The Huskies (+4.5) are set to welcome the Massachusetts Minutemen (-4.5) to Connecticut. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET and ESPNU will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut is projected to play the role of underdog and is currently getting 4.5 points in this Saturday game. In order to take the favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently need to spend $200 to win $100 back on the Minutemen (-200). The Huskies are getting +170 moneyline odds. If one team can find paydirt early it’ll result in a nice live betting scenario. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) pretty highly at 74 points.
The early action has leaned toward the Huskies, as the line opened at 6. The O/U has yet to change after being set initially at 74.
The disappointing Minutemen are down 4.3 units so far and 2-6 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U mark of 6-2.
The Huskies have gained 0.0 units this season. The team is 2-5 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Minutemen are 2-6 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Huskies are 1-6 SU.
The Minutemen fell to Coastal Carolina 24-13 in a contest where the Minutemen completed 25-of-43 passes for 390 yards and one touchdown. Andrew Ford went 20-for-34 for 326 yards and one touchdown while Ross Comis completed five-of-nine for 64 yards. Jordan Fredericks (70 rushing yards on seven attempts) led the ground attack. Andy Isabella (10 receptions, 174 yards) and Sadiq Palmer (seven catches, 139 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
A week ago, South Florida knocked off this Connecticut crew by a score of 38-30. David Pindell completed 10-of-21 passes for 133 yards and one interception. Pindell (197 rushing yards on 28 attempts, two TDs) and Kevin Mensah (120 yards on 19 carries, two TDs) mounted the running game as Hergy Mayala (five receptions, 61 yards) and Aaron McLean (two catches, 28 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Massachusetts has run the ball on 46.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Connecticut has a rush percentage of 55.6 percent. The Minutemen have rushed for 123.1 yards/game and have 14 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Huskies are averaging 194.9 rushing yards per game and have 11 total rush TDs.
The Minutemen offense has averaged 296.3 yards through the air overall and has 19 passing TDs so far. The Huskies have produced 203.7 pass yards per outing and have 10 total pass scores.
Defensively, Massachusetts seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 272.6 yards and pass for 224.3 yards per game. The Connecticut defense has allowed 325.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 325.7 yards per game to opposing runners. The Minutemen are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 8.75 to opposing QBs, while the Huskies have given up an ugly 11.53 ANY/A.
Ford has been more efficient than Pindell of late, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 6.52for the year (and 7.61 over the last two games). Pindell’s ANY/A is 5.81 for the season and 3.22 over his last two outings.
Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Connecticut Huskies NCAA Prediction
SU Winner: Connecticut, ATS Winner: Connecticut, O/U: Over
