College football is finally back, and there is almost a no better way to start than a mid-afternoon game in Logan, Utah. Utah State will take on UConn in the first matchup of their respective seasons. Here is a preview of Utah State vs UConn Football Week 0 Matchup.
Will Logan Bonner and the Aggie’s offense be too much for the Huskie’s defense?
Utah State is coming fresh off the program’s first Mountain West title. However, despite being the reigning Mountain West champions, the odds for the Aggies to repeat are the fifth best in the conference.
Much is due to losing key offensive weapons. Head coach Blake Anderson will be tasked with replacing the production of wide receivers Devin Thompkins and Brandon Bowling. The hardest to replace will be Thompkins who shattered records for the Aggies.
However, Utah State reloaded the position in the transfer portal, has their running back, and returns four out of the five starters on the offensive line. Most importantly, one of the best quarterbacks in the conference returns, Logan Bonner.
Bonner led the Aggies to the 22nd-best offense in the nation averaging over 445 yards a game. Meanwhile, the Huskies finished with one of the worst defenses in the country, ranking 116th in total defense allowing 453.2 yards a game. Furthermore, the Huskies lost their best defensive player to the NFL.
With Utah State continuing their high-paced, high-octane offense, Logan Bonner and the offense should be able to completely take control of this game.
As much as the Huskies look to improve this season, it looks like it will be a long day for the Huskies dealing with the high-powered Aggie’s offense.
Can Utah State’s defense continue the success they found during the last games of the season?
In football, momentum is everything. A single shift in momentum can single handly flip a game upside down. Coaches stress momentum. Players understand momentum. Football is a game of momentum.
For the Aggie’s Defense, momentum is on their side. Utah State allowed less than 20 points in five of their last six games. Furthermore, they ended up finishing in the top 50 in scoring defense.
However, improvement needs to be seen as they finished close to the bottom half in the conference in key defensive categories.
One of the biggest question marks heading into the season for the Huskies is if they can improve on an offense that finished 128th in the country in total offense. All eyes have been on the quarterback position as the quarterback battle has dominated headlines. However, head coach Jim Mora still has not announced a starting quarterback.
The decision to hold off on announcing a starting quarterback could backfire for Mora. Playing a team like Utah State will be a challenge in itself, and adding a last-second decision at quarterback might poise to be a problem.
History has a tendency to repeat itself
During Week 0 of the 2021 college football season, UConn traveled to play Fresno State. When the Huskies played their Mountain West opponent, the result wasn’t what they hoped for. Fresno State would beat UConn 45-0.
Now, heading into Week 0 of the 2022 college football season, the Huskies are playing another Mountain West team.
If history repeats itself, the Utah State vs UConn matchup might be lopsided in favor of the defending Mountain West champions.
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