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College Football Free Preview – Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Maryland Terrapins

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Maryland Terrapins will go at it on the turf at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. This key daytime game is scheduled to get going at 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to Big Ten Network.

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Maryland Terrapins Betting Preview

In this Saturday Big Ten matchup, Maryland has been projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 4 points. The Golden Gophers are also receiving +155 moneyline odds while the Terrapins are -175. This Big 10 tilt should provide several decent live betting possibilities, and oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 49 points.

Sharp bettors have been hammering the Terps, as the line opened at -2. The O/U hasn’t changed after being set initially at 49.

The Golden Gophers have gained 2.0 units so far and are 3-0 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 1-2. The underwhelming Terrapins have lost 5.5 units this season. The team is 2-1 ATS and also has an O/U record of 1-2.

The Golden Gophers have gone 3-0 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any Big 10 competition yet. The Terrapins are 2-1 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.

The Golden Gophers are looking to stay undefeated after a 26-3 victory over Miami (OH) last week where the Golden Gophers completed 14-of-26 passes for 177 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Zack Annexstad went 12-for-20 for 142 yards and two touchdowns while Tanner Morgan completed one-of-five for 28 yards and one interception. Bryce Williams (141 yards on 33 rush attempts) led the running attack in the win while Tyler Johnson (nine receptions, 133 yards, three TDs) and Rashod Bateman (three catches, -6 yards) handled the receiving duties.

A week ago, Temple knocked off this Maryland team by a score of 35-14. The Terps defense allowed the Owls to kill the clock by rushing for 165 yards on 52 attempts, including two rush TDs. Ryquell Armstead had a solid showing for Temple, recording 118 rushing yards on 26 attempts. For Maryland, Kasim Hill completed seven-of-17 passes for 56 yards and one interception. Anthony McFarland (107 yards on 11 rush attempts) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat as DJ Turner (four receptions, 38 yards) and Taivon Jacobs (two catches, seven yards) led the pass-catching attack.

Minnesota has run the ball on 61.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Maryland has a rush percentage of 64.7 percent. The Golden Gophers have rushed for 182 yards per game and have five touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Terps are averaging 240 rushing yards per game and have seven total rush TDs.

It seems like the Terps could hold an edge when it comes to RB effectiveness. Their backfield has generated 5.5 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 2.8 to opponents. The Golden Gophers have recorded 4.0 yards per carry while allowing 2.9 yards per rush attempt to opponents.

The Gophers offense has averaged 193 yards in the air overall and has five passing scores so far. The Terps have produced 149 pass yards per outing and have three total pass TDs.

Defensively, Minnesota seems to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 72 yards and pass for 184 yards per game. The Maryland defense has allowed 223.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 107.3 yards per game on the ground. The Gophers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 3.24 to opponents, while the Terps have given up a 5.64 ANY/A.

Offensively, Annexstad is up to 362 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has connected on 28-of-53 attempts with four scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. Annexstad’s got a 7.52 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.60 over the last two games.

Kasim Hill has connected on 24-of-46 passes for 278 yards, one TD and one INT for Maryland. His ANY/A sits at a mediocre 4.53 for the year and 3.76 over his last two games.

When these two squads faced one another last year, Maryland knocked Minnesota off by a touchdown 31-24.

Free Prediction: Minnesota Golden Gophers at Maryland Terrapins

SU Winner – Minnesota, ATS Winner – Minnesota, O/U – Under

Click Here to Start Betting Today!

Notes

Team Betting Notes

Each team defense has produced six sacks this season.

The Maryland offense has lost one fumble this season while the Minnesota offense has let three get away.

The Golden Gophers offense has tallied zero pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Terrapins have put up three such plays.

The Minnesota defense has allowed one pass play of 40+ yards, while Maryland has given up three such plays.

The Minnesota offense has created three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Maryland has created eight such runs.

The Golden Gophers defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Terrapins have given up four such runs.

Maryland was favored by 16 points in its last matchup and the O/U was 56. The under cashed and Maryland failed to cover in the 35-14 defeat to Temple.

In its last three games, Maryland is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.

In its last three matches, Minnesota is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.

Minnesota was favored by 14 points in its last game and the O/U going into it was 47.5. The under cashed and Minnesota covered in the 26-3 victory over Miami (OH).

As a team, Minnesota has averaged 2.8 yards per carry over its last two games.

Maryland has averaged 6.9 yards per carry over its last two.

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Written by GMS Previews

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