Maryland at Temple

Time: 11 AM CST, Saturday

Spread: MARY -7

Total: 64

Odds c/o 5dimes

Maryland has begun its season in a quite impressive fashion. After an expected 79-0 blowout win over Howard in Week 1, it made its first true statement in Week 2, defeating No. 21 Syracuse 63-20 to earn a No. 21 AP Ranking of its own heading into week 3. The Terrapins find itself 7-point favorites on the road at Temple, in a game with an over/under set at 64 total points. The game will kick off at 11 AM CST Saturday on CBS.

MARYLAND

Maryland’s Week 2 win over Syracuse hardly could have come in any more impressive a fashion. Josh Jackson is looking quite like the “real deal” following his 296 passing yards and three touchdowns. A lone interception was his only blemish, but it hardly mattered. Maryland led 42-13 at the half and scarcely looked back.

The backfield was equally as impressive, with Javon Leake rushing for 107 yards on just seven attempts, two of which resulted in touchdowns. Jake Funk added 94 yards on just five carries. Anthony McFarland Jr had 75 yards, and Tayon Fleet-Davis had another 67 yards. Maryland rushed 45 times in the game for an average of 7.9 yards-per-carry as the Syracuse defensive ends simply could not keep up with the four-back assault the Terrapins hit them with.

Also, Maryland spread the wealth out at WR, with seven players catching for 20-yards or more in the game. Darryl Jones led all with three catches for 70 yards, and the Terrapins scored three passing TDs to complement its six via the rush. It was a very balanced and dominant effort against a Syracuse team that may have been a tad on the “overrated” side, but it certainly bodes well for the Terrapins as the program begins to gear up for a potential conference run after its hot start in non-conference play.

TEMPLE

Temple is 1-0 this season with a 56-12 win over Bucknell representing that lone game played thus far. With No. 21 Maryland heading into town, the season is going to get real, real fast, for this Owls team. It will not face another ranked team until the UCF Knights in six weeks from now, but it has a fairly tough schedule and Maryland merely represents the first of many challenges for this Owls team.

Temple has been pleased with Anthony Russo’s play in his first start of the 2019 season. He had 409 passing yards and another 10 yards on four carries while throwing four touchdowns (but one interception). The backfield averages 5.2 yards-per-carry, with Isaiah Wright’s 12.7 leading the way (though he has just three attempts). Re’Mahn Davis and Jager Gardner are the top two backs and have combined for 114 yards on 19 carries.

Temple’s top receivers have all been produced in the short 1-game sample, as well.

Branden Mack has 130 yards on nine catches, and Jadan Blue has 117 yards on 10 receptions. Three others have 60-yards or more. Temple might be showing signs of life, but it has yet to face a quality opponent and after the way Maryland handled Syracuse last week, the Owls could actually be in major trouble despite being single-digit underdogs in this one.

ATS TRENDS (c/o Covers)