Drama is overrated in the eyes of any college football coach.

A blowout special is preferred over a tight stomach-churning thriller as long as the result is in the victory column.

UConn would like to experience more of the former and less of the latter.

Dating back to last season, six of UConn's last seven games — including three this season — have been decided by six points or fewer. The Huskies are 4-2.

"The games didn't have to be that interesting," coach Bob Diaco said of this season.

UConn (2-1) is hoping to increase its offensive production and comfort zone starting with Saturday's game against former Big East foe Syracuse (1-2) at Rentschler Field (1 p.m., CBS Sports Network). It is the second straight Atlantic Coast Conference opponent to visit East Hartford, with UConn beating Virginia 13-10 last week.

The Huskies are averaging 20.3 points per game (last in the American Athletic Conference) and stand 10th in total offense at 331 yards per game. Their conservative approach makes it difficult to wear out a path to the end zone. 

"Our program is built in a way to keep the points down," Diaco said. "Because there's less overall points, there typically would be less disparity.

"So the analogy I would draw would be kind of like a hockey or soccer game. They're all decided by one goal or two goals. ... And then we haven't quite gotten the production on offense that we're looking for. That's just a fact. You know it and I can't hide from it. Everybody watching the games knows it.

"We're all hands on deck on there and supportive of that unit."

The trend so far is UConn stumbles at the start — scoreless in the first quarter this season — before gradually gaining steam, scoring more points in the fourth quarter (23) than any other.

A few long drives would serve UConn well. The longer Syracuse's up-tempo attack stays on the sidelines, the better.

"I think it's critically important," Diaco said. "In the event that we can, we want to control the ball, control the clock and control the field."

The Orange are rolling up 505.7 yards per game, 23rd in the nation.

With sophomore quarterback Eric Dungey (91-for-139, 960 yards) running the show, Syracuse has the top rated passing attack in the ACC, averaging 360 yards per game. His top targets are junior wide receiver Ervin Philips (30 catches, 234 yards, 2 TDs) and senior Amba Etta-Tawo, a graduate transfer from Maryland with 436 receiving yards, a school record for the first three games of the season. Sophomore running back Dontae Strickland (175 yards) fuels the ground game.

Syracuse is averaging 93 offensive plays per game, running one play every 20.8 seconds.

There's barely time for the defense to catch its breath and difficult for it to make substitutions.

That's a potential problem, especially considering the fatigue factor.

"They present a unique challenge with their tempo," defensive tackle Mikal Myers said. "Almost impossible to mimic in practice."

Diaco added that there is nothing a defense can do to slow down the pace.

"They're in total charge of how fast they go," Diaco said of Syracuse. "There's nothing tactically that the defense can do within the rules and within how you operate. I wouldn't counsel a defensive player to lay on the ground. It doesn't feel right for our program and our mission and our culture to ever, ever talk about that or teach that.

"I've definitely seen people do that and that stops play."

Of course, Syracuse isn't invincible.

The Orange's only win came against Colgate, 33-7 in the season opener. Since then, they've lost to nationally-ranked Louisville (62-28) and South Florida (45-20). Their defense can be torched, giving up 38 points and 480.7 yards per game.

It's just a matter whether UConn's offense can exploit Syracuse's weaknesses. The Huskies were able to put up only 13 points against a shaky Virginia defense last week.

It is the first of two nonconference games this season against a regional rival. UConn visits Boston College, another former Big East team now in the ACC, on Nov. 19.

"I think that's pretty cool and I am hopeful that it is a trend that will continue," Diaco said. "I think it's really a good thing."

g.keefe@theday.com