There's a difference of opinion when it comes to thoughts on who will win the game in Boston.
It’s an unenviable – dare we say impossible – task to predict the winner every college football bowl game, but ESPN gave it the old college try.
The outlet published its projections on Monday, beginning with the bowl-season opener – South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&M on Saturday in Atlanta – and running through the College Football Playoff championship game on Jan. 19.
And just what did ESPN’s ambitious undertaking have to say about UConn’s chances against Army in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27 in Boston? And how does its prediction compare to what the oddsmakers are thinking?
The ESPN expert
This is what ESPN college football writer Adam Rittenberg had to say about the Fenway Bowl and UConn’s chances. UConn was 9-3 this season under Jim Mora, who has left for the head-coaching job at Colorado State. The Huskies beat North Carolina last season in the same bowl game and face Army this time instead.
“For the first time in the brief life of the Fenway Bowl, two teams based in the Northeast will meet at the iconic baseball venue,” Rittenberg wrote. “UConn aims for its second straight win in the game, and its first 10-win season, and will be led by interim coach Gordon Sammis, the team's offensive coordinator, following Jim Mora's departure to Colorado State. Army had an often-frustrating season, filled with close games, but the Black Knights finally started winning some down the stretch and will make things challenging on UConn standout Joe Fagnano (3,441 pass yards, 28 touchdowns, 1 interception). But Fagnano will do enough as UConn makes history.
Prediction: UConn 31, Army 23
The sportsbooks
And just where do the oddsmakers stand on the game?
As of noon ET on Tuesday, they were in agreement that Army was the favorite.
According to up-to-the-minute numbers provided by the Action Network, six of six books favored the Black Knights.
FanDuel set the spread at Army minus 2.5 points, with BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars Sportsbook, BetRivers and Fanatics Sportsbook all listing Army as minus 3 against the spread.
Best odds against the moneyline for UConn came from BetRivers (-112) and from BetMGM for Army (-110).
Of course, odds are subject to change in the two-plus weeks before the Fenway Bowl.
Army currently is 6-5 (4-4 American) and concludes its regular season Saturday in Baltimore with its annual highly anticipated clash with Navy. The Midshipmen are 9-2 (7-1 American) on the season.
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