UConn football vs. Syracuse: Time, TV info, betting line, key notes

The UConn football team looks for its second win of the season when it hosts Syracuse at 7 p.m. at Rentschler Field on Saturday.

After head coach Jim Mora earned his first victory at UConn, it wasn’t long before he switched on the TV to watch his next opponent, Syracuse, dominate Louisville, 31-7.

The Orange looked better than they have in recent memory, led by their potential Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Sean Tucker. Tucker picked up 100 yards on the ground and 84 more receiving against Louisville. And he wasn’t the only dual threat.

Quarterback Garrett Shrader completed 72% of his passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns, he also rumbled his way down the field with his legs, rushing for 94 yards on 16 carries.

Syracuse, which received votes in the coaches’ poll this week, presents a major challenge for UConn, which enters as a 23-point underdog whose “run defense isn’t good enough yet,” according to Mora.

The Orange offense made the highlights in Syracuse’s season opener, but the defense also kept Cardinals star quarterback Malik Cunningham under 200 total yards, despite the fact that he completed over 70% of his passes.

“(Syracuse is) a Power-Five team in the ACC, we’re a non-Power Five team that’s independent – there is no pressure on us,” Mora said on Sunday. “The only pressure is just to go play the best that we can, cut it loose and go after it, and that’s what we’re gonna do.”

UConn is looking for its second victory of the season, a win total the program hasn’t reached since 2019, when the team finished 2-10.

Here’s what you need to know:

Site: Rentschler Field, East Hartford

Line: Spread: Syracuse -22.5. Moneyline: UConn +1050, Syracuse -2000

Time: 7 p.m.

Weather: Sunny, 83 degrees

TV: CBS – Meghan McPeak, Christian Fauria, Justin Walters

Radio: ESPN 97.9 FM – Mike Crispino, Wayne Norman, Adam Giardino

Tickets: Available on uconnhuskies.com from $10

Current record (2021 result): UConn: 1-1 (1-11), Syracuse 1-0 (5-7)

Series: UConn leads 6-5 (Syracuse won last three matchups)

Last meeting: Sept. 22, 2018 – Syracuse 51, UConn 21

Injuries: Syracuse: FB Chris Elmore, LB Stefon Thompson (lower body injuries, both out for season), UConn: QB Ta’Quan Roberson (ACL, out for season), WR Cam Ross (broken foot, out for season), WR Keelan Marion (broken collar bone, hopeful to return near end of season)

Key notes:

1. Turnovers. In order for UConn to have a chance at the upset, it needs to protect the football. The Huskies have six giveaways in their two games thus far. Four came from Zion Turner (three interceptions and a fumble), while the other two were fumbles by Nate Carter and Dajon Harrison.

“I made some critical errors that can’t be made,” Turner said Wednesday. “Turning the ball over, critical errors. Forced turnovers – I can’t do that, but I feel like mentally I did way better than the first game, relaxing and just keying in my reads, those things. I feel like mentally I was there, now it’s just getting it physically done.”

For Syracuse, Tucker’s only collegiate fumble came in the fourth game of his career on Nov. 7, 2020 against Boston College. Shrader has thrown just nine interceptions in his 412 career pass attempts. Defensively, Syracuse forced three Louisville turnovers last week (two interceptions and a fumble) and has registered at least one takeaway in 41 of 50 games dating back to 2017. Since the start of the 2018 season, Syracuse ranks seventh in the FBS with 90 takeaways.

UConn’s defense has forced three turnovers this season, and the Huskies currently have a negative turnover ratio of six turnovers to three takeaways.

2. The offense. Expect to see a battle in the run game on Saturday. UConn has been fueled by the legs of Nate Carter, whose 156.5 rushing yards per game rank him second in the FBS. Behind Carter, the Huskies have depth in speed backs Devontae Houston and Brian Brewton, as well as Robert Burns and freshman Victor Rosa. So far, as the offensive line continues to be one of the team’s biggest strengths, and the run game has been the focus of offensive coordinator Nick Charlton’s game planning.

However, as Turner continues to get more comfortable in the offense and as receivers continue to work back from minor injuries, the pass game will continue to develop. UConn faces a major size disadvantage against Syracuse, so Charlton has been creative throughout the week to try and
counteract it.

3. Déjà Vu? This was once a game that optimistic UConn fans considered winnable before the season, but it’s now one where, similar to the season opener at Utah State, the Huskies come in as major underdogs. Like the Aggies did before the season, Syracuse received votes in the Top 25 poll after Week 1. UConn passed the first stress test, but wasn’t able to bring home the win. This game has the same feel, but UConn’s defensive plan will look substantially different.

Preparing for Utah State quarterback Logan Bonner, a strong passer who holds school records in several quarterback stats, was completely different than how the Huskies needed to prepare for Shrader and the Orange this week. Bonner did it with his arm, Shrader’s strength is exactly that, his power carrying the ball and ability to stay on his feet. Shrader rarely ever goes down or out of bounds, and he almost never slides. Counteracting the size of Syracuse’s entire roster, it could require groups of tacklers to bring down the Orange ball carriers.

While this opponent looks much different, UConn will need to carry the same “nothing to lose” mentality into Game 3 that it did for Game 1.

UConn Two-Deep:

OFFENSE

QB: 11 Zion Turner (Fr., 5-11, 198)

10 Cale Millen (R-So., 6-3, 206)

RB: 26 Nate Carter (So., 5-9, 199)

28 Brian Brewton (So., 5-7, 173)

WR: 84 Jacob Flynn (R-So., 6-0, 192)

2 Nigel Fitzgerald (Gr., 6-3, 220)

WR: 16 Kevens Clercius (R-So., 6-2, 212)

3 Ethon Williams (R-So., 5-11, 198)

FL: 5 Aaron Turner (So., 5-7, 178)

8 Dajon Harrison (R-Fr., 5-11, 175)

TE: 83 Brandon Niemenski (So., 6-5, 237)

85 Russell Dixon (R-So., 6-2, 228)

LT: 71 Valentin Senn (R-So., 6-7, 298)

79 Danny Atolovich (R-Fr., 6-6, 294)

LG: 62 Noel Ofori-Nyadu (R-Jr., 6-2, 295)

67 Christopher Fortin (So., 6-4, 302)

C: 72 Jake Guidone (Gr., 6-2, 304)

67 Christopher Fortin (So., 6-4, 302)

RG: 64 Christian Haynes (R-Jr., 6-3, 305)

67 Christopher Fortin (So., 6-4, 302)

RT: 75 Chase Lundt (R-So., 6-7, 305)

79 Danny Atolovich (R-Fr., 6-6, 294)

DEFENSE

LT: 91 Collin McCarthy (So., 6-5, 270)

99 Sokoya McDuffie (R-Jr., 6-5, 318)

NT: 96 Dal’mont Gourdine (R-So., 6-3, 291)

97 Jelani Stafford (So., 6-0, 311)

RT: 95 Eric Watts (Jr., 6-6, 269)

90 Pryce Yates (R-Fr., 6-3, 267)

LOLB: 11 Marquez Bembry (Gr., 6-2, 242)

33 Hunter Webb (R-Jr., 6-1, 245)

MIKE: 6 Ian Swenson (Sr., 6-1, 218)

15 Tui Faumuina-Brown (So., 6-2, 223)

WILL: 8 Jackson Mitchell (Jr., 6-1, 229)

29 Jordan Morrison (R-Jr., 6-0, 219)

ROLB: 0 Brandon Bouyer-Randle (Gr., 6-2, 240)

46 John Bechtle (So., 6-1, 232)

LCB: 5 Kaleb Anthony (So., 5-10, 180)

10 Chris Shearin (R-So., 5-11, 197)

LSB: 19 Durante Jones (So., 6-0, 193)

4 Stan Cross (Jr., 5-10, 191)

RSB: 1 Malik Dixon (R-So., 6-0, 199)

22 Alfred Chea (So., 6-2, 211)

RCB: 7 Tre Wortham (Sr., 6-0, 203)

2 Myles Bell (Jr., 6-0, 182)

SPECIALISTS

PK: 17 Noe Ruelas (So., 6-0, 197)

LS: 31 Tommy Zozus (Gr., 6-1, 241)

HO: 13 George Caratan (R-So., 6-2, 210)

P: 13 George Caratan (R-So., 6-2, 210)

97 Bruno Perlicki (Fr., 6-4, 225)

KR: 25 Devontae Houston (So., 5-9, 170)

28 Brian Brewton (So., 5-7, 173)

PR: 8 Dajon Harrison (R-Fr., 5-11, 175)

25 Devontae Houston (So., 5-9, 170)

Syracuse Two-Deep:

OFFENSE

QB: 6 Garrett Shrader (Jr., 6-4, 228)

16 Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (R-Fr., 6-2, 232)

RB: 34 Sean Tucker (So., 5-10, 205)

20 LeQuint Allen (Fr., 6-0, 195)

TE: 19 Oronde Gadsden II (So., 6-5, 216)

-or- 81 Max Mang (So., 6-7, 262)

WR: 82 Damien Alford (So., 6-6, 211)

-or- 80 Isaiah Jones (R-So., 6-4, 204)

WR: 9 Courtney Jackson (R-So., 5-11, 179)

-or- 7 Devaughn Cooper (R-Sr., 5-11, 185)

WR: 7 Devaughn Cooper (R-Sr., 5-11, 185)

-or- 2 Trebor Pena (So., 6-0, 177)

LT: 60 Matthew Bergeron (Jr., 6-5, 322)

70 Enrique Cruz (R-Fr., 6-6, 302)

LG: 76 Kalan Ellis (So., 6-6, 375)

73 Wes Hoeh (R-Fr., 6-4, 275)

C: 52 Carlos Vettorello (R-Jr., 6-4, 292)

55 Josh llaoa (So., 6-3, 316)

RG: 63 Chris Bleich (R-Jr., 6-6, 326)

74 Jakob Bradford (R-So., 6-5, 302)

RT: 57 Dakota Davis (R-Sr., 6-5, 335)

51 Anthony Red (R-So., 6-5, 277)

DEFENSE

DE: 54 Jatius Geer (R-Fr., 6-6, 233)

58 Denis Jaquez Jr. (Fr., 6-4, 240)

DT: 90 Terry Lockett (So., 6-3, 270)

-or- 45 Kevon Darton (R-So., 5-11, 266)

DE: 93 Caleb Okechukwu (R-Jr., 6-4, 268)

30 Chase Simmons (R-Fr., 6-4, 257)

LB: 81 Derek McDonald (R-Fr., 6-4, 225)

16 Leon Lowery (R-Fr., 6-4, 225)

LB: 3 Mikel Jones (Jr., 6-1, 224)

42 Austin Roon (R-Fr., 6-3, 228)

LB: 2 Marlowe Wax (So., 6-1, 239)

12 Anwar Sparrow (R-Fr., 6-1, 217)

CB: 8 Garrett Williams (R-So., 6-0, 189)

24 Jeremiah Wilson (Fr., 5-10, 171)

BS: 1 Ja’Had Carter (So., 6-2, 198)

14 Jason Simmons (Jr., 6-0, 193)

ROV: 23 Justin Barron (So., 6-4, 220)

19 Rob Hanna (So., 6-0, 170)

FS: 10 Alijah Clark (So., 6-1, 180)

21 Bralyn Oliver (R-Fr., 6-2, 194)

CB: 0 Duce Chestnut (So., 6-0, 198)

20 Isaiah Johnson (R-Jr., 6-3, 204)

SPECIALISTS

K: 91 Andre Szmyt (R-Sr., 6-1, 199)

92 Brady Denaburg (Fr., 6-0, 180)

P: 36 Max von Marburg (Fr., 6-0, 183)

98 James Williams (So., 6-1, 205)

LS: 46 Aaron Bolinsky (Sr., 5-11, 220)

61 Ethan Stangle (Fr., 6-1, 196)

HLD: 23 Justin Barron (So., 6-4, 220)

98 James Williams (So., 6-1, 205)

KR: 2 Trebor Pena (So., 6-0, 177)

9 Courtney Jackson (R-So., 5-11, 179)

PR: 2 Trebor Pena (So., 6-0, 177)

9 Courtney Jackson (R-So., 5-11, 179)