Week One: UMass versus UConn

Massachusetts versus Connecticut: UConn struggled to a 5-7 record in the 2011 season. The Huskies were on the verge of a better season but fell by 8 or fewer points in 4 of their 7 losses. UMass went 5-6 last season but struggled at the end losing 4 of their final 5 games with the final 3 losses coming by double digits. This seems like a game that UConn will start slowly but take care of business and win easily.

Offense: Connecticut was below average on offense last fall with 118 yards on the ground and 194 yards in the air per game. Barely breaking 300 yards per game on offense put the Huskies on the bottom 1/3 of all FBS teams. In an odd twist, UConn found a way to put up 24.3 points per game even with the anemic offense. UMass had a fairly effective offense in their FCS schedule last fall running for 127 yards per game and passing for 232 yards per game. The Minutemen were more effective scoring the ball on the ground with 19 rushing touchdowns while only getting 13 in the air that were offset by 13 interceptions. EDGE: UConn very slightly.

Defense: UConn was a run stuffing team in 2011 only allowing 85.7 yards per game on the ground and an anemic 2.7 yards per carry on the season. The Huskies were much less effective in the air giving up 281 yards passing per game to go with 22 touchdowns. Overall, the Huskies gave up 366 yards per game and 24.3 points, the same exact points per game as the UConn offense scored. UMass struggled to stop the run in 2011 giving up 158 yards per game and 15 rushing touchdowns on the season. The passing defense was better only giving up 208 yards per game but 20 touchdowns giving up a total of 35 touchdowns on the season. The Minutemen gave up 27.9 points per game on the season. EDGE: UConn.

Coaching: UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni enters his 41st season of coaching this fall. Pasqualoni's first head coaching job was at Western Connecticut where he went 34-17 in 5 years with one DIII playoff appearance. After 4 years as an assistant at Syracuse, he took over the head coaching job where he went 10-2 in both of his first two seasons with wins in the Hall of Fame and Fiesta bowls. In his 14 years at Syracuse, Pasqualoni went 107-59-1 with a 6-3 bowl record. After some time as a defensive coach and coordinator in the NFL, Pasqualoni went to UConn in 2011. In his single season with the Huskies, Pasqualoni went 5-7. UMass head coach Charley Molnar enters his 29th year of coaching finally securing his first head coaching job. After assisting at Lock Haven, Virginia, Illinois State, Kent State, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Indiana State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame, Molnar will be the first FBS coach ever for the Minutemen. EDGE: UConn.

UMass leads the overall series over UConn 36-33-2 with the most recent matchup being a 62-20 win by the Minutemen.

Massachusetts joins the FBS level this season after a rough end to the 2011 season that necessitated a change in coach. Under the helm of Molnar, UMass hopes to make a national impact this fall. The hopes for a week one stunner are possible but with an experienced but underachieving Huskies team on the other sideline, the Minutemen will have to wait at least one more week to win their first FBS game. Expect UConn to win somewhere along the lines of 35-14.