UConn vs. Duke football first look: Odds, key matchup, Blue Devils player to watch
Having feasted with three home wins to start the season, the No. 18 Duke Blue Devils hit the road for the first time.
On Saturday, Duke (3-0) puts its perfect record on the line against winless Connecticut, which is perfect in that it’s lost all three of its games.
While Duke owns wins over Clemson (28-7), Lafayette (42-7) and Northwestern (38-17) this season, UConn lost 24-14 at home to N.C. State, 35-14 at Georgia State and 24-17 at home to Florida International last Saturday.
The Blue Devils are seeking their first 4-0 start since 2018.
Duke player to watch: Jordan Moore, WR
A junior wide receiver, Jordan Moore caught five passes in Duke’s win over Northwestern. That tied him with grad student wide receiver Jalon Calhoun for the team lead on Saturday. Moore, though, is a more explosive player in the open field. Given UConn’s tackling struggles (see below), Moore figures to break some plays for big gains.
Key matchup: UConn defense vs. Duke
The Huskies have been one of the nation’s worst tackling teams thus far this season. According to Pro Football Focus, UConn defenders have amassed 55 missed tackles in their three games. The worst offender is starting linebacker Jackson Mitchell, who has missed 12 tackles while on the field for 199 snaps.
That should allow Duke’s ballcarriers, be it on rushing plays or after catching passes, to gain the kind of extra yards that could turn this game into a blowout.
Vegas betting odds
Duke opened as a 21-point favorite on Sunday with the over-under total set at 47 points.
No. 18 Duke at UConn game and TV info
Who: Duke Blue Devils (3-0) vs. UConn Huskies (0-3)
Where: Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, Conn.
When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
TV: CBS Sports Network
Stream: Hulu +Live TV, Paramount+, YouTubeTV, Fubu, DirecTV Stream.
This story was originally published September 18, 2023 at 8:00 AM with the headline "UConn vs. Duke football first look: Odds, key matchup, Blue Devils player to watch."