CFB Football Previews – Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs Maryland Terrapins
Pandemonium! Personally, I already thought Miami versus Maryland would be a deceptively close game. Now, with the NCAA scandal rocking Miami and eight players suspended, bettors really have to give Maryland a hard look at home.
NCAAF Week 1: Miami Hurricanes vs Maryland Terrapins
Date: Monday, September 5, 2011
Venue: Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD
Broadcast: ESPN
Miami Hurricanes at Maryland Terrapins Betting Lines BetOnline.com
Money Line: OFF
Spread: Maryland -3
Over/Under: 47
Miami Hurricanes (0-0)
Let’s sort through the wreckage, shall we? Of the eight ’Canes suspended for Week 1, the most noteworthy are probably quarterback Jacory Harris and safety Ray Ray Armstrong. It’s debatable how much Harris’ absence will hurt Miami. He already missed a solid chunk of last season due to injury and, personally, I think he’s been overrated for much of his time with the team.
Stephen Morris will start Monday night. He got a big chunk of experience last season, completing 53.6 per cent of his passes for 1,240 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in six 2010 starts.
Morris guided Miami to a 2-4 record last season but one of his victories came over Maryland. He went 18 of 30 for 286 yards, one touchdown and two picks in the home victory.
The bigger absence for Miami on Monday may be Armstrong’s. He’s widely viewed as one of the nation’s top safeties. Without his presence, Maryland may try to exploit some downfield mismatches.
Maryland Terrapins (0-0)
Many pundits, myself included, liked Maryland as a sleeper to win the ACC this season. Many of those same pundits also said, “If they Terps can just get past Miami in Week 1…” [soliloquy id=”82219″]
And now, here we are and the Terps have been handed a solid advantage to accompany home field. What will Danny O’Brien do under center now that he doesn’t have to worry about Armstrong? He really impressed as a freshman, throwing for 22 scores last year. The Terps have seven returning starters on “D” – the same D that intercepted Morris twice last season.
The pick:
Both teams feature new coaches – Al Golden for Miami and Randy Edsall for Maryland – but Golden is in the much tougher boat. He’s’ missing eight players and coaching his first game on the road against a conference rival.
I was already a believer in O’Brien and the Terps – and facing the Hurricanes with one hand tied behind their collective back is just one more reason to like Maryland on Monday.
I’m not saying Maryland will run away with the game, as even a depleted Miami roster is a talented one, but I think the Terps can win at home by, say, a touchdown.
Miami vs Maryland prediction: Maryland 24, Miami 17
Money Line: OFF
Spread: Maryland -3
Over/Under: UNDER 47
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