Connecticut Huskies 2017 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – Connecticut Huskies 2017 NCAA Football Preview

2016 Recap

2016 Record – 3-9

2016 ATS – 3-8-1

Somebody stop the pain. So much pain.

The Huskies continued their multi-year slide with a 3-9 record. The best part was the 3-game stretch late in the season when they got shutout in back-to-back games while being outscored by a 92-3 margin (!). In fact, Connecticut ended the year losing their last six games, and that led to the firing of HC Bob Diaco. New on the scene ? Randy Edsall who got the Huskies into FIVE bowl games in his previous stint in Storrs.

2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

East Division – #5

American Athletic Conference – To be determined

OFFENSE

Things can only get better this season. Right ? Connecticut has scored less than 20 points per game in four of the last five seasons (!) and that is almost impossible to achieve in this era of college football. They have not averaged over 125 yards rushing per game OR less than 30 sacks allowed per contest since the magical 2010 season. That is a long time ago, yo. Hopefully new OC Rhett Lashlee can bring some magic with him from Auburn.

Connecticut switches to a high tempo spread offense this season and it will be interesting to see how the personnel adapts to this change. We actually feel that QB Bryant Shirreffs has some potential to do good things in a more wide-open scheme. The Huskies’ leading rusher from the 2016 campaign Arkeel Newsome returns for duty and he rushed for 715 yards while also catching 25 passes out of the backfield last season. There is a complete reload at WR and it remains to be seen what kind of production they can get from this unit.

DEFENSE

Dedicated MEGALOCKS SUPER PLATINUM NUTMEG members will know that it seems strange to see the Huskies play bad defense. They were a solid unit for a long time. Sigh. Last season marked the 3rd time in four years they gave up 28+ points per game. Seven starters returns this season and hopefully things can turn around. New DC Billy Crocker has a challenge ahead of him.

The last time the Huskies registered more than 21 sacks in a season was 2012. They have to figure out a way to get more PENETRATION before they can expect to move up in the standings. The front seven looks pretty good on paper and secondary includes senior CB Jamar Summers who is a proven talent.

SPECIAL TEAMS

This is a significant reload and probable trouble spot. Connecticut breaks in a new PK and punter this season and had have question marks in the return game. We are #worried.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot

November 25 – at Cincinnati. This will be the 3rd straight road (or neutral site) game for the Huskies. We would be especially worried if they were eliminated from bowl contention at this point. #WOODSHED.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

The Huskies will play their final home game very close to HALLOWEEN (November 4 vs East Carolina). Six of their first nine contests are at home.

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 3.0

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the HUSKIES a 3.0 ATS Value Rating (Poor) this season.

It kinda makes you feel old. We remember the days when the Huskies were one of our favorite teams to back vs the point spread, but when taking a look at their recent history, it feels like a bucket of ICE COLD WATER has been dumped on our parade. The Huskies have gone a PUTRID 31% (!) against the number the past FOUR seasons combined. We like to put teams like this on the radar but think it may take a year before these guys get on track ATS.

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