The Dino Babers era is off to a rocky start in Syracuse. Although the Syracuse Orange have been able to score points at a much higher clip than they did last season, the defense has been eviscerated the last two games. Now Syracuse has to travel to take on the Connecticut Huskies in a much different test before ACC play starts. This battle between former Big East foes will be one of the undercards on a full plate of Week 4 college football action.
Watch this regular season Week 4 matchup live on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. This game will be broadcast on CBSS.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Connecticut -6
Syracuse +6
Odds Analysis
Connecticut opened as a full touchdown favorite in this game, but the line has dropped down to six at the time of this article. Thus far this season, the Huskies are 2-1 overall, but just 0-2-1 ATS after a boneheaded decision from coach Bob Diaco cost UConn a chance for an outright win against Navy last week.
The Orange haven’t come close to covering the last two weeks despite getting double digits at home. Syracuse lost by a combined 59 points to Louisville and South Florida in the Carrier Dome and will again be an underdog.
Coaching Angle
Babers has brought in a completely new system and that system calls for the Orange to run as many plays as possible. Babers got his start in coaching under Art Briles at Baylor and has applied many of those same philosophies with Syracuse, but has taken them even above and beyond his former team in Waco. Despite being 1-2, the Orange lead the nation in plays and are averaging 93 plays per game at this point.
Although he has been successful at implementing a fast-paced offense, that unit hasn’t been able to turn those plays into a lot of yards. Syracuse is 89th in the country in yards per play at 5.44 YPP and it’s this that the Orange must improve. The Huskies will be a good measuring stick for how far they have come in a short period of time as UConn has one of the more underrated defenses in the country and an offense that isn’t nearly as prolific as USF or Louisville.
Matchup to Watch
Bryant Shirreffs is the do-it-all quarterback for UConn. He is the team’s leading passer and receiver, and the Huskies could be 3-0 under his command this season if not for a mistake against Navy. He doesn’t dazzle with statistics, but is effective in controlling possession and meticulously moving the ball up the field.
Shirreffs may be able to have a banner day against Syracuse. The Orange are allowing 7.17 yards per play, a number that is third-worst in the nation, and have struggled stopping the run and the pass. Although he is no Lamar Jackson, he should be able to rack up some yards on this defense.
Free ATS Pick
Pace is going to be key in this game as these team’s play at completely different tempos. Connecticut is slow and methodical and wants to keep Syracuse’s offense off the field, while Syracuse wants to play at breakneck speed and wear opponents down late in games due to how much they have to defend. Whichever team gets to impose their will with the pace will likely win this game.
Injuries have bit Syracuse in the secondary recently and Antwan Cordy and Juwan Dowels have both been lost for the season. That will give Shirreffs more of an opportunity to make plays and he has proven that he can throw the ball against a weak secondary. This will be closer than the experts think, but UConn will be able to play its style of football and get a narrow victory.
College Football Odds: Huskies 24, Orange 21
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