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UConn Huskies at Temple Owls

Oct 10, 20262:45 PM CTESPNUPhiladelphia, PA
By JR·2 min read
UConn(2-3)
Temple(2-3)
2:45 PM

TLDR: UConn just lost 42-41 in overtime to Syracuse after scoring 27 straight points to get back into it. Temple won a 17-13 grinder at South Florida. On Saturday, October 10 at Lincoln Financial Field, 2 teams at 2-3 find out which of those games meant more.

Week 6 · 10/10, 2:45 PM CTESPNU
UConn
(2-3)
LLWLW
Temple
(2-3)
WLLLW
Kickoff73°

UConn and Temple are both 2-3 and have both lost a series of close games. The Huskies' offense scores in bunches but their defense just gave up 42 to a first-time Syracuse starter, while Temple's quarterback situation hinges on J. Smolik's foot after A. Sheppard ran the offense in a 17-13 win at South Florida. No line has been posted yet, and the result likely comes down to whether Temple can keep UConn's offense from turning this into a shootout.

UConn Huskies
  • Scored 27 straight second-half points against Syracuse
  • Has scored 41-plus in 3 of 5 games
  • Stayed within one score in last 2 losses
  • Allowed 6 total TDs to a first-time starter
  • Lost the last 2 in the final minutes
  • Fell behind 34-14 before waking up
Temple Owls
  • Sheppard's 34-yard TD run won it in Tampa
  • Held South Florida to 13 on the road
  • Home game at Lincoln Financial Field
  • QB Smolik questionable with a foot injury
  • Sheppard managed just 92 passing yards
  • WR Stocksdale still questionable with a hamstring

The quarterback picture is the first thing to watch, and it's murkier in Philadelphia. J. Smolik is listed questionable for Temple with a foot injury, and A. Sheppard was the one running the offense in Tampa. Sheppard didn't put up much through the air, 92 passing yards and a 24-yard touchdown to J. Bermudez, but he won the game with his legs on a 34-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter. Temple hasn't said who starts this week. A pocket passer and a quarterback who wins on the run make for 2 very different offenses to prepare for.

UConn's problem was the other side of the ball. Syracuse's Amari Odom, making his first start for the Orange, threw for 335 yards and accounted for 6 touchdowns against the Huskies, and the Orange got up 34-14 before UConn went on its run. The comeback says a lot about the offense: 4 straight scoring drives for 27 unanswered points, part of a season where UConn has put up 56, 48 and 41. Then Syracuse converted a 4th down for a touchdown and ran in the 2-point try in overtime. Nobody has posted a line on this one yet, so the matchup is all there is to go on.

Temple has been on the wrong end of close games too. The Owls lost 49-48 at Toledo and 21-17 at home to Army before they finally held on in a close one. The Toledo game also showed this offense can get into a shootout, even though most of its other games have been low-scoring. Three of Temple's 4 games against FBS opponents have been decided by 4 points or fewer, so a tight Saturday at the Linc is a real possibility.

UConn Huskies
(2-3)
10/03LvsSyracuse41-42
09/26L@Miami (OH)21-24
09/19W@Southern Miss48-20
09/12LvsMaryland14-38
09/05WvsLafayette56-7
Temple Owls
(2-3)
10/03W@South Florida17-13
09/25LvsArmy17-21
09/19L@Toledo48-49
09/12LvsPenn State9-27
09/05WvsRhode Island38-14

There's a lot of 1-score heartbreak on both sides. UConn's last 2 losses came by 3 points at Miami (OH) and by 1 point in overtime against Syracuse. Its one lopsided loss was a 38-14 home defeat to Maryland. Both clubs' best wins came against FCS opponents, Lafayette for UConn and Rhode Island for Temple, so neither résumé has a signature win yet. Temple does have something UConn doesn't: an American conference record, 1-1, that is still worth something in October.

Beyond Smolik, Temple has WR R. Stocksdale listed questionable with a hamstring injury that has kept him on the report since September. If both miss again, a Temple offense that just won with 92 passing yards will lean even harder on the run game. The early forecast for Philadelphia is 75 degrees, clear, with almost no wind, so weather shouldn't help or hurt either offense. The game comes down to whether UConn's offense can make up for what its defense gave up to Syracuse.