Editor’s Note: This is part two of an eight part series giving analysis of each of the eight teams in the Big East Football Conference, proceeding alphabetically, but ending with Syracuse. Two new teams will be released each weekday for the next four days, leading up to the start of the Syracuse Football season. Feel free to use the comment section to supplement the facts and analysis presented, however the opinions will stand. Enjoy and I hope you are looking forward to the new Big East football season as much as I am. Part 1 can be found here.
Connecticut
Preview – Coach Randy Edsall has publicly called for a “put up or shut up” to Notre Dame to join the Big East in football. He wants the league to expand. I like him a lot for this. And that’s where the liking ends. This former Syracuse player and staff member is the perfect villain for the Orange, and the Big East in general. The once laughing stock is a legit big time program thanks to smart recruiting and a boatload of state money from Connecticut for facilities. And they are pretty good on the field. QB Zach Frazer reclaims his starting spot after being injured most of last season. RB Jordan Todman (235car, 1188yds, 5.1avg, 14 TD) returns and should be a huge part of the Huskies offense this season as Zach Frazer has had mixed results previously. Additionally Frazer has shown some questionable decision making in the past. The offensive line and receivers are solid however. Similarly the defensive line is solid again and the linebackers are the strength of this defense. UConn is a good defensive team and should make some big plays this season.
Key Returning Players – RB Jordan Todman, QB Zack Frazer, LB Lawrence Wilson
Key Losses – RB Andre Dixon, FS Robert Vaughn, DE Lindsey Witten
My Thoughts – The Huskies will win some games this season as they have their traditionally weak non-conference games and will do some damage in the league. The success of the Huskies rest on Frazer. If he can find success in the passing game the Huskies will win some big games in the league, but if not this team will struggle. While UConn will do well in the league and get to a nice bowl game, they will fall short of the league title, leaving them still below an elite program.
Will We Beat Them – This game is in the Carrier Dome, which does bode well for the Orange. Additionally, the perceived slight at the end of last year’s UConn game by going for a score in garbage time should add fuel to the fire. Similarly to the revenge Syracuse took on Rutgers this past season, Connecticut could find themselves on the wrong end of a beatdown. However I just think that Connecticut will have another year of bragging rights at the hand of the Orange. But don’t fret SU fans, Syracuse will dominate them on the hardwood again this winter.
Labels: 2010 Big East Football Prospectus, Big East, Football
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