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Huskies, Bulls open AAC play
UConn Huskies (1-2) at South Florida Bulls (1-2)
Line & Total: South Florida -1.5, Total: 47.5
Two struggling teams square off in an American Athletic Conference battle on Friday when UConn travels to South Florida.
The Huskies have looked very poor in the early going of the 2014 season, as they have taken losses against both BYU and Boise State, while their only win was a three-point victory (19-16) against Stony Brook, which is an FCS club. Their game against Boise State last week was actually quite close though, as Connecticut cut the deficit to three points just before the final quarter, but could not hold off the Broncos, allowing two late touchdowns while failing to cover the 15-point spread. The Huskies managed 290 yards of offense with a meager 48 coming from the running game.
The Bulls are coming off of a 2-10 season and are not looking to have improved much in 2014. Just like its opponent, USF’s one win came against an FCS team, Western Carolina, in the opening week by a score of 36-31. Since then, the Bulls have averaged just 17.0 PPG in their two losses and really took a beating (49-17) at the hands of NC State as 2.5-point underdogs most recently. South Florida gained a putrid 159 yards of offense in the matchup as they turned the ball over three times and gave up 589 total yards to the Wolfpack.
Last season’s installment of this matchup was extremely ugly, as the Bulls went on the road and won 13-10 as 3.5-point underdogs despite connecting on only 8-of-28 passes for 106 yards. Connecticut holds a slight 5-4 SU edge (4-4 ATS) between these programs since 2007 and has won SU in its past two visits to South Florida.
The Bulls have not done well at all as a favorite with a 0-8 ATS record since the start of 2012 while the Huskies have gone just 2-11 ATS in the first half of the year in the same timeframe.
The injury to QB Casey Cochran (concussion) is a blow to the Connecticut club, as he will be out for the entire season, while bettors should keep an eye on whether or not playmaking WR Andre Davis (sternum) suits up for USF, since he is listed as questionable.
UConn has one of the worst run games in the nation, ranking seventh-worst among FBS schools in rushing yards (76 YPG) while doing slightly better in the passing game (223 YPG) and scoring 16.7 PPG (9th-lowest in nation). With Casey Cochran out for the season, QB Chandler Whitmer (464 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) has taken over under center. He has not done well over the past two seasons with the program, throwing 14 TD and 22 INT, and is completing less than 50 percent of his passes in 2014.
Unfortunately, the team will be relying on him heavily to guide them, as their running game does little to nothing as HB Max DeLorenzo leads the sad group with 104 yards (3.6 YPC). The one true bright spot on this club is WR Geremy Davis who has 256 receiving yards (16.0 avg) and two touchdowns this year, and was the key to their one win as he grabbed six balls for 113 yards (18.8 avg) and a touchdown.
The Huskies defense has given up 406.5 YPG to opponents in FBS play thus far, and hope that a strong secondary led by senior DB Byron Jones (12 tackles) can help turn things around.
South Florida is similar to its Friday opponent, in that the offense has been poor in 2014, averaging 371 YPG with just 182.5 YPG of that coming from the passing attack. QB Mike White (275 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) has been very unimpressive while completing 32.6% of his attempts that have gone for a low 6.4 YPA. Last week NC State baffled White as he completed 4-of-16 attempts for 82 yards and a TD.
Freshman HB Marlon Mack (399 yards, 4 TD) has been a great surprise for the Bulls, but had most of his production come in the opening win against Western Carolina when he rushed for 275 yards (11.5 avg) and four touchdowns. The receivers on this team will not impress anyone with WR Rodney Adams (116 yards) leading the team, while WR Deonte Welch (76 yards) has the most receptions (seven) and WR Reyshene Bronson (80 yards) has the lone touchdown.
The defense for the Bulls had its worst game last week, but will look to turn things around behind leader LB Reshard Cliett (7 tackles, 2 sacks). -
Game of the Day: Connecticut at South Florida
Connecticut Huskies at South Florida Bulls (-2, 45)
Very little went right for South Florida in its first season under then-rookie coach Willie Taggart, with one of the few exceptions being how it played at the start of its conference schedule. The Bulls on Friday look to win their American Athletic Conference opener for the second straight season when they host Connecticut. South Florida went 2-10 in 2013 – the worst campaign in its 17-year football history – but managed to defeat Cincinnati and the Huskies to begin league play last October.
The Bulls did not score an offensive touchdown in either victory and have only tallied one in each of their last two losses since freshman Marlon Mack rushed for four by himself in a season-opening win over Western Carolina. Connecticut also secured its only victory against an FCS foe in Stony Brook, although it was able to frustrate undefeated Brigham Young in its opener and played Boise State tight through three-plus quarters last Saturday. The Huskies and Bulls have met every year since 2005 and each of the former Big East rivals’ last seven meetings has been decided by seven points or fewer.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.
LINE HISTORY: South Florida opened as 3.5-point home faves, but have been bet down to -2. The total opened at 47.5 points and has also been bet down to 45.
INJURY REPORT: Connecticut - N/A. South Florida - OL Thor Jozwiak (probable Friday, arm), WR Andre Davis (questionable Friday, sternum).
WEATHER REPORT: The is supposed to be a thunderstorm in the region and an 80 pecent chance of rain at game time. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid 70s, with humidity reaching as high as 84 percent.
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "On Monday afternoon we got sharp play on UConn +3.5, so we moved Huskies to +3. That was followed by another sharpie bet on UConn +3, so we moved game to current number of Bulls -2. We have a small decision on spread, as 53 percent of the cash and 55 percent of bets are backing USF. The total remains at 46 and 70 percent of the cash and 59 percent of bets so far are on the under." - Mike Perry.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY:
ABOUT CONNECTICUT (1-2, 0-3 ATS, 1-2 O/U): First-year coach Bob Diaco was pleased with his defense despite giving up 38 points last week as it held Boise State 245 yards below its season average in total offense and limited Broncos’ running back Jay Ajayi 113 yards under his season rushing average. "The defense, playing basically the same system they played in week one, looked nothing like it looked in week one. I'm proud of the way that they played today," Diaco said. Chandler Whitmer became the eighth player in program history to surpass 4,000 passing yards after throwing for a season-high 209 last week.
ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (1-2, 1-2 ATS, 2-1 O/U): The Bulls have played eight freshmen this season and two have already left a mark on the offensive end, including Mack’s AAC-record 275 yards rushing yards in the opener. In last weekend’s 49-17 loss to North Carolina State, it was Ryeshene Bronson’s turn as the freshman receiver collected two catches for 80 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown reception early in the first quarter. Andre Davis, who led South Florida with 49 catches and 735 yards last season, remains questionable after suffering a bruised sternum against Western Carolina.
TRENDS:
* Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Road team is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Under is 7-0 in South Florida's last seven games versus a team with a losing record.
CONSENSUS: Just over 65 percent of wagers are backing South Florida at -2.Comment
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UConn has had problems covering in September
Stephen Campbell
The month of September has not been kind to spread bettors backing the University of Connecticut. The Huskies are a paltry 1-6 against the spread in their last seven September games.
Connecticut faces off against South Florida in the Sunshine State Friday, where the Huskies are currently listed as 2-point road dogs with a total of 46.Comment
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Connecticut-USF have history of going Under
When Connecticut and South Florida get together for Friday night college football action, there's one particular trend bettors need to pay attention to.
In the last four meetings between the two schools, the Under is a perfect 4-0. USF is currently 2-point home faves with a total of 46.Comment
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NCAAF
Underdogs covered last five UConn-South Florida games, with average total in last four 25.8. Bulls won 13-6/13-10 last two years; Huskies lost four of last five visits here, with three losses by 7+ points. UConn lost its two games vs I-A foes this year 35-10/38-21; they were 3-9 as a road underdog under last coach. USF is also 0-2 vs I-A teams, losing by 25-32 points at home; Bulls are 5-21-1 vs spread in last 27 home games. USF lost 49-17 here to NC State last week, ending Wolfpack's 0-11 skid as a road favorite. Conference home favorites are 6-6 vs spread this year.Comment
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Young pitcher getting no support from team
Justin Hartling
If it wasn't for the lack of run support, we may be hearing a lot more about Jeremy Hellickson. The Rays have gone 0-7 in righties last seven starts.
Hellickson has only given up an average of 2.6 runs per game while striking out 37 battThe Rays though have provided only three runs per game and have only once tallied more than four runs.Comment
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Yankees have had Buehrle's number past two years
Justin Hartling
The New York Yankkes will step into the batters box happy when they see Mark Buehrle on the mound Friday. The Bronx Bombers have gone 7-1 against the Toronto Blue Jays with the 14-year veteran on the bump.
The Yankees have tallied at least six hits in each of those eight starts and have tallied four or more runs five times against Buehrle.Comment
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Gallardo has enjoyed his trips to Pittsburgh
Justin Hartling
There has been no stadium quite like PNC Park for Yovani Gallardo. The talented rightie has dominated in Pittsburgh, leading to an over/under record of 1-7 in his last eight starts in the Steel City.
Galardo has allowed seven runs over those eight games, while holding the Pirates to no runs five times. To add to the stunning numbers, Gallardo has notched 51 strikes.Comment
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Maddux Sports
10* Connecticut +3.5Comment
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BEN BURNS
MAIN EVENT uconnComment
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EXECUTIVE
passes
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Baseball Crusher
Seattle Mariners -147 over LA Angels - pending
Tampa Bay Rays -132 over Chicago White Sox
(System Record: 98-2, won last 8 games)
Overall Record: 98-69
Rest of the Plays
Pittsburgh Pirates -120 over Milwaukee Brewers
Kansas City Royals -113 over Detroit Tigers
San Diego Padres +120 over SF GiantsComment
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Football Crusher
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +6.5 over Atlanta Falcons - pending
South Florida -125 over Connecticut
(System Record: 6-1, lost last game)
Overall Record: 6-7Comment
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Soccer Crusher
Gremio + Santos OVER 2 - brazil pending
Quilmes + Lanus OVER 2
This match is happening in Argentina
(System Record: 634-22, lost last 2 games)
Overall Record: 634-529-93Comment
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