UMass vs UConn Picks and Prediction for Friday October 23 2026
Regional foes will square off on Friday night, when the UMass Minutemen travel to Pratt & Whitney Stadium to face the UConn Huskies. This game is scheduled for October 23, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST and can be seen on CBS Sports Network. The Huskies are a sizable 14.5 point favorite and the total is set at 49.5. Be sure to check out our free college football picks for more NCAAF predictions throughout the season.
UMass seeking their first bowl game invitation
Since transitioning to the FBS level in 2012, the UMass Minutemen have never appeared in a bowl game. The Minutemen (4-3) have dropped at least nine games in each of the previous five seasons, but are vastly improved for second year head coach Joe Harasymiak. On Saturday, UMass took host Buffalo to overtime before falling by a 25-18 final score.
UMass took a three-point lead with less than two minutes remaining on a Derek Morris 53-yard field goal. Logan Inagawa started the scoring for the Minutemen with a 20-yard touchdown run and finished with 168 passing yards. Elijah Faulkner added 84 rushing yards and a score for the Minutemen.
Joe Harasymiak previously served as the defensive coordinator at Rutgers and he has UMass playing well on that side of the ball. The defense leads the MAC Conference in total defense (307.9 ypg) and allows 19.1 points per game. UMass is fifth in the conference in total offense (339.1 ypg) and averages 28 points per contest.
UConn impressive on offense
The UConn Huskies have gone bowling in three of the last four seasons and are on track to do so again with first year head coach Jason Candle. The Huskies (3-3) nearly upset Syracuse at home and also lost by three points at Miami (OH). Last time out, UConn erupted for 505 yards of total offense during a 34-20 road triumph against Temple.
QB Kalieb Osborne opened the scoring less than three minutes into the first quarter with a 12-yard touchdown run. Osborne was an efficient 17-for-23 passing and finished with 257 yards through the air. Trey Cornist contributed a game-high 114 rushing yards and a score for the Huskies.
UConn has been very explosive and rank 30th in total offense (449.2 ypg). Kalieb Osborne has thrown for 1,421 yards and ten touchdowns while directing an offense that averages 35.7 points per game. The Huskies are giving up 25.2 points and more than 400 yards per contest on defense.
UMass vs UConn Picks and Prediction
Pick: UMass +14.5
UMass QB Pop Watson has missed the last two games with a foot injury and is listed as week-to-week. This has been an extremely competitive series over the years with both teams winning 38 times and two ties. The Huskies have won three straight meetings, but the margin of victory has gotten smaller each time. Take the upstart Minutemen to cover on the road.
Pick: Over 49.5
UConn ranks in the top 30 nationally in tempo and runs a play every 24.7 seconds. In their season opener, UMass scored 37 points in a road victory against Rutgers. In three home games this season, the Huskies are averaging 37 points. Take the over.