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This is how I voted in the Big East’s football media poll. The entire media poll will be revealed by the league on July 29.
No. 7 UCONN
UConn instant analysis: From tied for first in 2007 to second to worst in 2008. That’s my call for the Huskies. Last year, UConn was one of the nation’s most opportunistic – forget it, they were one of the luckiest – teams in the nation. If not for: a blown TD call against Temple in a five-point win, a blown call on a fair-catch punt return for a TD against Louisville in a four-point win and another USF offensive coordinator’s brain freezing near the goal line in a seven-point win against the Bulls, the Huskies 9-3 regular season would have been 6-6 (3-4 in the league). This year, they are loaded with 17 returning starters. But their league schedule features games at Louisville (loss), Rutgers (bigger loss) and USF (even bigger loss). The Huskies will find out that those breaks have a funny way of evening out.
Fun with numbers: Of UConn’s 13 games last season, the Huskies only outgained five opponents: Duke, Maine, Temple, Akron and Syracuse.
If I could attend one UConn game this season it would be: UConn at Louisville, Sept. 26. I’d love it if on UL’s first punt, a Cardinal puts his Riddell squarely between the numbers of a UConn returner before he catches the ball. They should reward the first one to do so with all the Papa John’s pizzas and mint juleps he can consume in a month. If the UConn returner is signaling for a fair catch when he gets leveled, then it’s worth two months of pizzas and juleps.
Why I picked UConn No. 7? They play four of seven Big East games on the road. That’s not good for a team that’s 1-9 all-time in Big East road games. Their home schedule isn’t any easier. Of their three home games, two are against Cincinnati and West Virginia. The Huskies have lost all six meetings against the Bearcats and Mountaineers the past three seasons.
UConn will finish better than 7th if: RBs Andre Dixon and Donald Brown, the Big East’s fifth- and sixth-leading rushers last year, can eat up yardage and move the chains and shorten the game. Then hope the Huskies’ opportunistic defense – second in the league with a +14 turnover margin last season – follows up last year’s success. If that fails, they can always hope the same blind mice that officiated home wins against Temple and Louisville are assigned even more Huskies’ games this season.
UConn will finish worse than 7th if: Syracuse is awarded at least two league wins by forfeit.
This is how I voted in the Big East’s football media poll.
7. UConn
8. Syracuse
Posted by Hector Jimenez, Forsyth, GA on 06/29 at 08:11 AM
Brett...is the game against UConn on Nov. 23rd still on TV? The latest ABC/ESPN schedule came out on the web but the game is not on the list. Thanks.
Posted by Orlando John, Fern Park on 06/28 at 09:28 PM
An instant classic!
Posted by Hector Jimenez, Forsyth, GA on 06/28 at 09:24 PM
Nice article Eric...thanks for the heads up.
Brett...7th? We all know UConn was extremly lucky last year but luck is part of the formula for success. They thrived on that last year but 17 returnees and a winning attitude has got to help with maintaining success on the field.
While my pick of UConn as first in the BE may be stretching it, I think placing them 7th is not giving them any credit for experience and “believing” that they can win.
Part of our success has been experience in the right skill positions and maybe UConn is close to that breakthrough like USF last year.
Posted by Eric Cullison, Orlando, FL on 06/28 at 04:42 PM
Brett there is a very nice article on espn in the college football recruiting section that features the bulls and how this recruiting class can change the face of the franchise.
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Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 06/30 at 12:13 AM
Eric, I saw the recruiting article. Thanks for the heads up. Hector, one of us is going to be really off on our UConn picks. And as far as the USF-UConn game, I noticed it’s not listed on ESPN’s site, but USF officially announced that game day change, so I’m guessing ESPN doesn’t realize they don’t have it updated on their site.