UConn Football vs. Cincinnati Bearcats: How to Watch, By The Numbers, Keys To Game

KICKOFF: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: CBS Sports Network, CBS Sports app

ANNOUNCERS: Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (color analyst)

RADIO: UConn IMG Radio Network; TuneIn; Sirius 127, XM 386

ANNOUNCERS: Mike Crispino (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color analyst), Adam Giardino (sideline)

RECORDS: Cincinnati (4-0, 0-0 AAC); UConn (1-3, 0-1 AAC)

POINT SPREAD: Cincinnati -17.5

OVER/UNDER: 58

SERIES HISTORY: The UConn Huskies and Cincinnati Bearcats have met 14 times, all since 2005. The Bearcats own an 11-3 advantage over the Huskies. However, the series is tied up at three apiece at PAWSARF.

LAST MEETING: After UConn scored with no time remaining, Hergy Mayala was called for taunting in the end zone, moving the extra point back 15 yards. Michael Tarbutt attempted the extra point from 35 yards out and missed it to the left, giving Cincinnati the 22-21 win.

UConn’s Depth Chart for Memphis

Randy Edsall preview of Memphis ⤵️

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Fun with Numbers:

410 - Rushing yards for David Pindell this season, third-most by FBS quarterbacks

16 - Receptions by Zavier Scott, most for a running back in the American Athletic Conference

23 - Times the UConn defense has allowed receptions of 20 yards or more

9.6 - Yards gained per play by UConn opponents this season

664 - Average yards per game allowed by the UConn defense this season

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What to Watch For

Somebody Help David

David Pindell is great, and the offense as a whole has been respectable, the Huskies are 76th in the country in S&P+ offensive efficiency. The offensive line is improving and there are running backs and receivers that can make plays, but both of those groups need to be more consistent. The line has had some unforced errors and no receiver has stood out yet this season.

The offense will be tested by a Cincinnati defense that is very strong up front and has had some younger players step up in the secondary. They can’t count on Pindell alone if they want to be competitive in this one.

Defense Trending Up?

Yes, the defense gave up 51 points in the loss to Syracuse, but the Huskies had stretches where they made some stops, and they showed good competitive effort late in the game even when things were well in hand for the Orange.

Going by S&P+, Cincinnati is not nearly as strong of an offensive team (87th) as UCF (10th), Boise State (16th), or even Syracuse (49th). They might look like it against this UConn defense, but maybe the Bearcats won’t be as successful as those high-powered squads. One way that UConn can turn the tide is by eliminating big plays, something that could be a little easier this week.

Controlling Turnovers and Penalties

The UConn offense is turning the ball over 2.5 times per game, giving the ball away three times each against UCF, URI, and Syracuse. Some of the turnovers have been avoidable, and hopefully, the team is getting smarter across the season and can curb those as well.

Banged Up Huskies

This UConn team is now not only young, but also injured. On the defensive side, Eli Thomas, Marshe Terry and Taj Herring-Wilson — all starters at one point this season — won’t be available against Cincinnati, leaving that unit even thinner and inexperienced than before. On offense, the Huskies will be without wide receiver Keyion Dixon, who has been an effective weapon at times. Freshman running back Khyon Gillespie, who played sparingly this season but was a well-regarded recruit, is out for the year after knee surgery.