Preview: Connecticut (1-1) at Baylor (1-0)
Posted September 16, 2009
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FACTS & STATS: Site: Floyd Casey Stadium (50,000) -- Waco, Texas. Television:None. Home Record: UConn 0-1, Baylor 0-0. Away Record: UConn 1-0, Baylor 1-0. Neutral Record: UConn 0-0, Baylor 0-0. Conference Record: UConn 0-0, Baylor 0-0. Series Record: Connecticut leads, 1-0.
GAME NOTES: The Baylor Bears kick off a three-game homestand this weekend, as they entertain the Connecticut Huskies in a non-conference affair at Floyd Casey Stadium.
The Bears are coming off a bye week after opening the 2009 campaign with a hard-fought 24-21 win at Wake Forest on September 5th. That win snapped a nine-game road losing skid, which dated back to 2007, and improved Baylor to 67-36-5 in season openers. The Bears are expected to compete for a rare winning season in 2009 and they can make things much easier on themselves with a successful homestand that includes games against Northwestern State and Kent State.
As for UConn, it is coming off a disappointing finish in which a late safety cost the team in a 12-10 setback to nationally-ranked North Carolina last weekend. It was a bitter ending to the game for the Huskies, who opened the season with a 23-16 victory at Ohio University.
UConn though, won its first-ever meeting with Baylor last season, notching a 31-28 victory in East Hartford.
The Huskies didn't do much offensively last weekend versus UNC and to top it off, they were responsible for the loss. With the score knotted at 10-10, UConn had a safety called on it after left tackle Dan Ryan was whistled for holding in the end zone with 1:32 remaining. The Huskies actually recovered the onside kick and moved the ball a little before UNC tightened up the defense and stopped the drive. UConn, a run-oriented team, managed only 72 yards on the ground after rushing for 259 in an opening win over Ohio. Both Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon went over 100 yards rushing in the opener, but the duo was limited to 87 rushing yards and one score by UNC. To make matters worse, starting quarterback Zack Frazer was injured in the game and he had done well in converting 11-of-19 tosses for 94 yards. Cody Endres stepped in for Frazer, but wasn't able to move the ball consistently with just 30 passing yards on 3-of-7 tosses. Frazer is expected to miss at least two weeks with a knee injury, so the starting job now lands with Endres.
UConn's defense did its part last weekend, but the unit couldn't slow down UNC when it needed too, allowing the Tar Heels to put together two long drives to tie the game. Up 10-3, the Huskies allowed UNC to drive 76 yards on 13 plays, knotting the game on a touchdown pass with just over two minutes left. The unit however, was still solid on the day, as it held UNC to just 268 total yards, while recording two takeaways and six sacks. This group came up with two turnovers and three sacks in the opener, which it gave up just 247 total yards to Ohio. Lindsey Witten has been unstoppable at the onset of the season, as he has notched five sacks in two games.
In their opener, the Bears rolled up 366 yards, including 197 on the ground, in a triumph of Wake Forest. Quarterback Robert Griffin III led the way by throwing for 136 yards and a touchdown and adding 41 more yards on the ground. Griffin, the 2008 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, is a dual-threat with exceptional speed and his play-making ability is the reason why expectations are so high in Waco this season. David Gettis was his main target with five receptions for 65 yards and a score, while Jay Finley led the ground attack with 91 yards on 14 carries. Kendall Wright also made an impact, as he toted four times for 51 yards and score, while catching four balls for 17 more yards.
Defensively, Baylor was terrific in the opener, as the unit not only held Wake Forest to just 269 total yards, but it also forced four turnovers. Three of those miscues came on interceptions and they were helped by consistent pressure that resulted in three sacks for the Bears. The defense had trouble slowing down foes last season, so this was an encouraging start for Baylor. Joe Pawelek turned in a great effort for Baylor, as he posted seven stops to go with an interception and sack. An All-Big linebacker, Pawelek had 128 tackles and six sacks last season, so his season-opening performance wasn't anything out of the ordinary for him.
The Bears have had plenty of time to prepare for this game and come up with a strategy to stop the run and that gives them the edge. UConn will also be without its starting quarterback and that will allow Baylor to focus on the run even more. Griffin should be able to create enough plays for the offense, as the Bears top the Huskies this weekend.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Baylor 28, Connecticut 14
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