The Maryland Terrapins take on the Syracuse Orange in college football action on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on ESPN Gameplan. Currently the odds for the game have the Orange favored by a point in this one at home.
Maryland lost last week to West Virginia in a game that saw the Mountaineers turn the football over four times. Maryland just couldn't get going early in the game and had to play from behind, which obviously didn't help them. The Mountaineers rolled up 694 yards of offense and Clint Trickett threw for 511 yards on the Terps secondary.
Not good.
Syracuse picked up a solid win on the road last week when they knocked off Central Michigan, 40-3. Typically that might not be something to brag about, but going on the road and beating a team like a drum, even in the MAC, should be worth taking a look at this season. The oddsmakers certainly noticed, making the Orange a favorite here over the Terps.
Neither should be an overreaction, however, especially this early in the season. Remember, Syracuse was a failed 2-point conversion away from losing to Villanova to start the season, at home.
Defensively Syracuse has been strong, albeit against those Chippewas and Villanova to start the season, allowing just over two touchdowns per game. Expect that to rise after this game as Maryland scores almost 38 points per game this year. It's been 17 years since the Terps played in the Carrier Dome and Syracuse has won the last five meetings overall. Maryland's last win over the Orange came in the 1985 Cherry Bowl.
C.J. Brown will be the difference here. He's looked sharp at times from the quarterback position and also looked not so great. Keeping the inconsistencies to a minimum will help Maryland win football games. Expect Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt, the dual-threat machine, to also have a solid game. A defensive stop, or two, by Maryland will seal the game.
Free Pick: Maryland 31, Syracuse 27
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