Connecticut vs. Cincinnati: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

Although the 8-3 Cincinnati Bearcats hosting the 5-6 Connecticut Huskies in a Big East battle may not seem like one of the weekend's biggest games, it could very well determine which Big East team will earn an automatic spot in a BCS bowl game.

Cincinnati is one of three teams with a chance, but a win over UConn is an absolute must. The Bearcats have been fairly inconsistent in losing two of their past three games, but they have had to adjust to life without quarterback Zach Collaros who was lost for the season with a broken ankle.

While the Huskies have been unable to build off a magical 2010 season that saw them win the Big East, they have been competitive all season and ruined Rutgers' hopes of winning the conference by upsetting the Scarlet Knights last week.

UConn will have a chance to play spoiler for the second consecutive week, but the Bearcats will be desperate to avoid the same fate as Rutgers. This will be far from the sexiest matchup, but it will certainly be a hard-fought one.

Where: Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio

When: Saturday, Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN/ESPN3

Listen: WTIC 1080AM (Connecticut) and WLW 700 (Cincinnati)

Betting Line: Cincinnati (-10)

Key Storyline: Can UConn Play Spoiler Once Again?

For contending teams in any sport, there is nothing more annoying than a team that is out of it, but takes great pride in spoiling the seasons of others. That is the role that Connecticut has taken on this season as they are longer in contention for the Big East. They ruined things for Rutgers last week and can do so again this Saturday against Cincinnati.

The Bearcats need some things to break their way in order to win the conference, but they need a win first and foremost. Cincinnati hasn't played its best football as of late and the Huskies aren't going to just lie down, though, so the Bearcats will need to ramp up their effort this weekend or else they will go by the wayside like Rutgers.

Who Might Not Play for Connecticut: TE John Delahunt

Connecticut Huskies junior tight end John Delahunt missed last week's game against Rutgers with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against Cincinnati. Delahunt has been used very sparingly in the passing game as the No. 2 tight end, but he still has an important role in the offense.

Delahunt essentially serves as the main blocking tight end in what is a run-heavy offense. Because of that, his potential absence could adversely affect UConn's running game. Delahunt may not seem like a high-impact player, but sometimes losing role players can hurt just as much.

Who Might Not Play for Cincinnati: QB Zach Collaros

While the Cincinnati Bearcats are largely healthy, one big injury that they must deal with is starting quarterback Zach Collaros. In the Bearcats' Week 11 game against West Virginia, Collaros suffered a broken ankle so he will miss the remainder of the season.

Collaros was an excellent dual-threat quarterback who made Cincinnati's offense go. Munchie Legaux and Jordan Luallen have stepped in during Collaros' absence, and while they have done a nice job, Collaros' absence will surely be felt as the Bearcats make a run at the Big East Championship.

BCS/Top 25 Implications

Believe it or not, this game is huge in terms of BCS implications. The Bearcats are currently embroiled in a three-way race for the Big East title with West Virginia and Louisville. Should Cincinnati win and West Virginia lose, the Bearcats will win the Big East. Should both schools win, it will go to a tiebreaker with the winner being whichever team is ranked highest in the BCS standings.

The nod would likely go to the Mountaineers in that instance. Should both Cincinnati and West Virginia lose, Louisville would win the conference. All the Bearcats can do is take care of their own business, though. With that said, a win would allow the Huskies to qualify for a bowl, so there is plenty of incentive for UConn in this game.

What They're Saying

Since starting quarterback Zach Collaros suffered a season-ending ankle injury a couple weeks ago, the Cincinnati Bearcats have been employing a two-quarterback approach with Muchie Legaux and Jordan Luallen. While that strategy tends to backfire at times, Connecticut head coach Paul Pasqualoni believes it gives Cincinnati a bit of an edge, according to Bill Koch of Cincinnati.com.

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Both quarterbacks can throw, Pasqualoni said. I think the quarterbacks are similar. I don't know a great deal about both of them but the plays I see them run are plays we're going to have to rehearse. It's going to be hard.

 

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Connecticut Player To Watch: RB Lyle McCombs

It was the case when they won the Big East last year and it continues to ring true in 2011, but the Connecticut Huskies are one of the more vanilla teams in the nation. You can't blame the Huskies too much as their style has been fairly successful, but there simply isn't a lot of mystery when it comes to what they're going to do.

On offense, it is a given that Cincinnati will receive a heavy dose of freshman running back Lyle McCombs. The Huskies don't receive consistent quarterback play in the least, so McCombs has been their go-to guy all season. He has piled up over 1,100 yards and eight total touchdowns, and he will most likely need his seventh 100-plus-yard rushing performance of the season for UConn to come out on top.

Cincinnati Player To Watch: RB Isaiah Pead

Cincinnati is generally a much more offensively balanced team than Connecticut, but that has changed a bit since quarterback Zach Collaros was lost for the season. The injury forces the Bearcats to lean even more upon senior running back Isaiah Pead, who has had an absolutely fantastic year as a dual-threat back.

Not only does Pead have over 1,000 yards and 11 scores on the ground, but he has also pitched in as a pass receiver with over 300 yards and three touchdowns in that respect. Pead will have to continue his all-purpose dominance both as a runner and a safety valve for the Bearcats quarterbacks. Provided Pead keeps up his excellent play, the Bearcats should be fine.

Key Matchup: Lyle McCombs vs. Cincinnati Front Seven

The Huskies have absolutely no passing game to speak of, so if running back Lyle McCombs isn't on top of his game, then they don't stand much of a chance of winning. That is precisely why the Bearcats will have to focus intently upon stacking the box and stopping the run on defense.

If McCombs has any sort of success, it works against Cincinnati on a couple levels. Not only does it allow UConn to put some points on the board, but it also gives them a big edge in the time-of-possession battle. Provided the Huskies can possess the ball and keep Cincinnati's offense off the field, they will have a major advantage in the game.

Prediction: Cincinnati 28, Connecticut 17