Pro Sports Teams

Connecticut does not have a men's professional sports franchise. The state used to have an NHL team, the Hartford Whalers, but the franchise would move to North Carolina in 1997. Connecticut does field a WNBA franchise, its lone professional sports team.

WNBA Betting in Connecticut

Connecticut Sun

Official Connecticut Sun Website | Schedule | Roster

The Connecticut Sun joined the WNBA as an expansion team in 1999, originally as the Orlando Miracle. The franchise would be sold to the Mohegan Indian tribe and relocated to Connecticut in 2003.

The Sun struggled before its rebranding, making the playoffs just once in four seasons. Since then, the franchise has made the playoffs 12 times including three WNBA Finals appearances. They would lose all three. The Sun has made four straight playoff appearances to date under head coach Curt Miller and play its home games at Mohegan Sun Arena. 

College Sports Teams

College Football Betting in Connecticut

Connecticut Huskies Football

Connecticut Huskies | Schedule | Roster

The only Division I FBS football program in Connecticut, the Huskies currently compete as an independent. Originally competing at the FCS level, UConn began the two-year transition in 2000 and would later join the Big East in 2004. They moved to the American Athletic Conference in 2013.

Despite its struggles over the last decade, UConn has appeared in six bowl games and won two Big East championships, in 2007 and 2010. The Huskies are coached by Randy Edsall, in his second stint at the helm, and play home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Their 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.

Connecticut Huskies Rivalry: vs. UMass Minutemen. There aren't many heated rivals for the Huskies since they remain the only Division I-A football program in the state. But their rivalry against UMass started back in 1897, was held yearly from 1953-99, and was revived in 2018. The annual bout ended with Connecticut's move to the FBS level in 2000, with UMass making the same transition 11 years later. Both schools currently compete as independents with the Huskies winning its recent 2019 matchup, 56-35.

Recommended resource to help you bet smartly on football in Connecticut:

• College Football Returning Production & Transfer Grades
• College Football Betting Tips on Fading the Public

College Basketball Betting in Connecticut

Connecticut Huskies Men's Basketball

Connecticut Huskies | Schedule | Roster

One of the most storied basketball programs of all-time, Connecticut is a four-time National Champion with 33 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Huskies have the most Big East regular-season championships — 10 — and last won the NCAA Tournament in 2014, becoming the first-ever No. 7 seed to win the championship. They defeated No. 8 seed Kentucky, 60-54, on the back of star point guard Shabazz Napier's 24 points.

UConn is currently coached by Dan Hurley and will compete in the 2021 NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed. The Huskies rejoined the Big East this season and play home games at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.

Connecticut Huskies Rivalry #1: vs. Georgetown Hoyas. At the height of the Big East in the 1980s and 90s, this rivalry had decades of dominance from one another. Georgetown's 2021 Big East Tournament championship gave the program a conference-record eight, separating itself from Connecticut (seven). Each team has once held a double-digit win streak at one point over the 68-game series that has been rekindled since the Huskies' move back to the Big East in 2021. UConn has won the last two over the Hoyas.

Connecticut Huskies Rivalry #2: vs. Villanova Wildcats. Stretching out over 80 years, this rivalry is only going to increase in intensity now that Connecticut is back in the Big East. The two programs have combined for five National Championships since the 2009 season and even faced each other in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The Huskies would upset No. 2-seeded Villanova en route to its last championship. The Wildcats hold a 37-30 all-time series lead including an eight-point win in their most recent bout.

Yale Bulldogs Men's Basketball

Yale Bulldogs | Schedule | Roster

Established in 1896, Yale competes in the Ivy League where the program has won seven championships and made five NCAA Tournament appearances. Their last came in 2019, a five-point loss to LSU. Perhaps most notable is their first and only NCAA Tournament win, a 79-75 upset over No. 5 seed Baylor. The Ivy League canceled its 2020-21 season, leaving Yale as defending champions. The Bulldogs are coached by longtime head coach James Jones and play home games at Payne Whitney Gymnasium.

Yale Bulldogs Rivalry: vs. Harvard Crimson. This is a long-storied rivalry that has only heated up in the last decade with both programs becoming the premier teams in the Ivy League. Only once since 2011 has a team not named Harvard or Yale won the regular-season title. The Bulldogs defeated Harvard in the Ivy League championship in 2019 but has dropped both games since.

Central Connecticut State Blue Devils Men's Basketball

CCSU Blue Devils | Schedule | Roster

Central Connecticut State made the transition to the Division I level in 1986 and has competed in the Northeast Conference since 1997. The Blue Devils have made three NCAA Tournament appearances, all first-round exits. Their last appearance came in 2007, a loss to No. 1 seed Ohio State. Central Connecticut State plays its home games at William H. Detrick Gymnasium and does not have a head coach after the recent firing of Donyell Marshall. He finished his five-year stint with an overall record of 40-104.

Central Connecticut State Blue Devils Rivalry: vs. Hartford Hawks. Despite competing in separate conferences, this in-state rivalry became an annual nonconference matchup in 2010. The campuses are 10 miles apart and since both joined the Division I level, CCSU and Hartford have played 21 times. Despite the Hawks' two-game win streak, the Blue Devils hold an 11-10 series lead.

Hartford Hawks Men's Basketball

Hartford Hawks | Schedule | Roster

The Hartford Hawks secured its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 2021, a 60-54 win over UMass Lowell in the America East championship. Since joining the Division I level in 1984, Hartford has largely struggled, never winning a regular-season conference championship. The Hawks are led by 11th-year head coach John Gallagher and play home games at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.

Hartford Hawks Rivalry: vs. Central Connecticut State Blue Devils. This rivalry has been fueled by proximity and extends back to 1958 when the programs met at the Division II level. Despite Hartford competing in the America East and CCSU the NEC, the two manage to fit in an annual matchup that has been controlled by Hartford in recent years.

Fairfield Stags Men's Basketball

Fairfield Stags | Schedule | Roster

Fairfield competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference where they have won three conference tournaments, including two straight in 1986-87. The Stags have never made it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament, their last appearance coming in 1997. They were up seven at halftime against No. 1 seed North Carolina but fell short of the upset bid, losing by eight. The Stags are led by second-year head coach Jay Young and play home games at Alumni Hall on campus.

Fairfield Stags Rivalry: vs. Quinnipiac Bobcats. Though not as heated as other rivalries, the two campuses are separated by just 30 miles. Quinnipiac and Fairfield are conference rivals as well, facing one another twice a season. The two split this year's series.

Quinnipiac Bobcats Men's Basketball

Quinnipiac Bobcats | Schedule | Roster

Since its move to the Division I level in 1998, Quinnipiac has never made the NCAA Tournament. The Bobcats did win a regular-season Northeast Conference championship in 2009 but would later fall in the conference tournament finals by two to Robert Morris. The program received a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) bid that season. Quinnipiac transitioned to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2013 and is now coached by Baker Dunleavy. The Bobcats play home games at TD Bank Sports Center on campus.

Quinnipiac Bobcats Rivalry: vs. Fairfield Stags. The Bobcats hold an all-time series lead over the Stags and have won three of the last four matchups. The in-state rivalry fueled by proximity started after Quinnipiac's move to the MAAC in 2013.

Sacred Heart Pioneers Men's Basketball

Sacred Heart Pioneers | Schedule | Roster

Sacred Heart men's basketball joined the Northeast Conference when it made the jump up to Division I in 1999. The Pioneers have yet to make an NCAA Tournament appearance since that transition but did win the 1986 Division II championship. Sacred Heart is coached by Anthony Latina and plays home games at William H. Pitt Center.

Sacred Heart Pioneers Rivalry: vs. Central Connecticut State Blue Devils. This Northeast Conference and in-state rivalry has been dominated by Sacred Heart in recent years. The programs face each other twice a season as conference rivals with the Pioneers sweeping 2021. Despite Sacred Heart on a 12-game win streak over CCSU, the Blue Devils hold the all-time series lead.

Recommended resources to help you bet smartly on college basketball in Connecticut:

• How to Bet on College Basketball
• Trends to Know Before Betting Conference Tournaments