This week's picks

UConn vs. Air Force Prediction and Pick, Week 9 2026

College Football Charts
Data updatedOct 31, 2026
Site
Picks two teams at random. Any FBS team can come up.

How we picked it

How we picked it

Three ratings look at a team in three different ways. The numbers' pick is the team at least two of them favor.

Where the game is won

Where the game is won

Each row puts one team's unit against the unit it faces, by national rank out of all FBS teams. An edge is a gap of 25 spots or more.

Ratings: SP+ via CFB Update; PRIME via primecfb.com. Box and play stats computed from CollegeFootballData.com play data (via the public cfbfastR files), FBS games only for scoring. Rushing yards here exclude sacks, so they run higher than official totals. Ranks are out of 138 FBS teams.

Share as an image

Image style

UConn at Air Force

Week 9, Sat, Oct 31, 3:00 PM ET, Falcon Stadium.

The numbers say: Air Force, 60% to win.

The game

KickoffSat, Oct 31, 3:00 PM ET
TVMW+
WhereFalcon Stadium
Weather57°, fair, wind 5 mph
LineAir Force −1.5, total 51.5
Line movementOpened Air Force −3; moved 1.5 points toward UConn. Total opened 55.5, down 4.
SeriesUConn leads 1–0
Last meetingUConn 26–16 in 2025

The ratings and the line

MarginWin chanceTotal
SP+Air Force by 1.053%60
PRIMEAir Force by 6.568%
EloAir Force50%
The lineAir Force −1.5, opened −351.5, opened 55.5

Margins include home field. SP+ is Bill Connelly's rating; Sources has PRIME and Elo. Line and total from DraftKings, as of Fri, Oct 30, 7:43 PM ET.

Who wins, UConn or Air Force?

The numbers say: Air Force. 57% chance to win

Which matchups decide UConn vs. Air Force?

All three ratings favor Air Force, by 1.0 to 6.5 points. Air Force's best matchup is its offensive line, 1st in line yards per carry, against UConn's run-stopping front at 87th. UConn's way back in is its big-play defense, 16th in explosive plays allowed, against Air Force's big-play offense at 120th.

UConn with the ball

Air Force with the ball

Who's out for UConn and Air Force?

UConn

Air Force

How UConn and Air Force compare, in charts

Each chart puts all 138 FBS teams on two stats; UConn and Air Force are lit. Dashed lines are the FBS averages, and up and right is better. Ranks in parentheses. Games through Oct 24, 2026.

How UConn's and Air Force's players compare

The scatter charts show the top 40 FBS players at the position by both stats combined, plus the players lit here. Dashed lines are the averages; up and right is better. Ranks are among every FBS player at the position with enough snaps. Takeaways are interceptions plus fumble recoveries. Games through Oct 24, 2026.

How do SP+, PRIME and Elo rate UConn and Air Force?

On a neutral field, SP+ has UConn 1.5 points better (67th to 73rd). PRIME has Air Force by 4.0 instead. The two ratings split on Air Force's offense: 70th in SP+, 36th in PRIME. Elo, which only sees results, also has UConn ahead (67th to 81st).

UConnAir Force
SP+ overall0.7 (67th)-0.8 (73rd)
SP+ offense29.2 (51st)26.6 (70th)
SP+ defense28.6 (88th)27.6 (80th)
SP+ special teams0.1 (54th)0.2 (42nd)
PRIME net-3.9 (88th)0.1 (68th)
PRIME offense0.07 (63rd)4.26 (36th)
PRIME defense-4.44 (103rd)-4.91 (106th)
PRIME SOS-9.2 (130th)-8.0 (124th)
PRIME SOR-1.0 (99th)0.2 (61st)
Elo1493 (67th)1441 (81st)

Opponent-adjusted power ratings. These drive the projection.

Who's better once you adjust for the schedule?

UConn's offense ranks 54th in adjusted EPA per play, and the Air Force defense it faces ranks 85th in EPA per play allowed. Air Force's offense ranks 38th against UConn's 82nd-ranked defense. Both offenses have the edge on the defenses they face. The biggest edge on the board is Air Force's efficiency: 15th in adjusted success rate, against UConn's 105th-ranked defense. That's a mismatch. Adjust for opponents and UConn's defense falls from 53rd to 82nd in EPA per play allowed: a lot of that came against soft offenses.

UConnAir Force
EPA per play (adjusted)+0.12 (54th)+0.15 (38th)
EPA per pass (adjusted)+0.21 (55th)+0.15 (98th)
EPA per rush (adjusted)+0.11 (35th)+0.17 (3rd)
Success rate (adjusted)40.7% (80th)47.2% (15th)
Success rate, standard downs (adjusted)47.2% (58th)52.2% (7th)
Success rate, passing downs (adjusted)30.6% (64th)29.8% (84th)
Explosiveness (adjusted)0.95 (36th)0.94 (58th)
Line yards per carry (adjusted)3.08 (32nd)3.35 (1st)
Open-field yards per carry (adjusted)1.36 (14th)1.04 (98th)
EPA per play allowed (adjusted)+0.13 (82nd)+0.13 (85th)
EPA per pass allowed (adjusted)+0.26 (106th)+0.22 (85th)
EPA per rush allowed (adjusted)+0.03 (36th)+0.07 (69th)
Success rate allowed (adjusted)44.5% (105th)42.6% (84th)
Explosiveness allowed (adjusted)0.90 (17th)0.94 (73rd)
Line yards allowed per carry (adjusted)3.02 (87th)3.06 (100th)
Open-field yards allowed per carry (adjusted)0.88 (10th)1.20 (91st)

The same efficiency numbers, adjusted for the offenses and defenses each team has faced (CollegeFootballData.com). A good number against a soft schedule shrinks; one against a hard schedule grows.

Who's more efficient, UConn or Air Force?

UConn is better running (19th in EPA per rush) than throwing (43rd). Air Force's run defense ranks 63rd, so that's an edge. Air Force is better running (3rd in EPA per rush) than throwing (129th). UConn's run defense ranks 38th, so that's an edge. On third down, Air Force has the edge: its offense ranks 37th in EPA per third-down play, and the defense it faces ranks 74th.

UConnAir Force
EPA per play+0.22 (30th)+0.21 (35th)
EPA per pass+0.30 (43rd)−0.03 (129th)
EPA per rush+0.21 (19th)+0.28 (3rd)
EPA per 3rd-down play+0.47 (64th)+0.58 (37th)
EPA per play allowed+0.06 (53rd)+0.08 (63rd)
EPA per pass allowed+0.20 (80th)+0.17 (69th)
EPA per rush allowed−0.02 (38th)+0.05 (63rd)
EPA per 3rd-down play allowed+0.41 (74th)+0.23 (20th)

Expected points added per play, from CollegeFootballData.com. EPA measures how much each play changes the points a team can expect from the drive. Zero is break-even; +0.20 is very good. Not adjusted for opponents.

Who scores more, UConn or Air Force?

UConn outscores FBS opponents by 11.7 a game, and Air Force by 7.5. UConn's offense ranks 29th in scoring, and the Air Force defense it faces ranks 40th in points allowed. Air Force's offense ranks 70th against UConn's 67th-ranked defense. Neither side of the ball has a clear edge.

UConnAir Force
Points scored35.6 (29th)28.4 (70th)
Points allowed23.9 (67th)20.9 (40th)

Per game, FBS opponents only.

Which offense has the edge?

UConn's best matchup is its run game: its offense ranks 7th in yards per carry, and Air Force's defense ranks 97th in yards per carry allowed. That's a mismatch. Air Force's best matchup is third downs: its offense ranks 25th in 3rd down conversion rate, and UConn's defense ranks 68th in 3rd down conversions allowed.

UConnAir Force
Pass yards / game241.4 (57th)67.6 (134th)
Rush yards / game218.3 (18th)326.7 (2nd)
Yards per play7.59 (7th)5.26 (122nd)
Yards per carry6.42 (7th)5.41 (51st)
Yards per attempt10.12 (5th)4.88 (132nd)
Completion %73.0% (17th)34.0% (134th)
Success rate48.6% (24th)47.0% (33rd)
Explosive play rate16.5% (9th)9.5% (120th)
3rd down conversion42.9% (53rd)47.0% (25th)
Sack rate (taken)10.2% (125th)4.9% (57th)
INT rate (thrown)1.8% (45th)4.1% (128th)
SUPLEX64.0% (20th)56.8% (64th)

Per game and per play, from play-by-play.

Which defense has the edge?

UConn's defense is best placed to limit big plays: it ranks 16th in explosive plays allowed, and Air Force's offense is bottom-20 in explosive play rate (120th). That's a mismatch. Air Force's defense is best placed to get home: it ranks 65th in sack rate, and UConn's offense is bottom-20 at avoiding sacks (125th). That's a mismatch.

UConnAir Force
Pass yards allowed / game298.1 (137th)163.9 (14th)
Rush yards allowed / game116.3 (22nd)141.7 (57th)
Yards per play allowed5.59 (58th)6.48 (108th)
Yards per carry allowed3.99 (19th)5.28 (97th)
Yards per attempt allowed6.89 (59th)8.62 (114th)
Success rate allowed39.3% (51st)43.9% (91st)
Explosive plays allowed9.1% (16th)11.5% (79th)
3rd downs allowed38.4% (68th)42.2% (96th)
Sack rate (generated)3.8% (123rd)6.3% (65th)
INT rate (generated)1.3% (112th)3.8% (22nd)
SUPLEX allowed48.7% (34th)55.2% (80th)

What opponents managed against them.

Who wins up front?

They split these evenly, 6 each. The biggest gap is open-field yards per carry, where UConn ranks 13th and Air Force 105th.

UConnAir Force
Big Uglies: offensive line50.7 (62nd)67.7 (1st)
Big Uglies: defensive front45.0 (96th)44.1 (105th)
Line yards per carry3.26 (31st)3.70 (1st)
Line yards allowed per carry2.96 (72nd)3.16 (110th)
Second-level yards per carry1.22 (33rd)1.23 (29th)
Open-field yards per carry1.86 (13th)0.88 (105th)
Stuff rate (runs stopped at or behind the line)18.3% (78th)9.4% (2nd)
Stuff rate (defense)17.9% (82nd)16.2% (103rd)
Power success (short yardage)81.0% (22nd)84.4% (9th)
Power success allowed71.4% (71st)73.7% (87th)
Front-seven havoc allowed9.2% (72nd)4.4% (3rd)
Front-seven havoc8.5% (96th)6.4% (135th)

The lines. Big Uglies is our rating for each offensive line and each defensive front: adjusted line yards (30%), stuff rate (20%), power success (15%), sack rate (20%) and front-seven havoc (15%), against every FBS team. 50 is average, and every 10 points is a standard deviation. Line stats from CollegeFootballData.com, garbage time out.

Who wins the turnover battle?

Neither team has a real turnover edge: UConn is 0.0 a game and Air Force 0.0.

UConnAir Force
Interceptions thrown / game0.43 (25th)0.57 (40th)
Fumbles lost / game0.57 (74th)0.43 (53rd)
Giveaways / game1.00 (36th)1.00 (36th)
Interceptions / game0.57 (85th)0.71 (66th)
Fumbles recovered / game0.43 (69th)0.29 (94th)
Takeaways / game1.00 (88th)1.00 (88th)
Turnover margin / game0.0 (67th)0.0 (67th)

Per game, from play-by-play.

Which team has more talent?

UConn has the more talented roster (73rd in the 247Sports talent composite; Air Force is 137th). But Air Force plays further above its talent: +23.7 points of SP+ beyond what its roster predicts, to UConn's +1.3.

UConnAir Force
Talent composite652.6 (73rd)272.4 (137th)
Blue-chip ratio7.6% (80th)0.0% (126th)
Players on roster96 (136th)122 (12th)
Rated by 247Sports79 (66th)28 (137th)
5-star players0 (37th)0 (37th)
4-star players6 (73rd)0 (126th)
3-star players71 (23rd)20 (136th)
Below 3-star2 (68th)8 (8th)
2026 transfers in56 (1st)— ()
Transfer share70.9% (3rd)— ()
SP+ vs. talent+1.3 (58th)+23.7 (2nd)
Returning production2.3% (130th)57.4% (47th)
Returning passing production3.2% (101st)101.7% (8th)
Returning rushing production-0.1% (117th)69.7% (48th)
Returning receiving production2.4% (131st)12.7% (119th)
2026 recruiting class (national rank)110 (110th)141 (136th)
Recruiting rank, last four classes116.5 (121st)136.5 (133rd)

247Sports team talent composite and 2026 transfer portal class. Star counts cover only the players 247Sports rates, not walk-ons, so they add up to less than the full roster. Ranks are out of all 138 FBS teams.

Where did each team's wins come from?

UConn is +0.5 wins against a .500 team; the biggest piece is schedule (+1.7). Air Force is +1.5 wins against a .500 team; the biggest piece is roster (−3.2). UConn's record is 1.2 wins worse than its play on bad luck, so it's better than the record says.

UConnAir Force
RECEIPTS (total)+0.5 (57th)+1.5 (30th)
Schedule RECEIPTS+1.7 (10th)+1.3 (32nd)
Roster RECEIPTS-0.2 (81st)-3.2 (137th)
Coach RECEIPTS+0.2 (60th)+3.0 (2nd)
Luck RECEIPTS-1.2 (128th)+0.5 (40th)

Where the wins came from. Every team starts as a .500 team. Then each win (or loss) goes to the schedule, the roster, the coaching or luck, and the four add up to the real record. Wins above or below a .500 team.

UConn at Air Force: questions people ask

UConn vs. Air Force prediction: who will win?

The numbers pick Air Force, 57% chance to win. All three ratings favor the same team. Air Force's best matchup is its offensive line, 1st in line yards per carry, against UConn's run-stopping front at 87th.

Where can I watch UConn vs. Air Force, and what time is it?

Sat, Oct 31, 3:00 PM ET at Falcon Stadium. It's on MW+.

What's the projected score of UConn vs. Air Force?

SP+ projects Air Force 31–30. That's from this season's SP+ offense, defense and special teams ratings, with home field worth 2.5 points.

What's the line for UConn at Air Force?

DraftKings has Air Force −1.5, total 51.5. The numbers pick winners, not bets.

What's the UConn vs. Air Force series history?

UConn leads 1–0. Last meeting: UConn won 26–16 in 2025.

Who are the players to watch in UConn vs. Air Force?

UConn: Kalieb Osborne (1,606 passing yards), Cyncir Bowers (564 rushing yards) and Shamar Porter (275 receiving yards). Air Force: Liam Szarka (296 passing yards), Owen Allen (376 rushing yards) and Simon Kibbee (135 receiving yards). Season totals through Oct 24, 2026.

Who are the quarterbacks in UConn at Air Force?

UConn's is Kalieb Osborne (1,606 passing yards this season); Air Force's is Liam Szarka (296 passing yards this season).

Who's out for UConn at Air Force?

UConn: Javon Brown (WR) hasn't played since Week 5. Air Force: Liam Szarka (QB) hasn't played since Week 5.

More on this game

Numbers through the games of Oct 24, 2026. SP+ as of Oct 27, 2026. Updated every week.

UConn and Air Force: team pages with every stat and national rank. Compare any two teams.