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Connecticut Huskies 2006 Preview

Connecticut Huskies Football Preview By: Matt Fargo
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college football previews :#74 – Connecticut Huskies Preview

by: Matt Fargo

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#74 – Connecticut Huskies 5-6 SU; 6-4 ATS

Fargo’s Take - It’s amazing that the short amount of time that Connecticut has been a 1-A program, it’s been a very stellar team. Unlike most teams that can take years to rebuild, the Huskies look like it will only take them one year and their first losing season in four years will be a thing of the past. Connecticut wasn’t supposed to do much last season and despite the injuries that set in on top of that, the 5-6 record is very impressive. Now with the injuries a thing of the past and seven starters returning on each side of the ball, the Huskies have a shot at another winning season and a bowl bid. The offense has the needed weapons while the defense, after finishing 7th in the country in total defense a season ago, is solid once again. Connecticut might not have the same horsepower as West Virginia and Louisville to make a run at the Big East title, but it will go down fighting as it does every year. The schedule is in its favor once again so the Huskies will have to take advantage.

Returning Starters on Offense – 7 Connecticut fell on hard times on the offensive end in 2005, averaging fewer than 30 ppg for the first time in four years. Injuries played a big part in that as both quarterback and running back were affected throughout the season. Once the injuries to the quarterbacks hit after the fifth game, it was all downhill. The Huskies averaged only 14.8 ppg over their final six games and that was because of the unfamiliarity of the offense as three different signal callers had to be thrown into action. They averaged a paltry 149.5 ypg through the air, 106th in the country but things will be better in 2006. D.J. Hernandez was the frontrunner coming out of spring practices and with a better offensive line along with a healthy Terry Caulley to hand the ball off to, he should be ready for a breakout season. The young receivers are the big concern but Dan Murray is second best tight end in the conference.

Returning Starters on Defense – 7 The Huskies put up some very impressive numbers on defense last year but the jury is still out whether or not they were legitimate. Connecticut played a very soft schedule and in addition to it being ranked 91st in strength, the Huskies played two teams that were without starting quarterbacks, Georgia Tech and Louisville. Nonetheless, finishing 7th in total defense and 21st in scoring defense against anyone deserves some merit and we will see if it can be matched. Experience is the strength as Connecticut went eight straight games with eight different starting lineups at one point last year due to injuries. The defensive line and the secondary are going to be very strong and while the linebackers are the weakest part, they do boast leading returning tackler Danny Lansanah. The defense yielded 13 or fewer points five times last season but also allowed 26 or more points five times so the question is which one of those defenses will we see in 2006.

Schedule - The Big East schedule is nothing to shudder about even though four of the seven games are on the road. One of those road games is the season finale at Louisville but the other three at Syracuse, Rutgers and South Florida are all winnable. Getting West Virginia and Pittsburgh at home is a good break even though a win likely won’t occur in either of those. The non-conference slate is not overwhelming but it does pose a challenge. The home opener against Rhode Island is a cakewalk and the other three home contests are against Navy, Wake Forest and Army, all of which should be better than they were last year. The lone non-conference road game is at Indiana, a game it should be able to win as the Hoosiers could be looking ahead to its Big Ten opener against Wisconsin.

You can bet on… Connecticut was riddled by injuries last season and still nearly pulled off a winning season. A two-point home loss against Rutgers was the difference and with the amount of personnel back this year, a second bowl game in the history of the program is well within reach. Football is becoming a big deal in Storrs as sellouts are now the norm at Rentschler Field where the Huskies are 15-4 over the last three seasons. Connecticut was a perfect 5-0 ATS at home last season and with seven games on the home slate, more good things are expected. The Huskies are 15-6-1 in their last 22 games when laying points including a 6-2 ATS mark on the road. Depending on how the early season unfolds, Connecticut might be giving points at Indiana in the third game of the season.