Navy @ UConn preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 30, 2006 ) Navy 41, Connecticut 17

After a 2-10 season in 2014, one can forgive Connecticut if it counts last week's near-miss at No. 25 Missouri as a moral victory. The Huskies nearly pulled off a monumental upset before dropping a 9-6 decision to the Tigers last week and look to get back in the win column when they host undefeated Navy in an American Athletic Conference contest Saturday.

UConn may have beaten Army a few weeks ago, but no team runs the triple option as well as the veteran Navy team. Paced by quarterback Keenan Reynolds, the Midshipmen lead the nation in rushing and have totaled 93 points in back-to-back victories to open the season. Navy has won six straight games and eight of its last nine but has not captured seven in a row since 1978-79. UConn will bank on its strong defense, which has surrendered just 13.7 points per game and limited opponents to an average of 126.3 yards rushing.

TV: Noon ET, CBSSN. LINE: Navy - 6.5

ABOUT NAVY (2-0, 1-0 AAC): The Midshipmen, who joined the AAC this season, hammered East Carolina in its conference debut last week in preparation of their first road contest of the year. Navy averages a gaudy 393 yards on the ground with an attack paced by Reynolds, who is nearing the all-time collegiate mark for both rushing and total touchdowns, and bruising backs Chris Swain and Quentin Ezell. Said East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill: "Keenan has been running this offense for four years, his 33rd straight start; you can tell he's been there and he's tough."

ABOUT UCONN (2-1, 0-0): UConn coach Bob Diaco game-planned for the Navy attack as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame before taking over at UConn, and his squad limited Army's triple option to 180 yards rushing in a 22-17 victory two weeks ago. As 21-point underdogs last week, the Huskies had a chance to spring the upset, but Diaco opted for a fake field goal in final minute of play and a pass attempt was intercepted, sealing the contest. While Diaco lamented the decision this week, he has to be pleased with his team's start to the season - wins over Army and FCS power Villanova and the performance of quarterback Bryant Shirreffs, who has thrown for 628 yards while completing 67 percent of his passes.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Reynolds scored an AAC-record five rushing touchdowns in last week's 45-21 win over the Pirates.

2. Navy won the last matchup in the series, 41-17, in 2006.

3. Navy has scored a rushing touchdown in 37 consecutive games since suffering a 12-0 loss to San Jose State in 2012.

PREDICTION: Navy 30, UConn 24