By Zach Walker
Game Info
Saturday – November 16 – 2:00 PM
TV: ESPN3
Gerald Ford Stadium – Dallas
The Mustangs are coming off of a loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats, where the Bearcats ran the final 3:30 off the clock to snuff the flame out of the Mustangs comeback hopes. Going into the fourth quarter, SMU was down 18 points, the Mustangs were able to punch in immediately as the fourth quarter started, then the Bearcats ran six minutes off of the clock, but the Mustangs were able to force a fumble that would be recovered by SMU. But their completely calm, four minute touchdown drive, might have proved to be too chill, because maybe if they scored just that little bit sooner, they wouldn’t have tried the onside kick, which probably shouldn’t have been attempted anyway. But as the norm for the Mustangs, the fourth quarter was their time to climb back into the game, but the way Cincinnati was able to melt the clock, crumbled SMU’s chance at another fourth quarter comeback.
The Huskies were handed another lop-sided at the hands of Louisville, 31-10, but the score was exactly the full story. The Cardinals got a punt blocked for a touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown. But Connecticut was able to force Bridgewater to have a truly subpar performance, he was badly inefficient and Connecticut was able to force Teddy to throw an interception. The Huskies forced the Cardinals off the field on third downs, with the Cardinals going 4-13. The Cardinals did punish themselves with 12 penalties for 101 total penalty yards. But turnovers sank the Huskies in the game, throwing three interceptions and fumbling twice. And if they had controlled the turnovers, the Huskies could have beaten the Cardinals.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out who the Huskies starting quarterback is going to be. My guess is Tim Boyle, who has started the last four games for the Huskies, but he has not played well. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown and has eight interceptions in the last three games, and his completion percentage is on the wrong side of 50. But the player, who might make an appearance, is quarterback Casey Cochran. He hasn’t got a lot of playing time, but he has two touchdowns over the last two games, and has a healthy completion percentage, and will likely find his way on to the field. Whoever is throwing the ball, the guy likely between the crosshairs is Geremy Davis, who has 41 catches and 620 yards on the season. The main back of the Huskies running game is Lyle McCombs, who is averaging almost 4.5 yards per carry and has four touchdowns.
Matchup of the Game
Connecticut wide receiver Geremy Davis vs SMU cornerback Kenneth Acker: It’s top cornerback against the top receiving option, which should be highly entertaining, because of the way Acker has been playing for the last two games. He had an interception against Cincinnati, and towards the end of the Temple game, Acker was completely shutting down anything going his way.
Keys for SMU
Containing Lyle McCombs and forcing the game through the air and win the turnover battle.
Prediction: UConn 21 – SMU 38; The Mustangs need to get a big win.
