UConn vs. Marshall Prediction, St. Petersburg Bowl Preview


The first-ever meeting between the Marshall Thundering Herd (9-3) and the Connecticut Huskies takes place in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Check out the UConn vs. Marshall prediction and game preview.


UConn vs. Marshall Prediction & Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 26
Game Time: 11:00 ET
Network: ESPN

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Why You Need To Care

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg will be the backdrop for this first meeting in football between Marshall and UConn.

The Huskies were one of the American’s many 2015 surprises, finishing tied for third place a year after going 2-10 in Bob Diaco’s debut. And this first postseason game since the Fiesta Bowl trip in 2010 is an enormous achievement for a program grasping for momentum and a foundation on which to build. At a Northeast basketball school, 15 additional practices and a nationally televised game in December will only make the staff’s job easier going forward. Connecticut has actually been outscored on the year, reaching .500 behind a no-name, blue-collar defense. The Huskies also hold the distinction of ending Houston’s perfect campaign on the penultimate weekend of the regular season.

UConn is thrilled to be playing in St. Petersburg. Marshall? Ehh. The Herd was never quite the same this fall without QB Rakeem Cato and RB Devon Johnson in the backfield. Cato was tearing up the CFL in Montreal, and Johnson and starting QB Michael Birdsong were hurt for much of the season. And the revamped backfield hamstrung the Herd, which averaged almost two touchdowns a game fewer than it did in 2014. True, the D was nastier than ever, but it wasn’t enough in losses to Ohio, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky on the final weekend, which decided the Conference USA East Division crown. For the first time in three years, Marshall was idle on the first weekend of December, which means more rest than normal prior to the bonus game.

Why Connecticut Will Win

The Huskies can continue to thrive on the play of their defenders.

CB Jamar Summers, SS Andrew Adams and tackles Julian Campeni and Foley Fatukasi are hardly household names. But they’ve been the cornerstones of a salty Connecticut defense allowing less than 20 points per game. The Huskies do a good job of getting their hands on the ball, headlined by Summers’ seven interceptions. And this defensive unit won’t be rattled by the challenge presented by Marshall on Saturday. The Herd attack has been a weak facsimile of its former self, and QB Chase Litton, while improving, is still a true freshman who needs to work on his accuracy and his decision-making in the pocket.

Why Marshall Will Win

The Herd will play feisty defense, too. Plus, it’s in a better position to put points on the board.

Storrs was home to one of the worst offenses in the FBS this season. Connecticut normed 17.8 points per game, while the O-line was routinely overmatched. How feeble were the Huskies? They ranked 107th or lower in scoring, yards per play, third-down conversions and sacks and tackles for loss allowed. And life won’t get any simpler against Marshall, with its veteran, attacking D. The Herd presents major worries for the leaky Husky O-line, because DE Gary Thompson and LB Evan McKelvey get out of the blocks very quickly. And forget about an already punchless UConn passing game moving the ball on a Marshall secondary allowing less than 50% of quarterback’s throws to be completed on them.

Player Who Matters

The Marshall staff is eager to see how much Litton has matured this month.

The rookie is one of those kids who stands to benefit the most from additional practice time to work with the coaches and further digest the system. He improved over the second half of the season, and the program hopes he can use the St. Petersburg Bowl as a launching pad into 2016. Connecticut presents a stiff challenge, arguably the Herd’s toughest defensive test of the year. If Litton passes it by connecting with TE Ryan Yurachek and receivers Davonte Allen and Deandre Reaves, he’ll be soaring into his sophomore year.

What’s Going To Happen?

Diaco has UConn playing plucky football. But that nagging lack of offensive cohesion will prevent the Huskies from finishing 2015 with a winning season.

Connecticut’s struggles on offense will continue against the speed and experience of the Marshall defense. And while the Thundering Herd will have its own issues moving the chains and scoring points, Litton will occasionally flash why he’s one of the budding young quarterbacks of Conference USA. Marshall will also feed off the venue and the energy from the stands, since more than two dozen players on the roster hail from the Sunshine State.

UConn vs. Marshall Prediction

Final Score: Marshall 27, Connecticut 21, Line: Marshall -4.5, o/u: 44
Must See Rating: 5: Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens – 1: Property Brothers at Home on the Ranch… 2

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