Temple Owls at Maryland Terrapins
Byrd Stadium – College Park, Maryland
Saturday, September 24, 2011, 12:30 pm Eastern, TV: ACC Network, ESPN Gameplan, Comcast Mid-Atlantic
Opening Line: Maryland -10
Current Line: Maryland -8 1/2
Opening Total: 51
Current Total: 51 1/2
Opening Money Line: Maryland -350 / Temple +290
Current Money Line: Maryland -325 / Temple +265
Both Maryland and Temple are coming off disappointing losses to talented teams that they had a chance of beating. Maryland is 1-1 this season under first year head coach Randy Edsel with a win over Miami 32-24 to open the season, and then last week the Terrapins almost pulled off a huge comeback against West Virginia but fell 6 points short 37-31. Temple, under first year coach Steve Addazio, is 2-1 this season, after cruising to easy victories over Villanova 42-7 and Akron 41-3. Last week Temple hosted Penn St and led most of the game before losing 14-10.
Despite the fact that Temple and Maryland are only roughly 130 miles apart, they have met infrequently on the football field. Maryland has won all six meetings in the series including 38-7 the last time they played in 2005.
Temple jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter against Penn St. The Owls were up 10-7 at halftime and the score remained that until Penn St scored a touchdown with less than 3 minutes and held on for the 14-10 win. Temple had 197 total yards in the game including just 74 rushing yards. Temple also had 3 turnovers in the game which didn’t help. Penn St only had 308 total yards in the tough defensive struggle. The Nittany Lions had 7 penalties and a turnover in the win.
Temple is averaging 362.7 total yards a game including 206.3 rushing yards a game. The Owls are averaging 31 points a game through 3 games. Temple has 4 turnovers and has allowed 5 sacks this year. The Owls are 20/42 on third and fourth down conversions. Temple is allowing 284 yards and only 8 points a game. Temple is allowing 85 rushing yards a game. The Owls have forced 7 turnovers and 11 sacks this season. Owl opponents are 19/54 on third and fourth down conversions.
Temple quarterback Mike Gerardi is 30/59 passing for 423 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Running back Bernard Pierce has 55 carries for 347 yards and 7 touchdowns, along with a catch for 8 yards. Evan Rodriguez, Deon Miller, and Joe Jones are the leading receivers but none have more than 11 catches, 119 yards, and a touchdown. Kicker Brandon McManus is 12/12 on extra points and 3/5 on field goals with a long of 40 yards.
Maryland is apparently trying to play in the ugliest, gaudiest college football uniforms ever this season. God help us all if they are ever matched up against Oregon! All kidding aside, Maryland hosted West Virginia last week. The Mountaineers were up 34-10 in the third quarter. Maryland scored 21 straight points to pull within 3 points. West Virginia scored a field goal to make the score 37-31 and held on for the win. Both teams had 3 turnovers and around 480 total yards.
The Terrapins are averaging 488 total yards and 31.5 points a game. Maryland is averaging 318.5 passing yards a game. Maryland has allowed no sacks this year and has 4 turnovers. They are one of five FCS schools who haven’t allowed a sack this season. Maryland is 16/35 on third and forth down conversions. Maryland is 10/13 scoring in the red zone but only had 5 touchdowns. Maryland is allowing 423.5 yards and 30.5 points a game. The Terps are allowing 291.5 passing yards a game. They have forced 7 turnovers and 4 sacks. Maryland opponents are 13/30 on third and fourth down conversions.
Quarterback Danny O’Brien is 65/96 passing with 637 yards, 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, along with 6 carries for 37 yards. Running back Davin Meggett has 40 carries for 205 yards and one touchdown, along with 8 catches for 53 yards. D.J. Adams has 12 catches for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns. Receiver Kevin Dorsey has 17 catches, 203 yards, and a touchdown. Kicker Nick Ferrera is 4/4 on extra points and 5/7 on field goals with a long of 32 yards. Maryland has 6 players that are out until at least October or even the season, along with 3 that are questionable. Most are reserves but it hurt the Terrapins nonetheless.
Maryland is 1-1 against the spread this season and both games have gone over the total. Temple is 3-0 ATS and two of the three have gone under the total. Temple is 15-3 ATS in Saturday games the last 3 seasons and 8-1 ATS in the last 3 seasons in non-conference games. The Owls are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 September games, and 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games. Maryland has covered 6 straight games after a straight up loss the week before. Maryland is 4-0 in their last 4 as a favorite and 5-1 in the last 6 as a home favorite.
Maryland should watch out for this Temple team. The Owls are very talented and have a good chance to win the MAC title this year. Maryland has an 8 point win over a Miami team decimated by suspensions. I like Temple to hang around and make this a close game with their defense.
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