FWIW - "The UConn Huskies will be the surprise team in the AAC in 2013"

[huskymedic]

Just another opinion (analysis w/ game by game spreads):

betfirmsjack 12:02pm via TweetDeck
The UConn Huskies will be the surprise team in the AAC in 2013 as they get back to a bowl game http://www.betfirm.com/connecticut-football-predictions/

>>I believe the Huskies have a chance to be one of the most improved teams in the country this season. They lost four games by a touchdown or less last season while finishing -14 in turnovers. Taking better care of the ball will certainly be a priority in 2013.

This is clearly Pasqualoni’s best team yet with 13 returning starters and only 12 lettermen lost. The offense will put up much better numbers than a year ago behind a veteran unit that returns eight starters. While the defense will have a hard time matching the 19.8 points per game it allowed last year with only five returning starters, this is still one of the better stop units in the new AAC.

I look for Connecticut to go 3-1 in non-conference play with victories over Towson, Maryland and Buffalo. I also expect it to win the five AAC games that it will be favored in against USF, Rutgers, Memphis, SMU and Temple. While they will not win the AAC in 2013, the Huskies are a very good bet to get over 5.5 wins and make it back to a bowl game.<<

 

[Waquoit]

That would not suck.

 

[businesslawyer]

If you want to be optimistic about this year, I think that analysis is the core of the argument. We should have won 6 or 7 games last year, even with the minus 14 turnover margin. If you believe, as stats tend to show, that turnover differential tends to even out year to year, because some of it is just dumb luck (and you really can't explain our lack of takeaways last year without wondering if it was just a statistical anomaly), just cutting the negative margin to, say, 4 or 5 should lead to an extra win or two. And having a positive turnover margin, could lead to more wins than that.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I like the positivity surrounding the offense. I feel pretty good about our QB and WR situation and the o-line almost has to be better.

The main concern is losing 4 NFL players on a good defense. We traditionally have a strong D, so I think we can rebound, but losing all that fire power from a 5 win team its tough to expect to outperform that.

If I'm a betting man, I'll go over 5.5 and 8 wins would be awesome.

 

[sdhusky]

If you want to be optimistic about this year, I think that analysis is the core of the argument. We should have won 6 or 7 games last year, even with the minus 14 turnover margin. If you believe, as stats tend to show, that turnover differential tends to even out year to year, because some of it is just dumb luck (and you really can't explain our lack of takeaways last year without wondering if it was just a statistical anomaly), just cutting the negative margin to, say, 4 or 5 should lead to an extra win or two. And having a positive turnover margin, could lead to more wins than that.

turnovers are always huge. HUGE.

If we get on the lucky side of this stat, we'll have a great year (win the AAC). If we just do normal, we'll be bowling.

 

[Husky92]

Just another opinion (analysis w/ game by game spreads):

betfirmsjack 12:02pm via TweetDeck
The UConn Huskies will be the surprise team in the AAC in 2013 as they get back to a bowl game http://www.betfirm.com/connecticut-football-predictions/

>>I believe the Huskies have a chance to be one of the most improved teams in the country this season. They lost four games by a touchdown or less last season while finishing -14 in turnovers. Taking better care of the ball will certainly be a priority in 2013.

This is clearly Pasqualoni’s best team yet with 13 returning starters and only 12 lettermen lost. The offense will put up much better numbers than a year ago behind a veteran unit that returns eight starters. While the defense will have a hard time matching the 19.8 points per game it allowed last year with only five returning starters, this is still one of the better stop units in the new AAC.

I look for Connecticut to go 3-1 in non-conference play with victories over Towson, Maryland and Buffalo. I also expect it to win the five AAC games that it will be favored in against USF, Rutgers, Memphis, SMU and Temple. While they will not win the AAC in 2013, the Huskies are a very good bet to get over 5.5 wins and make it back to a bowl game.<<

I like this. This is the way I'm approaching the season. Let's hope it pans out this way!

 

[noeynox]

We have a real shot at the league this year. We get Ville and ru at home. Boy it would be fugging great to claim the last automatic bcs bid out of this leauge. I think the key will be improve play from the ol and qb spots. I don't expect a huge drop off from the defense and think Knappe is going to be a disruptive force on defense with his motor and length.

 

[Srqhusky]

Finally so wine who knows what they're talking about

 

[Dooley]

Just another opinion (analysis w/ game by game spreads):

betfirmsjack 12:02pm via TweetDeck
The UConn Huskies will be the surprise team in the AAC in 2013 as they get back to a bowl game http://www.betfirm.com/connecticut-football-predictions/

>>I believe the Huskies have a chance to be one of the most improved teams in the country this season. They lost four games by a touchdown or less last season while finishing -14 in turnovers. Taking better care of the ball will certainly be a priority in 2013.

This is clearly Pasqualoni’s best team yet with 13 returning starters and only 12 lettermen lost. The offense will put up much better numbers than a year ago behind a veteran unit that returns eight starters. While the defense will have a hard time matching the 19.8 points per game it allowed last year with only five returning starters, this is still one of the better stop units in the new AAC.

I look for Connecticut to go 3-1 in non-conference play with victories over Towson, Maryland and Buffalo. I also expect it to win the five AAC games that it will be favored in against USF, Rutgers, Memphis, SMU and Temple. While they will not win the AAC in 2013, the Huskies are a very good bet to get over 5.5 wins and make it back to a bowl game.<<

This is EXACTLY my prediction/expectation for 2013:

Towson - W
Maryland - W
Michigan - L
@ Buffalo - W
USF - W
@ Cincinnati - L
@ UCF - L
Louisville - L
@ SMU - W
@ Temple - W
Rutgers - W
Memphis - W

8-4 with a decent bowl against a decent and beatable "Power 5" school. I would "accept" a 7 win season ONLY if the extra loss is a competitive, close loss to MD or RU (not both). A 6 win season or less gets P fired in my hypothetical head.

 

[businesslawyer]

A 6 win season or less gets P fired in my hypothetical head.

It must be hard to think with a "hypothetical head." On the other hand, at least you don't have to worry about head colds.

 

[SubbaBub]

Still think there is the "didn't beat anyone" danger if 3/4 losses are to Mich, MD, and Lville. Even at 9-3.

To me 7-5 with a win over MD and one from that group is a better season.

Besides is no one else expecting P to blow the game against SMU?

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Waquoit]

Still think there is the "didn't beat anyone" danger if 3/4 losses are to Mich, MD, and Lville. Even at 9-3.

To me 7-5 with a win over MD and one from that group is a better season.

9-3 > 7-5 in any combination.

 

[UConn9604]

If you want to be optimistic about this year, I think that analysis is the core of the argument. We should have won 6 or 7 games last year, even with the minus 14 turnover margin. If you believe, as stats tend to show, that turnover differential tends to even out year to year, because some of it is just dumb luck (and you really can't explain our lack of takeaways last year without wondering if it was just a statistical anomaly), just cutting the negative margin to, say, 4 or 5 should lead to an extra win or two. And having a positive turnover margin, could lead to more wins than that.

Looking back, we were +/- 0 TO/game in our five wins (actually +0.5 if you take out UMass, in which we were -2) and -2 TO/game in our seven losses:

-3 vs. NCSU, -2 at Western Michigan, -4 at Rutgers, +1 vs Temple, and -2 each at Syracuse, at USF and at home vs. Cincinnati.

As bad of an offensive hangover as I still have from last season, it's funny to look back and think that we legitimately should have finished 7-5 (taking two of NCSU, Temple, Western Michigan, USF) and reasonably could have finished 8-4 if we had taken appropriate care of the ball.

 

[freescooter]

I would take that today and go away smiling. Of course if we're 8-2 going into the last 2 games and come out 8-4 I will be very dissatisfied, but that's the way it goes with being a fan I guess.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Just another opinion (analysis w/ game by game spreads):

betfirmsjack 12:02pm via TweetDeck
The UConn Huskies will be the surprise team in the AAC in 2013 as they get back to a bowl game http://www.betfirm.com/connecticut-football-predictions/

>>I believe the Huskies have a chance to be one of the most improved teams in the country this season. They lost four games by a touchdown or less last season while finishing -14 in turnovers. Taking better care of the ball will certainly be a priority in 2013.

This is clearly Pasqualoni’s best team yet with 13 returning starters and only 12 lettermen lost. The offense will put up much better numbers than a year ago behind a veteran unit that returns eight starters. While the defense will have a hard time matching the 19.8 points per game it allowed last year with only five returning starters, this is still one of the better stop units in the new AAC.

I look for Connecticut to go 3-1 in non-conference play with victories over Towson, Maryland and Buffalo. I also expect it to win the five AAC games that it will be favored in against USF, Rutgers, Memphis, SMU and Temple. While they will not win the AAC in 2013, the Huskies are a very good bet to get over 5.5 wins and make it back to a bowl game.<<

From his lips to God's ears..............

 

[Dooley]

It must be hard to think with a "hypothetical head." On the other hand, at least you don't have to worry about head colds.

No head colds, headaches, or concussions. The bad news is that I lost my VIP membership to Headbangers Ball.

 

[UConnDan97]

We have a real shot at the league this year. We get Ville and ru at home. Boy it would be fugging great to claim the last automatic bcs bid out of this leauge. I think the key will be improve play from the ol and qb spots. I don't expect a huge drop off from the defense and think Knappe is going to be a disruptive force on defense with his motor and length.

This!!!

Yes, baby; this! I want the final automatic qualifier! I've said it before and I'll say it again; turnover margin is gigantic when it comes to W's and L's. The offensive line essentially returns and gets one year older and wiser. The QB gets one year older and wiser. The defense will still be strong. And I truly believe that we are going to shock some folks this year. LET'S GO HUSKIES!!!!

 

[CTMike]

And I truly believe that we are going to shock some folks this year. LET'S GO HUSKIES!!!!

Damn right 13-0 will be shocking!!

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Just another opinion (analysis w/ game by game spreads):

betfirmsjack 12:02pm via TweetDeck
The UConn Huskies will be the surprise team in the AAC in 2013 as they get back to a bowl game http://www.betfirm.com/connecticut-football-predictions/

>>I believe the Huskies have a chance to be one of the most improved teams in the country this season. They lost four games by a touchdown or less last season while finishing -14 in turnovers. Taking better care of the ball will certainly be a priority in 2013.

This is clearly Pasqualoni’s best team yet with 13 returning starters and only 12 lettermen lost. The offense will put up much better numbers than a year ago behind a veteran unit that returns eight starters. While the defense will have a hard time matching the 19.8 points per game it allowed last year with only five returning starters, this is still one of the better stop units in the new AAC.
The old adage the best defense is a good offense may apply in 2013. An improved offense cuts down the time of our opponents possession. Last years defense tended to fade in the 4th Qtr.
When its 3 and out the best defense will wear down.
I look for Connecticut to go 3-1 in non-conference play with victories over Towson, Maryland and Buffalo. I also expect it to win the five AAC games that it will be favored in against USF, Rutgers, Memphis, SMU and Temple. While they will not win the AAC in 2013, the Huskies are a very good bet to get over 5.5 wins and make it back to a bowl game.<<

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

 

[john2153]

I think we were considered one of the "surprise" teams last year too, and there was a lot of hype before the season.

Not going to buy into the hype again. I hope we do well, but I have no expectations whatsoever for this year.

 

[Srqhusky]

We can be the surprise team if we get some surprises. If all the fill ins and new starters step up. Getti g a big year from McConbs and joe Williams. Whitmer having a big year. Deshonn fox seems exciting.

 

[Waquoit]

I think we were considered one of the "surprise" teams last year too, and there was a lot of hype before the season.

Not going to buy into the hype again. I hope we do well, but I have no expectations whatsoever for this year.

C'mon John! Turn that frown upside down! P promises he won't won't pull the ball back this time!

 

[ktuck911]

We have a real shot at the league this year. We get Ville and ru at home. Boy it would be fugging great to claim the last automatic bcs bid out of this leauge. I think the key will be improve play from the ol and qb spots. I don't expect a huge drop off from the defense and think Knappe is going to be a disruptive force on defense with his motor and length.

what he said..

We have a ton of experience on OL... for a first year guy in our system, Whitmer didn't do as badly as it showed on the field, considering our blocking scheme nearly got him killed.. He threw a nice ball when he had time and definitely showed command back there in the pocket. And, I'll NEVER (ever ever ever) underestimate our D... Yeah, Blidi and DGratz are gone, TWilliams & Sio & JJohnson & R Wirth are gone, but we recruit kids that we've developed that I believe will come in and produce. Maybe even at a higher level than the guys that we had. We've got serious depth at DT which will be key IMO... at DE, I'm liking the idea of Norris and J.Joseph starting... We've got some players a LB who are ready to shine... Secondary is kind of an unknown commodity, especially at CB because of what we lost, but I think we'll be OK back there.

I'm excited. I see big things with this team. The only big difference is how they will look with the Husky emblem on their hats instead of the block C. Let's go!!!!!