Duke vs Connecticut Odds: Huskies Regressing in Year Two Under Mora
Injuries, poor quarterback play holding UConn back
The UConn Huskies will look to pull off the upset when the 18th-ranked Duke Blue Devils visit Rentschler Field on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET).
Duke is a 21.5-point favorite (-110) and -1700 on the moneyline, while UConn is +21.5 on the spread (-110) and +900 to win outright. Meanwhile, the projected total is 45 (-110 Over, -110 Under), down from 47.5.
Read on as we break down the matchup in our Duke vs Connecticut odds preview.
Duke Blue Devils at UConn Huskies 
Date/Time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Rentschler Field; East Hartford, Conn.
Streaming: CBSSN
Betting Trends
The Duke Blue Devils are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games. However, they’re just 4-16 in their previous 20 games on the road. Meanwhile, the UConn Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last five games. The total has gone Under in eight of the Huskies’ last 11 contests. That’s important to remember when assessing the Duke vs Connecticut odds.
Huskies Sinking Fast
The UConn Huskies dropped to 0-3 following Saturday’s 24-17 loss to Florida International, prompting an impassioned plea for patience from head coach Jim Mora. After falling behind 24-3 at halftime, the Huskies, 7-point favorites, had the potential game-tying touchdown called back due to a holding penalty on their final drive. Speaking postgame, Mora promised anyone listening that he would not allow the program to regress after an encouraging turnaround in 2022.
The Huskies went 6-7 and made the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Mora’s first year, exceeding their win total from the previous three seasons combined. They were one of the biggest surprises in college football, with Mora hailed as a candidate for National Coach of the Year.
Because of that, expectations rose for this season. The Huskies, who have not made back-to-back bowls in over a decade, were projected for 5.5 wins. But to date, they’ve fallen flat. Losing at home to FIU was eye-opening.
There are various reasons to be concerned about UConn. However, it’s best to focus on the offense. The Huskies are averaging only 15.0 points per game per NCAAF scores. On top of that, they’re already on their second quarterback, Ta’Quan Roberson, after Joe Fagnano was lost for the season with a separated shoulder. As the Huskies prepare to dive deeper into their strong independent college football schedule, things might get worse before they get better. That’s the cold truth.
Duke Climbing the Charts Under Elko
The Duke Blue Devils keep raising the bar as to what’s possible under Mike Elko. In his second season as head coach, Elko has the Blue Devils (3-0, 2-1 ATS) sitting No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll. It’s the Blue Devils’ highest ranking since 1994, when they climbed to No. 16 and wound up losing in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
On the heels of last season’s surprising turnaround, in which they went 9-4 and beat UCF in the Military Bowl, the Blue Devils faced modest expectations. They were projected for 6.0 wins, with longshot odds of +3000 to contend for the ACC title. However, after just three games, Elko and Co. are on track to crush those odds.
The Blue Devils opened their season with a bang, upsetting perennial powerhouse Clemson as a 12-point underdog. Since then, they’ve made quick work of Lafayette and Northwestern, though they did not cover the 42.5-point spread against Leopards. They’ll have another opportunity to bolster their resume when No. 9 Notre Dame visits on Sept. 30.
There’s no reason to doubt the Blue Devils now. Much of their success can be attributed to quarterback Riley Leonard. The junior has completed 67.7% of his attempts for 530 yards and one touchdown. He’s also rushed for 208 yards and three scores. With continued development, his stock is rising. Keep that in mind when analyzing the Duke vs Connecticut odds.
Handicapping the Game
UConn continues to regress, and with poor quarterback play, there’s little reason to think the Huskies will turn things around anytime soon. This is a particularly difficult matchup against a team — and quarterback — on the rise. The Blue Devils have already knocked off Clemson, and they’re holding opponents to just 9.3 points per game.
What have the Huskies done to inspire confidence here? Not a whole lot. They may be able to keep this within three touchdowns, thus covering the spread, but that’s about it.
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