No Time for a Misstep for Mora
The Story: The football team is riding high after its first win over Boston College. The one way to destroy that goodwill? Losing to UMass tonight at Pratt & Whitney Stadium (7 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Let’s be honest. As good as we felt on Saturday afternoon when UConn beat Big East turncoat Boston College, a loss to UMass for the second consecutive year would leave us despondent.
• The Huskies and Minutemen are the most prolific of football rivals and are meeting on the gridiron for the 76th time. UConn is 4-5 under Jim Mora while former UConn defensive coordinator Don Brown is in his second tour at UMass, which is 1-7.
CAN THE HUSKIES KEEP IT GOING? UConn’s defense, led by junior linebacker Jackson Mitchell, dominated Boston College by holding it to three points and forcing five turnovers. It was the lowest point total the Huskies have ever allowed from a Power 5 opponent and Mitchell has parlayed his 100 tackles and counting into becoming a semifinalist for the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker.
• We are also partial to the members of the defensive line and redshirt freshman defensive end Pryce Yates, who wreaked havoc on the BC line.
• This is what UConn’s defense has become after defensive coordinator Lou Spanos left 10 days before the season opener and wasn’t replaced.
• UConn has its most wins since 2016, which remains stunning to us. It has about a 24 percent chance at a bowl game, and all the plausible scenarios include a win over UMass. Liberty (7-1), UConn’s next opponent, beat UMass 42-24 earlier this season. The Huskies close the season Nov. 17 at Army.
WILL WE SEE THE EXPLOSION? We all know UConn’s offense remains conservative and methodical. That is by design, with freshman quarterback Zion Turner tasked with managing the game and avoiding catastrophic turnovers. UConn’s 5.34 yards per pass attempt rank among the bottom in the nation. Can that change this week?
• UConn may welcome back more of its explosive playmakers as wide receiver Cam Ross and running back Devontae Houston are gametime decisions. So, too, is wide receiver Keelan Marion, who can’t get over the injury bug.
• Ross has only appeared in 13 games, 11 of which came during his freshman year in 2019. That was a stellar season as he had 60 catches for 723 yards. He’s been out all season with a broken foot. Houston has 350 yards on 50 carries but missed the past two games with a high ankle sprain.
ABOUT UMASS: UMass’ lone win was over Stony Brook, 20-3. Each of its losses this season have been by double digits as Brown is undertaking another rebuild in Amherst.
• Running back Ellis Mayweather pounded the ball 39 times for 171 yards last year in UMass’ 27-13 win over UConn.
• Quarterback Gino Campiotti is listed as the starter — along with every quarterback on the roster. He is a runner and leads UMass with 54.3 rushing yards per game.
• UMass averages only 245 yards per game, including 166 yards on the ground. It has thrown one touchdown pass all year.
SERIES INFO: We don’t like this stat, but we are pros: UMass is UConn’s most frequent opponent and UMass holds the lead in the series, 38-35-2. Since both teams moved up to the FBS, the series is tied at 2-2.
THE LINE? UConn is 7-2 against the spread this year and has been one of the best bets in all of college football. What do the sharps say this weekend? UConn is -15.5 against the struggling Minutemen.
Morning Reads
• Dan Hurley has a tough choice at point guard for the Huskies: Tristen Newton or Hassan Diarra. (Hearst Connecticut Media)
• The men’s hockey team, ranked No. 8 in the country, better be ready for the best from the rest of Hockey East starting this weekend against Maine. (Hartford Courant)
• Aubrey Griffin is making sure she isn’t an afterthought when she is on the perimeter this year. (The UConn Blog)
• The women’s volleyball team embarks upon its farthest Big East road trip of the season as it faces Creighton and Xavier while looking to push its winning streak beyond six games. (UConnHuskies.com)
• Can three teams beat Boston College within a week? After victories by the men’s hockey and football teams, the women’s hockey team hopes so. It will face the Eagles at home tonight and in Boston tomorrow. (UConnHuskies.com)
Top photo: UConn’s Ian Swenson tackles BC quarterback Phil Jurkovec. (Ian Bethune for The UConn Daily)
