Connecticut Huskies — 2016 Syracuse football scouting report

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Syracuse defends against UCONN. Mandatory Photo Credit: Kicia Sears, The Juice Online.
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UCONN and Syracuse last met in 2012

Syracuse will try to end a two-game losing streak when it heads to Connecticut to play the Huskies on Saturday. Here is a quick look at the game:

CLOSE MARGINS: Connecticut may be currently 2-1, but it’s been the kind of season where the Huskies could easily be 3-0, or 0-3. In its opener against Maine, Bobby Puyol’s 37-yard field goal with 11 seconds left was the final margin in a 24-21 win. Then, in week two, the Huskies were stopped on the 1-yard line as time expired in a 28-24 loss to Navy. Head coach Bob Diaco caught plenty of heat for that loss, calling a run play for Ron Johnson with 17 seconds and no timeouts left. Last week, the Huskies edged Virginia, 13-10, as walk-on kicker Alex Furbank missed a 20-yard field goal as time expired. Add it all together, and the margin of victory in all three games have been a combined 10 points.

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SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: The numbers aren’t pretty for the Huskies on offense. UConn is averaging just 20.3 points per game, 108th in the FBS, and is 111th in total offense at 331 yards. Despite the anemic production, wide receiver Noel Thomas has been an offensive bright spot. He’s averaged 8.6 receptions per game and 92.3 receiving yards through three games. But Diaco has made a living on a ball control offense and a stout defense. This year is no exception with a defense that is allowing just 19.7 points per game and just 351.7 yards of total offense per game. Redshirt senior defensive back Obi Melifonwu leads the team with 25 tackles (19 solo).

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: The Huskies own a 6-3 all-time record with Syracuse, with the Orange losing five straight matchups with UConn as members of the Big East from 2007 to 2011. Syracuse defeated UConn in 2012, 40-10, the last time the two teams met.

GAME INFORMATION: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 at 1 p.m. in East Hartford, Conn. TV: CBS Sports Network.

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About Wes Cheng 2907 Articles
Wes has worked for Rivals.com covering the New York Knicks, as well as for Scout.com covering Syracuse athletics. Wes has also been a contributing writer for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), for SportsNet New York (SNY) as a news desk writer covering all of New York professional sports, and reported on the NBA and MLB for the New York Sportscene. A native of Long Island, New York, Wes graduated from Syracuse University in 2005 with a degree in journalism. Contact him at wes[at]sujuiceonline.com.