friends and family in a Friday night game — much like their high school days.
If UConn is to pull out a victory against South Florida, it will have to be anchored by its defense. Diaco’s defense has gone from giving up 513 total yards in the home opener to BYU, to 300 against Stony Brook, and finally giving up just 292 yards (only 52 rushing) to Boise State last week.
Impressively, the Huskies are holding teams to just 12 third-down conversions on 44 attempts (27.3 percent).
A 27 percent success rate for other teams on third down is scary good for this young defense, but it is often UConn’s offense shooting itself in the foot or special teams that costs points on the scoreboard.
Last week Boise State scored twice on defense — one on an early swoop-and-score fumble return, and the other from a pick-six late in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Chandler Whitmer will get the starting nod once again after throwing his first two interceptions last week, but don’t be surprised if Tim Boyle sees a few more snaps as his redshirt is now Husky blue.
Returning to East Haven with a victory would set the tone for the rest of conference play as UConn takes on Temple at home next week and then traveling to Tulane’s new on-campus stadium after that.
Call it the appetizer course of the AAC conference.
As Diaco likes to view things, it’s the end of the first quarter of the 2014 season. The second quarter consists of three winnable games before the going gets tough against conference opponents like East Carolina and Cincinnati.
A win in Tampa this Friday would give this struggling offensive line confidence going into the bulk of the season, and a game to look back on if they can buy the quarterback some time to step into throws and the receivers time to run their routes against USF’s speedy secondary.
The first road game of the season will be a test for the Huskies away from their home crowd at Rentschler. In a different environment, it will be crucial to stay comfortable on the field and to give the offense the same comfort and protection to carry out and finish drives.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
