Look from UConn website

[Brad]

Here are the usual game facts and the prediction from Ed Daigneault:

South Florida (4-1, 0-1 Big East) at UConn (2-4, 0-1)

When: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Rentschler Field, East Hartford

TV, Radio: SNY, WTIC-AM 1080

Series: Tied, 4-4.

Worth noting: South Florida coach Skip Holtz returns to coach in his home state against the team he led to the Division I-AA playoffs in 1998 … The Huskies are 6-1 in Big East home openers … UConn has had fourth-quarter leads in three of the four games it has lost this year … UConn kicker Dave Teggart has kicked last-second field goals for victories in the last two games against the Bulls … South Florida has won just once in four trips to Rentschler Field … South Florida is one of just 10 BCS teams that has won at least eight games five straight years … South Florida and UConn are two of the just 14 teams who have won at Notre Dame in their first attempt. The Bulls opened the season with a road victory against the Irish.

Scouting report

UConn will win if: The offense can find its way into the end zone. If recent results are any indication, the Huskies are going to have to win games in shootouts. The last two opponents have combined to 81 points and each BCS team UConn has played has struck for at least 24 points. The defense has been great against the run but awful against the pass. And the offense hasn’t done much with red-zone opportunities. That has to change. The Huskies can’t make kicker Dave Teggart do all the scoring.

South Florida will win if: Quarterback B.J. Daniels is allowed to be productive in the rush and pass game. If Daniels is allowed to run, the Huskies will be in all sorts of trouble. They haven’t really encountered a true rushing quarterback this year, let alone one who passes with decent accuracy and does so efficiently. The Bulls can defend, too, so keeping Daniels from doing damage is paramount. He’s not the only weapon but he is the biggest one.

Key matchups

•UConn D line vs. Daniels: The importance of limiting this guy’s effectiveness cannot be overestimated.

•UConn DBs vs. South Florida WRs: This has more to do with size than anything. South Florida’s receivers are big. UConn’s defensive backs are not.

•Turnovers: Not technically a matchup but UConn has a disturbing tendency to turn the ball over at key moments. South Florida does not.

Breaking it down

•UConn’s only home-opening Big East loss came against West Virginia in 2006.

•Goofy stat of the day: South Florida has scored in the opening four minutes of a game four times this year.

•The Bulls have appeared in six straight bowl games and are 4-2 in those games.

Link to full story

[Brad]

Line: South Florida by 7 1/2

Last meeting: UConn won 19-16 on Dec, 4 2010, at Raymond James Stadium

What to look for: If the Huskies can put it together in all three phases: offense, defense and special teams. The team has struggled in each area, from not being productive enough on third down and in the red zone, to the defense getting beaten on critical big plays, to not generating success on returns on special teams. Will this be the game the Huskies put it all together?

What UConn must do to win: Contain dual-threat quarterback B.J Daniels, and run the ball more effectively than it has. Bobby Eveld played QB against the Huskies last year. Daniels was injured but the Huskies know all too well about his ability with his legs (258 yards rushing, three TDs) and through the air (1,294 yards, eight TDs). Daniels can extend plays in the pocket with his ability to scramble. It can be a problem if Daniels isn't put on the ground right away so good assignment football is required. And offensively, Lyle McCombs getting 95.8 yards rushing isn't going to cut it at UConn. The running game needs to improve so the passing game can.

What South Florida must do to win: Win the battle between its offensive line and UConn's defensive front. UConn's front four has consistently been the bright spot of the team with athletic ends Trevardo Williams, Teddy Jennings and Jesse Joseph. Running the ball could be a tall order for South Florida but it must try. The Bulls can't live by the pass alone. They also must make sure the Huskies don't get on track with their running game and apply pressure to quarterback Johnny McEntee.

Best matchup: South Florida's offensive line vs. UConn's defensive front four.

Key injuries: UConn: CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (knee), out. South Florida: WR Terrence Mitchell (concussion), DT Demi Thompson (back) and WR Derrick Hopkins (ankle), out.

Of Note

The Homecoming game has been designated by UConn as a "Breast Cancer Awareness Game" in conjunction with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Breast Cancer Awareness month. UConn players will wear a pink ribbon sticker on the back of their helmets and coaches and players will wear pink wristbands. … UConn is 6-1 in Big East conference home openers. … Kicker Dave Teggart has ended the past two games against South Florida with game-winning field goals.

[url=http://articles.courant.com/2011-10-14/sports/hc-uconn-football-capsule-1015-20111014_1_kicker-dave-teggart-bobby-eveld-pink-ribbon-sticker