UConn @ SMU preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2014 ) Southern Methodist 27, Connecticut 20

SMU looks to unleash its high-octane offense when it opens American Athletic Conference play against visiting Connecticut on Saturday. The Mustangs enter the game averaging a gaudy 48 points while the Huskies allow 33 points per contest and are ranked last in the nation in pass defense, surrendering an average of 413 yards.




SMU rebounded from a 56-36 loss at No. 11 TCU with a 44-21 victory over Arkansas State last week. The Mustangs rushed for 314 yards in the game but may want to take their attack to the air against the Huskies, whose opponents are completing 68.9 percent of their passes. UConn is 0-3 all-time against SMU and dropped its second straight game last week as underdog East Carolina racked up 596 yards of offense in a 41-38 decision. SMU is off to its best start since the 2011 season, when it opened 5-1.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN News. LINE: SMU -17

ABOUT UCONN (1-2, 0-1 AAC): Bryant Shirreffs passed for 406 yards and three touchdowns last week. Running back Arkeel Newsome had his best game of the season, catching eight passes out of the backfield for 170 yards and a score, and became the first running back in program history to have more than 1,000 yards receiving (1,148). UConn, however, lost star receiver Hergy Mayala (11 catches, 183 yards, three TDs) to a high ankle sprain and coach Randy Edsall made three changes to the starting secondary after East Carolina's Thomas Sirk passed for 426 yards against the group last week.
ABOUT SMU (3-1, 0-0): Quarterback Ben Hicks threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas State, giving him 10 scoring passes on the year with three interceptions. The Mustangs are fifth in the nation in scoring and its 500.2 yards per game ranks them 17th. While running back Braeden West, a Doak Walker nominee, continues to be slowed by injuries, Ke’Mon Freeman (five TDs) and Xavier Jones (team-leading 296 rushing yards) have picked up the slack.

EXTRA POINTS
1. UConn C Ryan Crozier (torn ACL/MCL) is scheduled for season-ending surgery.
2. SMU WR James Proche had three catches for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week.
3. The Huskies have not beaten an FBS team since a 20-9 victory over Cincinnati last Oct. 8.

PREDICTION: SMU 38, UConn 24