Late Late night thoughts

2:30 a.m. here and just finished with the scout stuff and I can't sleep because I know I got 4 things to write tomorrow (stupid college hoops previews, doesn't anyone know it's football season?).

Seriously though, got some thoughts.

The 500 yards of total offense I wouldn't worry much about. First off, 307 of that was in the first half when the Knights ran 51 plays in the half to UConn's 19 and got 14 first downs in the second quarter. With Branch's TD return for a touchdowns and a pair of long drives, UConn didn't have the ball.

A lot will be written about the Huskies being out-gained by naysayers, but they weren't outplayed. Not even close. Most of the yardage was accumulated after it was 25-6. UConn didn't allow the big play, which when you are leading 25-6 you shouldn't do.

The offense was geared to stop Ray Rice and when you take away a 45 yard run, they held him to 20 rushes for 71 yards. The 45 yarder counts, but they did a decent job controlling Rice. Bad job stopping the QB on those QB keepers, but they had the fake run jump pass covered.
Teel did a nice job dinking and dunking all over the field. I never felt the Huskies were in trouble.

By quarter, UConn outgained Rutgers 143-111 in the first quarter. They were outgained 194-4 in the second, but UConn ran only 3 offensive plays but returned a kick for a TD.

When it counted, Rutgers 63 yards on 12 plays in the third quarter. The 150 yards in the 4th quarter was garbage time.

Here are some more stats. The average gain per play for Rutgers was 5.9 (they just ran a ton of plays --- 87!). Average pass attempt was 6.4 yards and the average completion went for 10.7 -- pedestrian numbers. That is just dinking and dunking between the 20s. Only four pass plays over 20 yards, and they were broken tackle underneath plays. Nothing over the top or to the outside. When you throw 52 times you would expect more big plays.

You know what galls me about stats? I have read people saying UConn won despite being outgained at Pittsburgh. That game was total UConn domination until garbage time in the 4th. It's just people being lazy. I would worry about the running quarterback, but not much else. All of the passing was underneath. UConn tightened down when it had to.

Defense wasn't great, and there was only a handful of negative plays, but UConn was hardly taken up and down the field.

Here's some more thoughts:

• Donald Brown has a little Barry Sanders in him. He gained 154 yards, but LOST 22 rushing. That's the old Barry Sanders +2, -1, -3, +70. Dixon was said to be dinged up, but I think Edsall just went with the hot hand. Brown is just so much more powerful.
  

• Sugar Bowl reps in attendance. That's the likely spot for the Big East champ, thought WVU is probably BCA game, though it is probably 5th.

• Is UConn anymore lucky than LSU? That team could be 5-4 right about now. That's college football.

Quick bowl breakdown. Looks like the Papajohn's.com is out of play and the International Bowl 90 percent also. One more win, and you will get to forget the passport. I would love to go to Toronto, but that bowl is a mess. First off, you shouldn't play a minor bowl after Jan. 1 in college, and secondly, it's Toronto in January. Go warm young men. With two more wins it's a lock for the Sun Bowl that is if they don't win the conference. One more win would probably insure the Sun Bowl too.

Big East standings, UConn is 4-0 and holds a two game lead over Cincinnati and Louisville and three over USF, and 2 1/2 over Rutgers.

If UConn loses its final three, I would still expect the Meinike Bowl in Charlotte (would love to have UConn), though International is still possible. One more win will probably insure the Sun Bowl unless Louisville or Cincy runs the table. The Sun Bowl could still pick the third place team in the Big East, but Louisville would be the only threat to do that. I don't think Cincinnati is more attractive than the Huskies for the Bowl to go over standings, taking third place team over second.

Silly me, should be talking the Sugar since the Huskies got a 1 1/2 game lead over WVU with three to play. If Louisville knocks off WVU and UConn beats Cincinnati, then all UConn has to do to clinch the Big East is beat Syracuse at home. Imagine that? UConn could put away the Big East on Nov. 17 if things fall right.

At the least, UConn got a shot to take a share of the Big East title at Wet Virginia on Nov. 24. Even with two losses in its next two games, the Huskies could win a piece of the conference with a win that day. It's worth noting WVU plays Pitt Dec. 1 in the Backyard Brawl. UConn ends its season a week earlier.

If I had to bet where the Huskies end up it would be the Sun Bowl. I think WVU wins out and UConn goes 1-2 in its next three (I don't like this upcoming Cincinnati game). 9-3 UConn heads to El Paso for New Year's! But, what do I know. I had a hard time getting them to six wins this year.

You know what? The Huskies and fans should think Sugar Bowl. Don't sell the team short. The Big East title is in their hands and if they could knock off Cincy next week, it would put tremendous pressure on WVU to run the table. If all that's standing between UConn and the Sugar is Syracuse at home I got to like the Pups' chances.