UConn enters this matchup as a 21.5-point favorite with a 56.5 total, and the handicap starts with how quickly Jason Candle's rebuilt roster looks functional. The Huskies finished 9-4 last season, went 6-0 at home, and are 22-2 against FCS opponents since moving to the FBS in 2002. That supports the favorite, but continuity is the obvious tax on laying more than three touchdowns. UConn brought in more than 90 newcomers, and the quarterback competition remains unsettled in preseason camp. Lafayette also faces meaningful turnover after losing starting quarterback Dean DeNobile and 1,454-yard rusher Kente Edwards to FBS programs. The Leopards still return experienced defenders such as Jalen Edwards, but their offensive identity must be rebuilt around a new quarterback and backfield. Bettors backing UConn need clean quarterback play, defensive control on early downs, and explosive gains that force Lafayette to chase. The underdog case depends on limiting possessions, generating takeaways, and making UConn's new pieces execute consistently enough to keep the margin inside 21.5.