UConn-Army
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Spread: CON -4.5
Total: 48

Betting odds courtesy of Bovada

The Army Black Knights have dropped three straight, losing to Rice, Kent State and Air Force. Facing the UConn Huskies this week might provide some relief, with UConn favored by just 4.5-points in college football odds.

Army is a team based around the dominance of Angel Santiago, a run-first QB who has thrown just 55 passes on the season. Santiago is the second-leading rusher on the team with 576 yards and six rushing TDs on the season. Larry Dixon has been great too, with a 5.4 yard per carry average on 129 carries for 696 yards. The Black Knights have three other rushers with at least 200 yards on the season. It all looks impressive until it’s remembered that Army just does not pass the football.

Even without a pass game, UConn’s defense may not be enough to stop Army. The Huskies have allowed 26.8 points per game this season, and gave up 37 to UCF last week, after allowing 31 to East Carolina Oct. 23.

Upon QB Chandler Whitmer is having his best season as a senior this year, but it’s still not anything to marvel at, after throwing 2,659 yards in 2012. Whittier is averaging 7.11 yards per attempt but has thrown just 55.7 percent for completion.

Whitmer’s TD/INT ratio is positive for the first time in his career, though, as his passer rating is the highest it’s been, as well. It hasn’t mattered much for UConn as the team lingers near the bottom of NCAA teams in both passing and rushing, but Whitmer has improved, if ever so slightly.

TRENDS:

UConn: UNDER 4-1 in last 5 after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in previous game; UNDER 4-1 in last 5 overall; 3-12-1 ATS in last 16 non-conference games.

Army: UNDER 11-1 in last 12 neutral site games; 7-1 ATS in last 8 games after allowing more than 200 rushing yards previous game; 1-6 ATS in last 7 overall.

Head-to-head: Huskies 4-0 ATS in last 4 meetings; Favorite 4-0 ATS in last 4 meetings.