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| Yesterday's New York Daily News called it. |
Temple vs. UConn
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Rentschler Field, East Hartford
TV: ESPN3 (internet only)
Radio: WPHT (1210-AM)
Line: UConn favored by 5 1/2
Weather: Tailgating should be cold, with early-morning temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s, but game time temps should be in the mid-50s. Gloves re recommended if tailgating.
Directions (from Philadelphia): North on I95 to exit 48 (I91). Take I91 North to I94 N; take exit 91 toward Silver Lane and follow the signs to Rentschler Field
ETT: At least 4 hours
What have Wayne Hardin, Bobby Wallace and Al Golden done that Steve Addazio has not?
All but Daz have beaten Connecticut as a Temple head coach.
According to sentiment from the New York Daily News (above), Steve Addazio should join that club tomorrow (1 p.m., Rentschler Field, no over-the-air television).
Yeah, we know that the NYDN picks by the 5 1/2-point spread but the consensus is so overwhelming that it's probably a safe bet that 1-4 of the panelists think Temple is going to win that game outright. For the record, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey picked Temple to win, as did CBS Sports. Two ESPN bloggers picked UConn to win.
And, err, why not?
If Temple and UConn were on the stock market, one would be rising and one falling.
UConn has had trouble scoring points of late and Temple is coming off a 37-point outing in a win over South Florida last week.
Temple has a dynamic quarterback in New Mexico Bowl MVP Chris Coyer and UConn does not.
Coyer, rated near the top of the nation in passing efficiency last season, went 16 for 20 against USF last week and added 54 yards on the ground.
Temple has Boston College's all-time leading rusher, Montel Harris, an 8-time ACC Player of the Week and one-time Big East Player of the Week. Harris is coming off a 133-yard, two-touchdown performance. UConn has a nice running back in Lyle McCoombs, but he is no Montel Harris. Not even close. The UConn rushing game ranks 112 out of 120 teams nationally and is averaging 2.8 yards per carry. Without a significant inside threat, expect Owl pass rushers Sean Daniels and John Youboty to have a field day pinning their ears back and going after the quarterback.
Temple has shown signs of improvement on defense only lately, while UConn has been solid all season.
Temple has a great kicker and punter in Brandon McManus, while UConn has no similar weapon.
Since field position figures in any close game and this one figures to be close, give that advantage to Temple as well.
UConn has the experience edge on both sides of the ball, a large enthusiastic home crowd.
Temple has the edge at QB, RB, special teams and coaching. UConn has an aging coach and offensive coordinator, Paul Pasqualoni and George DeLeone, that the fan base is generally dissatisfied with while Temple has three key members of two SEC national championship teams (Addazio, DC Chuck Heater and OL coach Justin Frye) running the show.
It should be close, but all the New York Daily News experts can't be wrong.
Go with the Owls, something like 16-13 or 21-14.
Tomorrow: No story due to travel
Sunday: Complete analysis on the game
All but Daz have beaten Connecticut as a Temple head coach.
According to sentiment from the New York Daily News (above), Steve Addazio should join that club tomorrow (1 p.m., Rentschler Field, no over-the-air television).
Yeah, we know that the NYDN picks by the 5 1/2-point spread but the consensus is so overwhelming that it's probably a safe bet that 1-4 of the panelists think Temple is going to win that game outright. For the record, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey picked Temple to win, as did CBS Sports. Two ESPN bloggers picked UConn to win.
And, err, why not?
If Temple and UConn were on the stock market, one would be rising and one falling.
UConn has had trouble scoring points of late and Temple is coming off a 37-point outing in a win over South Florida last week.
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| CBS Sports likes Temple to win the game OUTRIGHT. |
Temple has a dynamic quarterback in New Mexico Bowl MVP Chris Coyer and UConn does not.
Coyer, rated near the top of the nation in passing efficiency last season, went 16 for 20 against USF last week and added 54 yards on the ground.
Temple has Boston College's all-time leading rusher, Montel Harris, an 8-time ACC Player of the Week and one-time Big East Player of the Week. Harris is coming off a 133-yard, two-touchdown performance. UConn has a nice running back in Lyle McCoombs, but he is no Montel Harris. Not even close. The UConn rushing game ranks 112 out of 120 teams nationally and is averaging 2.8 yards per carry. Without a significant inside threat, expect Owl pass rushers Sean Daniels and John Youboty to have a field day pinning their ears back and going after the quarterback.
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| Steve Addazio returns to the state where he won three straight titles at Cheshire High. |
Temple has shown signs of improvement on defense only lately, while UConn has been solid all season.
Temple has a great kicker and punter in Brandon McManus, while UConn has no similar weapon.
Since field position figures in any close game and this one figures to be close, give that advantage to Temple as well.
UConn has the experience edge on both sides of the ball, a large enthusiastic home crowd.
Temple has the edge at QB, RB, special teams and coaching. UConn has an aging coach and offensive coordinator, Paul Pasqualoni and George DeLeone, that the fan base is generally dissatisfied with while Temple has three key members of two SEC national championship teams (Addazio, DC Chuck Heater and OL coach Justin Frye) running the show.
It should be close, but all the New York Daily News experts can't be wrong.
Go with the Owls, something like 16-13 or 21-14.
Tomorrow: No story due to travel
Sunday: Complete analysis on the game
