South Florida @ Connecticut preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2014 ) Connecticut 14, South Florida 17

Connecticut's improving defense will be put to the test on Saturday, when its faces South Florida and running back Marlon Mack in an AAC contest. Mack rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns last week as the Bulls manhandled Syracuse in their best performance of the season.

Both teams ended three-game slides last week as UConn dominated UCF 40-13 in a conference game, getting a passing and rushing touchdown from quarterback Bryant Shirreffs. With the win, the Huskies surpassed their victory total from a season ago and climbed to 37th in the nation in total defense. USF's win over Syracuse was its first over a Power Five team in the 29-game tenure of coach Willie Taggart. The Bulls have won three straight in the series.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU. LINE: UConn - 2.5

ABOUT USF (2-3, 0-1 AAC): Mack gained 103 yards in last year's 17-14 win over the Huskies in a sloppy contest played in the rain at South Florida. Mack finished second in the AAC in rushing last season and currently is second this year to Navy's Keenan Reynolds with 576 yards. Sophomore quarterback Quinton Flowers passed for a career-best 259 yards with two touchdowns against the Orange last week.

ABOUT UCONN (3-3, 1-1): Coach Bob Diaco compared USF's offense to that of Navy, which defeated the Huskies 28-18 earlier in the season. A form of the triple option, it will be the third such offense the Huskies have faced on the season and they've fared relatively well, allowing 45 points in the two contests while winning once. UConn's defense is ranked 27th in the nation in scoring and its offense piled up 40 points last week, its most since the final game of the 2013 season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. USF is 0-2 on the road.

2. The Bulls have won the last three meetings by an average of 4.3 points.

3. UConn CB Jhavon Williams, an NFL prospect, has three interceptions - all setting up scores on the road.

PREDICTION: UConn 23, USF 21