Our UMass vs. UConn prediction looks a bit different than years past. Both teams have shown promise — at times — in 2022 and are looking forward to bright futures. Who has the advantage, and most importantly, why do they have the advantage in this annual battle in the Northeast?
UMass vs. UConn Betting Preview
- Spread
UConn (-15.5) - Moneyline
UConn (-730); UMass (+530) - Over/Under
40 points - Game time
7 p.m. ET - Location
Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, CT - Predicted weather at kickoff
62 degrees, party cloudy, 7-8 mph winds - How to watch
fuboTV, CBS Sports Network
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
- QB Zion Turner, UConn ($7,500)
- QB Gino Campiotti, UMass ($6,500)
- QB Garrett Dzuro, UMass ($5,000)
- RB Ellis Merriweather, UMass ($6,000)
- RB Kay’Ron Adams, UMass ($5,100)
- RB Greg Desrosiers Jr., UMass ($5,000)
- RB Robert Burns, UConn ($5,000)
- RB Victor Rosa, UConn ($4,600)
- WR Aaron Turner, UConn ($6,400)
- WR Kevens Clercius, UConn ($5,100)
- WR George Johnson III, UMass ($4,900)
- WR Melvin Hill, UMass ($4,800)
- WR Isaiah Holiness, UMass ($4,800)
- TE Justin Joly, UConn ($5,800)
- TE Russell Dixon, UC0nn ($4,700)
Coming in off a massive program victory over Boston College, the UConn Huskies are riding sky high. Their reward for beating Northeast rival BC? A hapless UMass team fighting for survival in the FBS. This matchup favors UConn in more ways than one, but that doesn’t quite correlate to DFS success for the viewer.
The only viable players in this one come from the UConn side, as both QB Zion Turner and TE Justin Joly have shown promise for your DFS lineups. Even then, it’s a bit of a stretch, given the Friday landscape of games.
The Huskies need this victory and subsequently to split their final two outings to become bowl-eligible. As such, some points are in order as they continue to improve on offense.
Turner has thrown eight touchdowns this season and has started to control his footballs better over the past three outings. He’s also totaled 10 or more carries in three of his last four games and has dual-threat ability that is enticing as a low-budget quarterback in a favorable matchup.
As far as Joly goes, the massive tight end has touchdowns in each of his past two games, including a 62-yard score against BC. However, he’s still figuring out his route-running skills and is reliant upon his athleticism to carry him. In this matchup against UMass, it’s likely that he’s the best player on the field whenever he’s on it, but can Turner find him enough to make him worthy of a DFS play? Probably not.
Prediction for UMass vs. UConn
UConn’s offense isn’t striking fear into any defenses any time soon. But UMass’s offense is doing even less.
On the other side of the ball, however, the UConn defense is fresh off holding Boston College to a season-low points, matching what the Clemson defense did to the Eagles. Are they the same unit? Not in any way, shape, or form.
But do they have their moments? Absolutely.
Jackson Mitchell should be in consideration for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s top linebacker, he’s that good. He intercepted a pass and recovered two fumbles against BC while also leading the team in tackles.
MORE: College Football Bowl Projections 2022
Mitchell is the nation’s top tackler across the country and should be a missile for the Huskies once again against UMass.
As far as UMass goes, their offense is averaging just 3.79 yards per play, the worst in the nation. They’ve scored just eight offensive touchdowns, also the fewest in the country. There isn’t a player playing well enough right now to compete with Mitchell.
It’s rare when a linebacker should have that big of an impact, but that’s how rare Mitchell is. Mitchell makes more than a couple plays in this one, and the Huskies ride to victory.
Grab UConn, grab the under.
Prediction: UConn 27, UMass 6