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Free Pick: Boise State vs. Connecticut Betting Odds & Preview

Week 3: Broncos vs Huskies Lines

College football Week 3 betting action sees the Boise State Broncos taking on the Connecticut Huskies on Saturday, September 13th at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Cappers Picks provides free NCAA football handicapping tips all season long.

After both the Broncos and the Huskies dropped their opening games, they each bounced back with a much-needed week 2 victory. Now they look to move into the green in a battle of 1-1 teams.

College Football Lines

Boise State (1-1, 1-0 Mountain West) @ Connecticut (1-1, 0-0 AAC)
Saturday, September 13th 12:00 PM ET @ Rentschler Field – East Hartford
NCAA Football Spread: Boise State -16
NCAA Football O/U: 49
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The Broncos from Boise State are arriving in East Hartford after news that UConn starting quarterback Casey Cochran is retiring from playing due to concussions. Cochran was knocked out of the team’s week one game.

The Broncos will try to keep their ground game going while distributing the ball more accurately while UConn will have to dig deep to find a way to defend the Boise State offense.

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It’s the first ever meeting between these two teams.

Boise State

The Broncos will continue to rely on Jay Ajayi, who has been a huge chunk of the Broncos offense so far this season. On the ground, Ajayi has 53 carries for 305 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 16 receptions for 154 yards and two more touchdowns through the air.

Second in rushing is starting quarterback Grant Hedrick, with 104 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries so far. Hedrick is 58 of 79 passing for 616 yards, 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, including four costly picks in the team’s week one loss to Ole Miss.

The team’s leading receiver, Matt Miller, has 14 receptions for 235 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, the Broncos have been pesky to opposing offense. Despite the week one loss, the defense still played well considering the four interceptions from the offense. This season, the defense boasts 18 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions and 16 passes defended.

Tied for the team lead with 2 interceptions are safeties Darian Thompson (7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 passes defended) and Jeremy Ioane (6 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 pass breakup, 3 passes defended.)

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The Broncos are 8-1 all time against the American Athletic Conference.

Connecticut

Still reeling from the news about Cochran, the Huskies will go back to a two QB system. To replace Cochran, new UConn Bob Diaco will send out Chandler Whitmer. Filling in for Cochran last week, Whitmer went 12 for 27 with 142 yards passing and a touchdown.

Whitmer was also the leading rusher for the game, carrying the ball 13 times for 29 yards. The team will be looking to running back Max DeLorenzo to step it up and take some pressure off of Whitmer.

The team’s top receiver, Geremy Davis, has 13 receptions on the season for 209 yards and a touchdown. Davis will be a big key to the game for the Huskies, who will need more production after being outgained 300 to 223 yards last week against Stony Brook.

The defense will have its hands full against the busy Bronco offense. Marquise Vann is leading the team in tackles with 20 and has 1.5 tackles for loss. Graham Stewart is second in tackles with 18 to go with his 1.5 tackles for loss and forced fumble.

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Special teams was a bright spot for the Huskies last week, with a 72 yard punt return for a touchdown that made the difference in the game.

NCAA football handicapping trends

  • Boise State is 4-1 ATS in last 5 games in September
  • Boise State is 18-7 SU in last 25 games
  • UConn is 1-5 ATS in last 6 games in September
  • UConn is 1-6 ATS in last 7 non-conference games
  • UConn is 1-7 ATS in last 8 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game

Week 3 NCAA Football Prediction

Boise State wants to stay relevant in the national conversation in the PPE. (Post-Peterson Era) While a win against a lowly UConn team is not going to get them there, it will definitely help their cause.

Free NCAA Betting Pick: 4* Play on Boise State -16

Final Week 3 Score: Boise State 38 – Connecticut 10

The Broncos will have no problem dispatching the Huskies. It’s just a matter of how quickly they want to the run the offense come game time.

Check out our Updated College Football Week 3 Odds.

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By Brandon Banks

Brandon Banks is a newcomer to the Cappers Picks Blog, he has been a sports writer for a few years now. He's been a very successful bettor, especially in NFL, College football & NCAA hoops betting. Reasons for success - not affiliated with any SCAMDICAPPERS. Stay tuned to Brandon, he'll be picking NFL, CFB, CBB and NBA games daily here on the blog.