Fenway Bowl Preview: UConn vs. North Carolina
The upcoming Fenway Bowl will feature a matchup between UConn and North Carolina on December 28 at 11 a.m. EST. As it stands, the Tar Heels are favored to win by 4.5 points according to BetMGM’s college football odds.
In this contest, the Tar Heels will rely on their offense, which ranks 35th in the FBS, averaging 32.3 points per game. Conversely, the Huskies will showcase their defense, which sits at 57th, allowing 23.8 points per game. On the flip side, UConn boasts a similarly impressive offense, also ranked 35th, while North Carolina’s defense is currently positioned at 91st, permitting 28.2 points per contest.
In their most recent outings, North Carolina faced a tough loss against North Carolina State, falling narrowly with a score of 35-30. Quarterback Jacolby Criswell had a strong performance, throwing for 273 yards with 18 completions out of 33 attempts, achieving three touchdowns without any interceptions. Running back Omarion Hampton contributed significantly with 185 rushing yards on 22 carries, scoring one touchdown along with four receptions for 78 yards and another touchdown. Additionally, Chris Culliver made notable contributions with two receptions totaling 96 yards and one touchdown.
UConn, on the other hand, secured a win against UMass, edging out with a score of 47-42. Joe Fagnano led the offensive efforts for the Huskies, passing for 181 yards with 15 completions out of 26 attempts, achieving three touchdowns but also recording one interception. Cam Edwards impressed with his rushing game, carrying the ball 18 times for 142 yards and one touchdown, supplemented with a reception for three yards and another touchdown. Louis Hansen also stood out, catching four passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Key Players to Watch
For North Carolina, Jacolby Criswell has accumulated 2,452 passing yards this season, averaging 204.3 yards per game with a completion percentage of 58%. He has recorded 15 touchdowns against six interceptions. Running back Omarion Hampton has been a powerhouse, with 1,660 rushing yards from 281 carries, placing him third nationally with an average of 138.3 rushing yards per game along with 15 touchdowns, ranking 14th in college football. He’s also made 38 catches for 373 yards and two additional touchdowns. J.J. Jones has been another crucial player for the Tar Heels, with 570 receiving yards from 34 receptions and six touchdowns.
On the UConn side, Joe Fagnano has thrown for 1,480 yards, averaging 148 yards per game with an impressive 18 touchdowns versus four interceptions. Cam Edwards has been a reliable back with 756 rushing yards on 129 attempts, averaging 63 yards per game and scoring seven touchdowns. Edwards has also showcased his receiving ability, with 13 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Skyler Bell is another significant receiving threat for the Huskies, racking up 783 yards from 47 catches and four touchdowns, averaging 65.3 yards per game.
Additional Stats
In terms of scoring margin, North Carolina has outscored opponents by an average of 4.1 points per game, while UConn has a slightly better margin of 8.5 points per game. When it comes to rushing offense, North Carolina averages 189.5 rushing yards per game, ranking them 31st in college football, while their defense allows 144.4 rushing yards per game, placing them at 58th. UConn maintains a turnover margin of minus 2, which ranks 77th in the country, having forced 14 turnovers and committed 16.
As both teams prepare for this exciting matchup, it will be interesting to see how each side’s strengths and weaknesses play out on the field during the Fenway Bowl.
