Connecticut (9-3) vs. Wake Forest (8-4)
December 29, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Two scrappy football teams should make for a pretty good football game.
Connecticut coach Randy Edsall has done a fantastic job with the Huskies this year and would love to cap it off with a bowl victory and 10-win season.
Wake Forest is another team that brings little to the table when you're talking offense. Losing Chris Barclay after the 2006 season was a big blow and hurt quarterback Riley Skinner's output. Wake Forest ranks 94 in passing offense and 72 in running the ball. But the Deacons show up to play defense and put forth a balanced attack. Alphonso Smith leads the country with eight interceptions.
Tyler Lorenzen, in his first year playing FBS football, hasn't been great, but hasn't hurt the Huskies by any means. He only threw five interceptions, but completed just 57 percent of his passes. If Lorenzen can get into a groove early by throwing a few screens to Andre Dixon, the Huskies could settle into this game with ease. Edsall needs to give Dixon at least 20 carries -- the three times he did this year, Dixon eclipsed 100 yards and UConn is 3-0.
The line: Wake Forest -2.5
The pick: Connecticut