The Terrapins of Maryland (-16) are preparing to welcome the Temple Owls to Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on Big Ten Network and kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET.
Temple Owls vs. Maryland Terrapins Betting Preview
In this Saturday matchup, Maryland has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and the team’s currently giving up 16 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to wager $1,000 to win $100 back on the Terps (-1000). The Owls are getting +625 moneyline odds. Some decent live betting opportunities may exist during this showdown.
The opening line was initially set at -14 but the general public has been siding with the Terps.
The disappointing Owls are down 9.3 units so far and 0-2 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an Over-Under mark of 1-0. The surprising Terrapins are up 4.5 units this season. The team is 2-0 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-1.
The Owls have gone just 0-2 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Terrapins are 2-0 SU.
The Owls are most-recently hoping to bounce back from a 36-29 defeat to Buffalo last week. The passing attack the big culprit Frank Nutile completed just 15 passes on 31 attempts for 216 yards, three scores and two interceptions. Ryquell Armstead (107 rushing yards on 14 attempts) propelled the running attack while Kenny Yeboah (three receptions, 16 yards) and Branden Mack (three catches, 47 yards, two TDs) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
Maryland just got a 45-14 win over Bowling Green. Kasim Hill completed eight-of-16 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown. Tayon Fleet-Davis (102 rushing yards on 15 attempts, two TDs) and Ty Johnson (124 yards on 12 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Anthony McFarland (two receptions, 53 yards) and Jahrvis Davenport (two catches, 41 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Temple’s run the ball on 41.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Maryland has an overall rush percentage of 66.4 percent. The Owls have rushed for 81 yards/game and have yet to record a score on the ground this year. The Terps are averaging 294 rushing yards per game and have seven total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season are any indication, then it’s looking like the Terps ought to hold an advantage when it comes to efficiency in the ground game, since their backfield has generated 5.9 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 2.5 to opponents. The Owls have ran for 3.2 yards per carry while allowing 3.9 YPC to opponents.
The Owls offensive scheme has averaged 223 yards through the air overall and has four passing score so far. The Terps have put up 193 pass yards per contest and have three total pass TDs.
Temple has let opponents rush for an average of 152 yards and pass for 265 yards per game. The Maryland defense has given up 203 yards per game to opposing passers and 78.5 yards per game on the ground. The Terps are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.24 to opponents, while the Owls have given up a 6.29 ANY/A.
Offensively, Nutile is up to 216 passing yards this year, and has connected on 15-of-31 attempts with three passing scores and two interceptions. Nutile has a 5.24 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 4.30 over the last two games.
Ryquell Armstead, Branden Mack and Ventell Bryant have combined to account for 349 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns over the last two outings.
Kasim Hill has completed 8-of-16 passes for 121 yards, one TD and zero INTs for Maryland. His ANY/A sits at 8.81 for the season and 8.13 over his last two games.
We’re expecting the Terps to control the game’s clock by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Backfield mates Ty Johnson (124 rush yards, one rush TD), Tayon Fleet-Davis (102 rush yards, two rush TDs), and Anthony McFarland (69 rush yards, 53 receiving yards) have really been focal points in the Terrapins’ recent offensive strategies.
NCAA Prediction: Temple Owls vs. Maryland Terrapins
SU Winner – Maryland, ATS Winner – Maryland
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Owls offense has created one pass play of 40 or more yards, while the Terrapins have put up three such plays.
Both teams have allowed zero pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Temple defense has given up two pass plays of 30+ yards while Maryland has given up four such plays.
The Temple offense has created one rushing play of 20+ yards, while Maryland has created seven such runs.
Both teams have allowed two rushing plays of 20 yards or more. The Owls have given up 12 running plays of 10+ yards while the Terrapins have given up 13 such plays.
The Maryland defensive unit has recorded six sacks on the year while Temple has two.
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