This week

The UCONN Huskies will host the Akron Zips from the MAC at 12 Noon at Rentschler Field on Saturday.

Here are the rosters for the Huskies and the Zips.

The Line/Prediction

According to USA Today, UCONN is favored by an average of 15 points.

My prediction is UCONN 31 Akron 17

Tickets

As of the time of this post, there are tickets available.

Tickets to game, if available, may be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.

Getting To The Game

Here is all the parking info you will need for the game, this link includes directions to Rentschler Field. Here is a Rentschler Field seating chart.

The parking lots will open up 4 hours before kickoff. Here is a list of the tailgating rules at the Rent.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television

For the 23rd time in UConn’s last 26 games the Huskies will appear on live television this week as the game is the BIG EAST Game of the Week and will be syndicated by ESPN Regional through much of the east coast and midwest. The game airs locally on WCTX MyTV9. Bob Wischusen has the call with John Congemi on color and Sarah Kustok reporting from the sidelines. Here is a list of all the stations covering the game.

Radio

For the 16th consecutive season, WTIC 1080-AM in Hartford serves as the flagship station for the UConn Radio Network. WTIC is the state’s only 50,000 watt signal and can be heard in 23 states and parts of Canada. Veteran UConn announcers Joe D’Ambrosio (play-by-play) and Wayne Norman (color commentary) return to call the action with Kevin Nathan on the sidelines. The UConn pregame show begins 90 minutes prior to kickoff and is hosted by Bob Joyce, while at home games, the UConn Tailgate Show will air two and a half hours prior to the game with Arnold Dean. UConn football games are also broadcast over the internet at WTIC.com. For a full list of stations on the WTIC/UCONN radio network, click here.

If you live in the Akron area and want the online radio feed, click here.

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Josh Beckett went for his 21st win on Thursday night and would have probably clinched the Cy Young had he not taken the loss. He wasn’t sharp at all and the Twins made him pay with two home runs. The magic number stays at 2 games as the Yankees won too. The lead is also down to two games with three to play. The Sox are tied with Cleveland for the best record in the American League going into the weekend. Big Papi continues his hot hitting as he was 4 for 4 in the game with a monstrous blast. Big Papi getting hot is a good sign right now. I think the Sox will get this done and be ready to open up the postseason. Daisuke Matsuzaka goes into his start tonight hoping to show the good form he once had this season. But before he does, let’s take a look at some of the headlines from the Boston area and Twins Cities media on this final regular season weekend of baseball.

Chilling reminder [Boston Globe]

Twins put Boston’s celebration on ice [Star Tribune]

Award won’t tell Josh’s full story [Boston Herald]

Minnesota Twins stuck on how to use pitcher Glen Perkins next year [Pioneer Press]

Stopped In Their Tracks [Pro Jo]

Red Sox Blow Chance [Hartford Courant]

Bonds a Twin? Ridiculous, but … [Star Tribune]

Ellsbury cramps up [Boston Herald]

Happy to be back in a pennant race, Minnesota Twins beat Boston [Pioneer Press]

Francona won’t reveal his playoff rotation [Boston Globe]

Red Sox Gearing Up For Postseason [Hartford Courant]

Bad news for foes: Papi and Manny locked in at plate [Pro Jo]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Star Tribune, and Pioneer Press websites.

There was no dramatic moment for the Red Sox tonight as Twins closer Joe Nathan was able to work out of the bases loaded jam he created to preserve a 5-4 win for the Twins. The loss by the Sox and a win by the Yankees tonight drops the lead in the AL East to two games with three games to play.

Josh Beckett was on the mound tonight in search of his 21st win that probably would have locked up the Cy Young for him but he wasn’t as sharp as he probably wanted to be heading into the playoffs. He will be the Sox game 1 starter though.  It’s not that he was entirely bad, he just wasn’t hitting his spots.

The Twinkies got on the scoreboard first at the Fens. Jason Bartlett led off the festivities with a single and scored as Jason Kubel crushed a mistake pitch by Beckett to deep center for a triple. With the infield basically conceding the run, Torii Hunter grounded to Julio Lugo who threw the ball home to get Kubel at the plate. Kubel had hesitated coming down the line leaving it open for Lugo to throw home. Beckett and Jason Varitek combined on the final two outs of the inning as Beckett got Justin Morneau on a strikeout and Varitek threw out Hunter trying to steal second.

Boof Bonser took the ball for the Twins and didn’t pitch great but was still able to get his 8th win. Dustin Pedroia led off with a single but was retired at second when Manny Ramirez hit into a fielder’s choice. Manny showed no ill effects from the strained oblique as he went from first to home on a David Ortiz double. The double by Ortiz, who was 4 for 4 on the night, tied the game at 1. Mike Lowell moved Big Papi to third as he grounded out to short. J.D. Drew kept up his hot end to the season as his single scored Big Papi and gave the Sox a 2-1 lead. With Varitek at the plate, Drew got himself into scoring position by stealing just his 4th base of the season. Varitek ended up walking. Bonser got Jacoby Ellsbury to strikeout but the ball was in the dirt and Matthew Lecroy threw the ball away for an error to load up the bases for Eric Hinske. Bonser finally got the fourth third out as Hinske grounded out to first.

Michael Cuddyer led off the 2nd inning with a home run over the Green Monster that is probably still getting knocked around by cars on the Mass Pike. Beckett then struck out the next two batters before Brian Buscher singled and then stole second. Nick Punto made the third out as he flew out to Ellsbury in center.

The Twins roughed up Josh for another run in the 3rd inning to retake the lead. Bartlett led off with a double and went to third on a ground out by Kubel. Hunter, probably playing his last games as a member of the Twins, brought in Bartlett on sac fly to give the Twins a 3-2 lead.

Minnesota made it 4-2 when Hunter brought in Nick Punto on an infield single that Pedroia made a great play on.

Big Papi got his 34th home run of the season in the 5th when he crushed a Bonser offering into the right field seats to cut the lead to 1. Bonser then retired the next three batters to get out of the inning.

The lead went back up to two runs when Garrett Jones crushed a one out Beckett offering for a home run to center field. Beckett followed that up with a strikeout of Lecroy and got Buscher to ground out.

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Are you ready to go BuchWild Red Sox Nation? If you are, get ready for the latest blogger from the Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz. His blog’s name is “Red Sox Nation Goes BuchWild: The Official Blog of Clay Buchholz“.

Just like Curt Schilling’s blog, 38 Pitches, you will be able to hear about the thoughts of Buchholz after he pitches as well as other commentary from him. Right now with the Sox making preparations for the playoffs, Buchwild has other contributors writing right now to keep you informed about Claynation and the Red Sox.

Think about it for a minute folks. Where else are you going to get the thoughts of the young Red Sox phenom? You can hear what he says in the media but wouldn’t you rather hear them from Buchholz himself. Well, now you can.

Welcome to the blogosphere, Clay. I know I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts as Claynation takes over Red Sox Nation.

The Sox kept doing their part last night to win the AL East as they battered A’s pitching for 17 hits in an 11-6 win. Mike Lowell continues to be the Red Sox MVP as he had 3 hits and 5 RBIs. It seemed like the Red Sox got contributions from everyone. Jon Lester pitched OK last night but didn’t factor into the decision. With the teams in the AL playoffs all set, it’s now all about seeding. The Red Sox will look to continue the battle for home field advantage throughout the playoffs as they finish off the season with four games against the Minnesota Twins. But before they do, let’s take a look at the headlines from the Boston and Oakland area media on this warm fall day in Red Sox Nation.

Closing encounter [Boston Globe]

Can’t Bear It [San Francisco Chronicle]

Sox do their part [Boston Herald]

Bosox batters make hay, stick pitchfork into A’s [Oakland Tribune]

Top of Sox order has a field day vs. A’s [Pro Jo]

Good Cleanup Fun [Hartford Courant]

Killer Bs Hurt A’s [San Francisco Chronicle]

Manny’s message: Merry Christmas [Boston Herald]

Fen-tastic return for Piazza [Oakland Tribune]

Can’t put a value on Lowell [Boston Globe]

Strange Finish For Lester [Hartford Courant]

Lowell sets mark for Sox 3rd basemen [Pro Jo]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Oakland Tribune, and San Francisco Chronicle websites.