2022 UConn Football Predictions: What The ‘Experts’ Are Saying
Welcome to football season! The first official UConn training camp under the Jim L. Mora regime begins on Friday with great excitement.
Has the fresh start feeling created too much of a blind optimism for fans? A quick scroll through the Twitterverse reveals extreme faith in the turnaround job that Mora has been tasked with and deservedly so.
Yes, they were able to lure several prominent players from P5 programs via the transfer portal, in addition to a slew of high-profile recruits both locally and nationally. However, it may be time to pump the brakes just a little bit and take note of the monumental job still ahead.
Patience will be required as chemistry takes times to cultivate. The Huskies success should not be measured in total wins in 2022 but rather, by the level of competitiveness in which the team plays.
Observers should expect to see a stark contrast to a UConn team that loss by 23 points per game on average a year ago. While everyone wants to see more wins, the thought of going bowling is still at least another year away.
UConn Illustrated decided to take a look at what other national media outlets were saying about the Huskies’ chances entering the 2022 campaign:
“Head coach Jim L. Mora brings a new attitude. He inherited some talent but added more through the transfer portal. Mora got a head start by becoming an assistant coach the last four games last year so he could recruit. He also retains defensive coordinator Lou Spanos, so there’s a lot more familiarity with the players than most first-year head coaches. This will be an improved team but Mora is not a miracle worker and they do not make my ‘Most Improved List.’” – Phil Steele, College Football Preview Magazine
“UConn hit the reset button. Bringing in Mora to lead the program was a big step and it showed an important commitment. He has connections to build the roster but it will take time. The Huskies last won a game against an FBS opponent on October 26, 2019, when it defeated UMass. The Huskies have winnable games, particularly on the back end of the schedule.” – Lindy’s Magazine
“This will be a good step-forward season. It’s been all gloom, doom, and indifference around this program for way too long, but even with the personnel losses and lack of depth and talent, the team will start to look the part again in just enough games to give long-suffering fans hope for the near future. There will be one win, two would be okay, three would be great. Four or more would be amazing.” – Pete Fiutak, College Football News
“CFN’s projection of 2.5 wins seems like a stretch, considering UConn will be heavy underdogs in all but two games. Assuming the Huskies defeat FCS CCSU, which is a big assumption, they would need to beat both UMass and FIU to reach the three-win mark. They lost to UMass by 14 in 2021, and it’s reasonable to think FIU will rebound from last season’s mess. I’ll say 2-10 in Mora’s first year.” – Steve Makinen, VSIN
“ESPN's computer model, the Football Power Index, has released its predictions for the upcoming season. According to the Football Power Index, the worst team in America will be the UConn Huskies. UConn is projected to go 2.5-9.5 this season - the worst record of any team in the country.” – The Spun, Sports Illustrated
“The culture change is evident. It has been a masterful job by Mora to create a new image and obtain an influx of talent via the portal. However, talent at the collegiate level takes time to develop and while the team should be much more competitive, three wins seems like a realistic win total.” – Ric Serritella, UConn Illustrated
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