The Massachusetts Minutemen (-4.5) will clash with the Connecticut Huskies at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Interested parties can catch the action live on ESPNU and this afternoon matchup starts at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Connecticut Huskies Betting Preview
In this Saturday game, Massachusetts is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 4.5 points. In order to take the favorite, moneyline bettors would currently have to lay down $200 to win $100 back on the Minutemen (-200). The Huskies are getting +170 moneyline odds. If one squad can catch a lucky break in the early stages it’ll create a nice in-game betting opportunity. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at a pretty-high 74 points.
Sharp bettors tend to be siding with the Huskies. The opening line was 6, while the game’s total has not moved after it was 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 record 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 look to bounce back after a 24-13 defeat to Coastal Carolina last week. 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 yards on seven rush attempts) spearheaded 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.
Connecticut just dropped a 38-30 game to South Florida. The defense allowed the Bulls to rush for 346 yards on 37 attempts, including four rush TDs. Johnny Ford shredded the defense, putting up 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns on seven attempts for South Florida. For Connecticut, David Pindell completed 10-of-21 passes for 133 yards and one interception. Pindell (197 yards on 28 rush 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 all Connecticut pass-catchers in the loss.
Massachusetts has run the ball on 46.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Connecticut has an overall rush percentage of 55.6 percent. The Minutemen have produced 123 rush yards per game and have 14 scores on the ground this year. The Huskies are totaling 195 rush yards per game and have 11 total rushing TDs.
The Minutemen offense has logged 296 yards/contest in the air overall and has 19 passing TDs so far. The Huskies have put up 204 pass yards per outing and have 10 total pass scores.
Defensively, Massachusetts appears to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 273 yards and pass for 224 yards per game. The Connecticut D has allowed 325.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 325.7 yards per game on the ground. The Minutemen are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 8.75 to opponents, while the Huskies have allowed a whopping 11.53 ANY/A.
Offensively, Ford is up to 1,167 passing yards this year, and has connected on 64 percent of his 150 attempts with seven passing scores and four interceptions. He’s got a 6.52 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.61 over the last two games.
Andy Isabella (822 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns this season), Sadiq Palmer (331 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Jordan Fredericks (239 rush yards, one rush TD, 68 receiving yards, one TD) have each played significant roles of late.
In the home locker room, David Pindell has completed 94-of-157 passes for 1,065 yards, eight TDs and four INTs. Pindell’s ANY/A stands at 5.81 for the season and 3.22 over his past two games.
We also expect the Connecticut offense to mix it up this Saturday. David Pindell (651 rushing yards, six rush TDs, zero receiving yards this season), Kevin Mensah (528 rush yards, four rush TDs) and Hergy Mayala (208 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) have combined for 486 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns the past two games.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Massachusetts Minutemen at Connecticut Huskies
SU Winner – Massachusetts, ATS Winner – Massachusetts, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
The Connecticut offense has lost seven fumbles this season while Massachusetts has let 11 get away.
The Connecticut D has created eight sacks on the year while Massachusetts has six.
Massachusetts has averaged 2.4 yards per carry over its last three games and 2.6 over its last two.
Connecticut has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.4 over its past two.
Massachusetts has lost seven of its last eight games SU, with an 18-point victory over Charlotte on September 22nd representing the only win over that stretch.
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