UMASS Football: Preview, predictions, and live stream vs Duquesne

Week 0 has arrived, and the nation’s first college football games features the UMASS Minutemen facing FCS opponent Duquesne.

The long-waited arrival of the 2018 college football season has arrived and the official kick off to the season begins with what many refer to as “Week Zero.”

Week 0 serves as the initial introduction to the college football season, but does not really feature that marquee matchup or big-time game that everyone needs to turn into. Instead, it comes as a teaser that the big body of work is about to begin.

The start of the college football season and Week Zero does not make the games we will see right away any less meaningful. The first matchup of the 2018 season features a new FBS team in the UMASS Minutemen going against FCS foe the Duquesne Dukes.

The Minutemen have been a member of the FBS since 2012 and serve as one of the few independent teams in college football. Since joining the FBS, UMASS has not eclipsed four wins in a season, which came in the most recent 2017 season.

Date: Saturday, August 26
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Amherst, MA
Venue: Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium
TV: ELEVEN SPORTS NETWORK
Live Stream: NESNplus

Keys to Victory

As many FBS teams face FCS teams to begin the year, the Minutemen may not have as easy of a time as others. Fresh off a 4-8 season, UMASS began the year with six straight losses, including a 38-28 defeat to Coastal Carolina .

Facing a talented Duquesne team off a 7-4 season, UMASS’ defense will be a key factor in making sure the Minutemen begin this year off on the right foot. In all but one of the team’s first six games last year, all losses, UMASS scored over 20 points and even had a game in which they cracked 50 points. This team is no stranger to shootouts and if this team wishes to avoid another FCS loss, they will need to get some stops on a team that only scored less than 20 twice a year ago.

Prediction

UMASS’ offense will look to be better than last year, which is saying a lot considering there were times it looked unstoppable. As mentioned, the defense will need to have the offense’s back as this has the opportunity to be a shootout.

The Minutemen should be improved from their 4-8 team a year ago, and their hot end to the season should be a good thing for this group.

Expect a close game that goes back and forth for most of the contest, with the Minutemen making a play or two on defense to come out on top and start the season in the win column.

Final score: UMASS 38, Duquesne 27