The UConn Huskies take on the Army Black Knights in the 2025 Fenway Bowl in Boston on Saturday, Dec. 27. Kickoff is set for 2:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Army is favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -325. The total is set at 42.5 points.
Here’s my UConn vs. Army prediction and college football picks for Saturday, December 27.
UConn vs Army Prediction
- UConn vs. Army Pick: Army -9.5 or Better
My Army vs. UConn best bet is on the Black Knights to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
UConn vs Army Odds
| UConn Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -105 | 42.5 -110o / -110u | +260 |
| Army Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -115 | 42.5 -110o / -110u | -325 |
- UConn vs Army point spread: UConn +7.5 (-105), Army -7.5 (-115)
- UConn vs Army over/under: 42.5 (-110o / -110u)
- UConn vs Army moneyline: UConn +260, Army -325
UConn vs Army Fenway Bowl Preview
If you want a bowl game where everything lines up for one team, Army is the right side.
Service Academies always have an edge in bowl season because the option offense is tough to prepare for with only a few weeks, and they are always the more motivated squad.
It’s one thing to plan for it in October, but it’s much harder when your defensive staff is dealing with portal departures, opt-outs, and last-minute changes.
That’s exactly where UConn is right now.
The Huskies aren't just shorthanded; they’re missing their head coach, key offensive players, and the stability they relied on all season. The Huskies will be rolling out their fourth-string quarterback, and that spells disaster against a Service Academy.
Let’s look at the roster.
UConn’s offense ranks well in advanced stats, especially in passing, as its top-five EPA per Pass mark nationally stands out. Still, that doesn’t mean much now that its starting quarterback and several key skill players are out because of the portal or draft prep.
Continuity is even more important when your offense depends on timing and execution, and UConn doesn’t have it right now.
This is a big problem against an Army defense that, while not elite, does what you need against a short-handed team, which is forcing long-yardage situations and making you work for every series.
UConn already ranked near the bottom nationally in average third-down distance, even with its full lineup.
Army, on the other hand, is at full strength.
No key players have opted out, and there’s no portal drama. As we know, the Knights' whole offensive style is about slowing the game down, running the ball, and controlling the clock, which fits perfectly for December football.
UConn’s defense has struggled all year with exactly what Army does best. They allow a 49.7% Success Rate on third and fourth downs and give up a lot of available yards.
That’s a tough matchup against a service academy offense that likes to stay ahead of schedule, convert short-yardage plays, and keep the ball for 35 to 38 minutes.
Army’s efficiency numbers back this up: its offense is strong on early downs, while UConn’s defense has been weak in those spots, ranking in the 80s nationally.
UConn’s secondary hasn’t been the worst, but that hardly matters since Army rarely throws the ball.
UConn vs Army Pick, Betting Analysis
This is the worst possible matchup for a Huskies team missing most of its roster and working with a skeleton coaching staff.
Service academies are already tough to prepare for in bowl games, and without Jim Mora and key players, that challenge is even bigger.
Army should control the pace, dominate time of possession, force UConn into long third downs, and wear down a defense that’s been on the field too much all season.
Pick: Army -9.5 or Better
