With the Huskies coming off their bye week, it’s time to get ready for Saturday’s matchup.
KICKOFF: 12 p.m.
TV: CBS Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (color analyst), Tiffany Blackmon (sideline)
RADIO: UConn IMG Radio Network; Varsity Network App; 97.9 Fox Sports, WGCH 1490 AM, WAVZ 1300 AM, WILI 1400 AM and 95.3 FM, WICH 1310 AM and 94.5 FM; Sirius/XM online streaming, XM 383 (UConn)
ANNOUNCERS: Mike Crispino (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color analyst), Adam Giardino (sideline)
RECORDS: UConn (4-2), Wake Forest (2-4)
LAST WEEK: UConn stood up Temple, 29-20; Wake Forest was crushed by Clemson, 49-14
POINT SPREAD: UConn -2 (odds via DraftKings)
O/U: 57.5
SERIES HISTORY: This is the fourth time the Huskies and Demon Deacons have faced off on the gridiron. The Demon Deacons hold a 2-1 advantage with the teams last facing off in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl won by Wake.
DEPTH CHART: UConn; Wake Forest
PREGAME PRESS CONFERENCE(S): UConn head coach Jim Mora; Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson
WEATHER FORECAST: East Hartford, CT
Fun With Numbers
3: Including Saturday’s game, UConn will play its next three games at the friendly confines of Rentschler Field as part of a six-game home stretch. Three is also the number of ACC opponents UConn will face this season (Duke, Wake Forest, Syracuse).
11: The matchup between the Demon Deacons and Huskies features 11 matchups between former high school teammates • Justin Cody and Ezeriah Anderson (Armwood) • Zamari Stevenson and Jasaiah Gathings (Statesville) • David Egbe and Brady Wayburn (Loomis Chaffee) • Darius Jones and Durrell Robinson (St. Frances Academy) • James Hillhouse and Caleb Smith (Staples) •Tyler Walton and Jayden McDonald (North Gwinnett) • Sebastien Pierre, Cam Edwards, and Zach Christinat (Norwalk) • Zach Vaughan and Bryce Anderson (Milton Academy) • Luke Petitibon and Dean Engram (Gonzaga College) • Jack Hines and Jackson Harper (Avon Old Farms)
46.8: The Huskies are averaging 46.8 points per game at Rentschler Field this season.
5.3: Wake Forest RB Desmond Claiborne has carried it 99 times for 524 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.
35.8: UConn is averaging 35.8 points per game which is 24th best in FBS.
20+: The Demon Deacons have three wide receivers with at least 20 catches this season (Taylor Morin (29), Deuce Alexander (21) and Horatio Fields (20)).
141: TJ Sheffield had nine catches for 141 yards, both career-highs, which included a 58-yard touchdown catch in the win over Temple
999: UConn QB Joe Fagnano had thrown for 999 yards and has 11 touchdown passes this season in six games (two starts).
1499: Wake Forest QB Hank Bachmeier has thrown for 1,499 yards and nine touchdowns.
96: Jordan Wright scooped a Temple fumble and returned it 96 yards for his first career touchdown in the win.
Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog
449.7: UConn’s offense is averaging 449.7 yards per game which is 29th best in FBS.
191.5: The Husky defense is only allowing 191.5 yards per game passing which is 19th best in FBS.
What to Watch For
Happy to have Evers back?
UConn has not confirmed, but it does appear that starting QB Nick Evers will be ready and available after missing the Temple game. Those clamoring for Joe Fagnano to be the starter were quieted after his inconsistent performance against the Owls. It’s clear that the Huskies are a better team with Evers in the picture, he just needs more time and more reps. Unfortunately for him, he ends up taking on the toughest parts of UConn’s schedule. After opening the season at Maryland, he missed the Merrimack game before returning for the road game at Duke.
After starting and finishing the FIU win, Evers left the Buffalo game. If he returns now, it will be his fifth start of the year but three of those games have been against ACC teams and two of those have been on the road. So, have some grace for Evers’ stats to date.
Continued defensive excellence
After two blowout wins to start the six-game home stretch, the Temple game was a bit too close for comfort. Much of that was due to inconsistency on offense, while the defense kept UConn in the game while it was behind early.
Defensively, UConn is hoping for the return of Pryce Yates and Cam Chadwick. Yates especially can help bring even more stability to a front-seven crew that has been performing well. The Husky defense has been the key to victory over the last few weeks, and will be looked at again to step up with a power conference opponent coming to town.
More to throw at?
Skyler Bell also looked like he was not at 100 percent after suffering an injury against Temple and returning to the game. His status and health will be worth keeping an eye on.
TJ Sheffield had his breakout performance against Temple. UConn will need to expand the horizons of its passing game in order to beat the better opponents coming up on the schedule (Wake and Cuse, maybe Rice), with his help and by getting others besides Bell involved.