Connecticut @ Temple preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 24, 2018 ) Temple 57, Connecticut 7

Connecticut gets one final chance to earn a conference win when it wraps up its season Saturday against host Temple. The Huskies are huge underdogs to the Owls, who are heading to a bowl game next month but don't want to close their regular season with a fourth loss in six games.

Temple fell just short against Cincinnati last week, dropping a 15-13 decision as it was eliminated from the American Athletic Conference East Division race. "We've still got a lot left to play for this season," coach Rod Carey said. "Eight wins is a big deal, and we've got a bowl yet. When you look at it holistically, we're growing this program. That's what I told them." Jadan Blue had at least 10 catches and 120 yards for the third straight game and still has a chance to reach 100 catches for the season - he needs 20 more - if he excels versus UConn and then again in the bowl game. He certainly will be a focus defensively for UConn, which allows 39.7 points per game.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Temple -27.5

ABOUT UCONN (2-9, 0-7 American): The Huskies, who will become an independent next season, fell to East Carolina in their last game, 31-24, despite three touchdown passes from Jack Zergiotis, who also turned it over three times. Cameron Ross caught two TD passes in a strong rebound effort from his quietest game of the season - one catch for 11 yards the game before against Cincinnati. Kevin Mensah has a team-high 993 rushing yards for UConn, which has scored more than 24 points only once all season.

ABOUT TEMPLE (7-4, 4-3): Anthony Russo's three highest games in terms of passing yards were the first three games of the season, as he has not surpassed 258 yards passing in any of his last seven contests. Re'Mahn Davis ran 13 times for 71 yards and a score against Cincinnati but has not rushed for more than 22 yards on any carry since September. Only four players in the nation have more catches than Blue, who has 36 receptions for 372 yards over the last three outings.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Zergiotis has thrown at least one interception in eight of the nine games he has played.

2. Blue only has three touchdown catches on his 80 receptions, putting him fourth on the team.

3. The teams met in the regular-season finale last year as well, with Temple winning 57-7.

PREDICTION: Temple 37, UConn 10