College Football Betting Preview: A Look at Florida St-Maryland

Florida St Seminoles at Maryland Terrapins, Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD
Saturday, November 20, 2010, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ABC or ESPN Gameplan
Opening Line: Florida St -6
Current Line: Florida St -3 1/2
Opening Total: 51 1/2
Money Line: FSU -175 / Maryland +155

Florida St is a 3 1/2 point favorite on the road at Maryland in a crucial ACC Atlantic division showdown.

Coach Jimbo Fisher takes his 7-3 Seminoles on the road to face Ralph Friedgen and his 7-3 Maryland Terrapins. This game is crucial in the ACC’s Atlantic division. Florida St has a half game lead over both Maryland and North Carolina St for the division title. However, Florida St only has this game left in conference as they play arch-rival Florida next week. North Carolina St controls their own destiny as they beat Florida St earlier in the season. The Wolfpack play at North Carolina this week and at Maryland next week. If NC State wins out they go to the ACC Championship game no matter what Florida St does. If Maryland beats Florida St, then the game next week against North Carolina St will decide the division title. Florida St would be eliminated from contention with a loss. Florida St needs to beat Maryland and hope North Carolina St loses at least one of their two remaining games. All 3 teams are already bowl eligible but would love the chance to compete for a BCS bowl bid in the ACC Championship. Florida St has won 12 of the last 14 straight up in the series against the Terps but the Terps are 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6. The last two have gone under the total.

Florida St has three losses on the season, Oklahoma, North Carolina St and North Carolina. Florida St has outscored its opponents 32-19 this season and outgained them 400-339 yards a game. Florida St has forced 39 sacks this season which is just under 4 a game. They do struggle protecting the ball as they have a turnover ratio of -4. They also give up more than 66 yards a game in penalties. The offense is led by quarterback Christian Ponder. Ponder missed the game last week versus Clemson after having 2 cups of fluid drained from his elbow. Ponder said he could have played last week but coach Jimbo Fisher erred on the side of caution by sitting him down. He is expected to start against Maryland, but obviously keep an eye on the quarterback situation. Ponder has thrown for 1,647 yards with 16 touchdowns and 7 picks. He also has 4 rushing touchdowns on the season. Four Seminole receivers have at least 21 catches, 300 yards, and a touchdown catch. The Seminoles spread the ball around to Willie Haulstead, Taiwan Easterling, Bert Reed, and Rodney Smith. Keep an eye on Seminole running back Lonnie Pryor. He has only touched the ball 21 times but has 6 total touchdowns (3 rushing and 3 receiving.) The Seminoles rush for 187 yards a game led by Chris Thompson, Jermaine Thomas, and Ty Jones.

Maryland has overachieved to a 7-3 record this season. Picked by many to finish near the bottom of the ACC, the Terps are now two wins away from going to the ACC Title game. Coach Ralph Friedgen was on the hot seat but his job is probably safe for next year. Maryland has outscored its opponents 31-21 on the season but is being outgained 345-327 yards a game. This is mainly due to Maryland’s turnover ratio of +13. The Maryland offense is led by quarterback Danny O’Brien. O’Brien has thrown for 1,571 yards, 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. JaMarr Robinson also takes some snaps and has thrown 4 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions The top receiver for the Terps is Torrey Smith. He has 44 catches for 752 yards and 8 touchdown catches. Eleven Terrapins have caught at least one touchdown pass including O’Brien himself. Davin Meggett, son of Giants legend Dave, and Da’rel Scott split most of the carries on the ground. Meggett has 104 carries for 575 yards and 4 touchdown runs. Da’rel Scott has 95 carries for 431 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Scott also has three touchdown catches, and even threw a touchdown pass this season. Keep an eye on D.J. Adams, He has 6 rushing touchdowns on the season. Speedy Tony Logan has two punt returns for touchdowns this season, but no offensive touches.

Florida St was expected to be here competing for a division title, but Maryland wasn’t certainly wasn’t. Florida St is turnover prone and Maryland is great at forcing turnovers. Keep an eye on the Ponder situation as the FSU offense doesn’t click as much with Manuel. The weather will be in the low 50’s but no wind, rain or snow.