Army is a 7.5-point favorite over defending champion UConn in the Fenway Bowl.
Army is 5-1 in bowl games in the Jeff Monken era.
UConn is going through a transition with head coach Jim Mora leaving for Colorado State. Some of UConn’s top players, including quarterback Joe Fagnano, have opted out of the game. First-team all-American wide receiver Skyler Bell will play for the Huskies.
Both teams started the season at 1-2. UConn (9-3) has won eight of its nine games. The Huskies’ only losses came to Syracuse and Rice both in overtime and Delaware by three points.
Army played its ninth one-score game and sixth straight of the season when it last took the field against rival Navy in a one-point loss.
The Black Knights are 3-1 against UConn under Monken.
What’s on the line: Army (6-6) is playing for its seventh winning season in Monken’s 12 years.
UConn is seeking its first 10-win season as a FBS program.
Sal Interdonato (Black Knight Nation): Army 21, UConn 17. Could be wrong but expect a methodical Army offensive game plan featuring the running of quarterback Cale Hellums. The Black Knights’ defense needs to contain UConn 1,000-yard rusher Cam Edwards.
Seth Mendelson (Black Knight Nation): Army 26, UConn 22. Facing a depleted Huskies roster, the Black Knights manage to pull out a victory to salvage a winning season.
Predictions from across the college football universe
Kyle Wood (Athlon Sports): UConn 23, Army 20. Wood writes, “Despite the sizable spread, this game seems destined to come down to the last possession. Together, these teams have played in five overtime games and 16 one-score contests. Monken’s teams always get up for their bowl games, but these aren’t the same old Huskies. UConn beat ACC champion Duke a little over a month ago and has pieces in place around Nick Evers — assuming Bell’s pitch keeps the roster largely intact — to mount an upset.
Pete Fiutak (College Football News): Army 26, UConn 16
Riley Donald (College Sports Wire): Army 21, UConn 14
John Feltman (Action Network): Army -9.5
Tony Sink (Doc’s Sports): Army – 8.5
Adam Burke (VSiN): UConn + 9.5
