2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Preview

January 1, 2011 8:30 PM ET

Stadium: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Payout: $17,000,000

Played: 1971-present

Once known as: N/A

Broadcasters: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen

Sideline Reporter: Heather Cox

Storyline: Oklahoma is a 16.5 point favorite over Connecticut. Many critics believe the Huskies don’t deserve being in a BCS bowl even if they did win a weak Big East. UConn will be playing in its fourth consecutive bowl game and by far the biggest one in the 10-year FBS history of Huskies football. The Huskies are 8-4, with two losses coming from team that aren’t even in bowls. The one thing that can be said about Connecticut is that they do find ways to win games. Its best player, tailback Jordan Todman, averages 143.1 yards per game, which is good enough to be the second-best rusher in the FBS. Oklahoma won the Big 12 title and will be appearing in its 12^th straight bowl. Seven of those twelve bowl appearances were BCS bowl games. One positive for UConn is that despite going to the big games, the Sooners have lost their last five BCS bowls. Oklahoma is the third best passing team, averaging 351.7 yards per game. The Sooners have five players with at least 26 receptions this season. They are led by wide receiver Ryan Broyles. Broyles has 118 receptions for 1,452 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Huskies will look to tell the nation that they belong in the BCS with a big upset over Oklahoma. Even keeping the game close will be a moral victory. The Sooners are in a lose-lose situation. If they lose, they are the laughing stock of college football. If they win, they beat up on an 8-4 squad from a weak Big East Conference. The Sooners need to put this game away by the half and bury their BCS-game losing streak.

All-time Series: 0-0

Line: Oklahoma by 16.5

	Connecticut			Oklahoma
Overall Record	8-4		Overall Record	11-2
Conference Record	5-2		Conference Record	6-2
Bowl Record	3-1		Bowl Record	25-17-1
Last Bowl Win	2009 Papajohns.com		Last Bowl Win	2009 Sun