UConn started their season at 3-5. Now, they’re hoping that a late season upset of No. 18 Houston will be the fulcrum that pivots them back to a winning season.
Watch the Connecticut vs. Marshall St. Petersburg Bowl online: Time, TV schedule, live stream, 3 things to know
Can Marshall record a 10-win season by beating UConn in the 2015 St. Petersburg Bowl?
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The Huskies pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season when they took advantage of a hobbled Houston team and beat the then-undefeated Cougars 20-17. That victory clinched bowl eligibility in Storrs, and while Connecticut lost their follow-up game to No. 24 Temple, the damage was done. UConn was heading to the postseason for the first time since 2010.
They’ll face Marshall in the St. Petersburg Bowl. The Thundering Herd have a stout record at 9-3, but a closer look at their schedule shows a distinct lack of quality opponents. A win over Southern Mississippi is their only victory against an opponent with more than five wins this season. That’s led to some big defensive numbers (only 18.4 points per game allowed) that ultimately ring hollow for a team on the brink of a 10-win season.
UConn can’t make much of a case in their own right since their only quality win came against those banged-up Cougars. On Saturday, one team will earn a resume-padding win that will make 2015 look a little bit better in hindsight. Here’s how you can follow along.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Dec. 26, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN. Tom Hart and Anthony Becht will have the call.
Radio: Connecticut, Marshall
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Marshall is favored by 4.5 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at The UConn Blog (for Connecticut fans) and Underdog Dynasty (for Marshall fans).
Three big things to know
1. Connecticut’s offense is bad. The Huskies gained only 318 yards per game this season. That mark is worse than all but eight other FBS programs. Fortunately, they can rely on a secondary that has limited opponents to under 190 passing yards per game. Things will have to get ugly for the Huskies to win this game, but they have the defensive chops to drag Marshall into the muck.
2. Marshall will rely on true freshman quarterback Chase Litton to carry them past that UConn secondary. Litton has been solid for the Thundering Herd in his first year on campus and led the team to seven straight wins to kick off his college tenure. Can find the composure to lead Marshall to their 10th victory of the year while handling the pressure of a national spotlight?
3. While oddmakers have Marshall as a 4.5-point favorite, the S&P+ prediction sees a 27-20 Herd victory on Saturday. The advanced stats point to Connecticut’s flagging offense as a fatal flaw against an underrated Marshall defense.
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