I think it’s fair to say that most football fans prefer a high-scoring offensive game to a boring defensive one. Well, I’d like to tell you that the Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl from Detroit will be a shootout between Maryland and Boston College, but I’d be lying. The total is one of the lowest of any bowls on college football odds.
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
TV: ESPN
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Maryland -1 (43.5)
Terps QB Perry Hills has been efficient this season, throwing 10 touchdowns to three interceptions, in spite of missing two games and leaving early in four. He’s completing a conference-high 66 percent of his passes. Hills is currently on pace for the third best single-season completion percentage in Maryland history. The figure falls in stark contrast to 2015, when he threw 13 interceptions on 180 pass attempts (7.2%).
Maryland has done well protecting the ball in the air this season as a whole, throwing just eight interceptions, in comparison to last season when it led the nation with 29 interceptions. The Maryland rushing offense has averaged 205.5 yards rushing this season, which currently ranks third in the Big Ten Conference and 40th nationally.
Maryland will make its 27th all-time bowl appearance, accumulating a record of 11-13- 2. The Terps have been victorious in five of their last eight bowl appearances. The Terps are making just their second bowl appearance in the city of Detroit, last playing in the Motor City when they defeated Syracuse, 35-18, in the 1985 Cherry Bowl.
Maryland and Boston College briefly overlapped in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as the Eagles joined the conference in 2005 before Maryland’s departure after the 2013 season. The Terps are 3-8 all-time against Boston College.
BC averaged 19.1 points per game, second-lowest among Power Five programs and 123rd overall. However, they got to six wins because of a stiff run defense and an excellent defensive line led by defensive end Harold Landry. He set the school single-season record with 15 sacks. That’s tied for the national lead with Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker. Landry also leads the nation with seven forced fumbles.
Boston College ranked as one of the nation’s top defenses the entire season. Currently, the Eagles rank seventh in the nation and first in the ACC in total defense allowing just 310.6 yards per game. BC has allowed just 106.9 rushing yards per game, seventh-best nationally and second in the conference. BC is also among the top-20 defenses nationally in third-down conversion percentage defense (12th, 31.9%), fourth-down conversion percentage defense (16th, 36.4%), first-down defense (Seventh, 184), fumbles recovered (11th, 12), sacks (Ninth, 3.25 per game) and tackles-for- loss (13th, 7.7 per game).
The sting from a 31-30 loss in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium two years ago lingers for some seniors. The Eagles haven’t won a bowl game since 2007. The Eagles will face Maryland for the first time since beating the Terrapins, 29-26, in 2013.
I’d still go under that low total. Take Maryland on NCAA Football odds.
Maryland vs Boston College Quick Lane Bowl Lines, Free Pick & TV Info
When: Monday, Dec. 26, 2:30 PM ETWhere: Ford Field, Detroit
TV: ESPN
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Maryland -1 (43.5)
Why Bet on Maryland?
Maryland, led by first-year head coach DJ Durkin, will be making its third bowl appearance in the last four years and its 27th all-time. The Terps have won five of their last eight bowl games. Maryland concluded the regular season with a 6-6 record, including a 4-2 mark at home. The Terps started the year 4-0 and won five of their first seven games. After falling in three straight games to nationally-ranked teams, including a pair of matchups against Top 5 squads, Maryland defeated Rutgers, 31-13, in its season finale to garner bowl eligibility.Terps QB Perry Hills has been efficient this season, throwing 10 touchdowns to three interceptions, in spite of missing two games and leaving early in four. He’s completing a conference-high 66 percent of his passes. Hills is currently on pace for the third best single-season completion percentage in Maryland history. The figure falls in stark contrast to 2015, when he threw 13 interceptions on 180 pass attempts (7.2%).
Maryland has done well protecting the ball in the air this season as a whole, throwing just eight interceptions, in comparison to last season when it led the nation with 29 interceptions. The Maryland rushing offense has averaged 205.5 yards rushing this season, which currently ranks third in the Big Ten Conference and 40th nationally.
Maryland will make its 27th all-time bowl appearance, accumulating a record of 11-13- 2. The Terps have been victorious in five of their last eight bowl appearances. The Terps are making just their second bowl appearance in the city of Detroit, last playing in the Motor City when they defeated Syracuse, 35-18, in the 1985 Cherry Bowl.
Maryland and Boston College briefly overlapped in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as the Eagles joined the conference in 2005 before Maryland’s departure after the 2013 season. The Terps are 3-8 all-time against Boston College.
Why Bet on Boston College?
The Eagles compiled a 6-6 regular-season record in 2016 and earned bowl eligibility for the third time in four years under head coach Steve Addazio. BC dropped two in a row to ranked foes Louisville and Florida State before ending the season with a shutout 30-0 victory over Connecticut to close out the home slate and a 17-14 win at Wake Forest to be become bowl-eligible.BC averaged 19.1 points per game, second-lowest among Power Five programs and 123rd overall. However, they got to six wins because of a stiff run defense and an excellent defensive line led by defensive end Harold Landry. He set the school single-season record with 15 sacks. That’s tied for the national lead with Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker. Landry also leads the nation with seven forced fumbles.
Boston College ranked as one of the nation’s top defenses the entire season. Currently, the Eagles rank seventh in the nation and first in the ACC in total defense allowing just 310.6 yards per game. BC has allowed just 106.9 rushing yards per game, seventh-best nationally and second in the conference. BC is also among the top-20 defenses nationally in third-down conversion percentage defense (12th, 31.9%), fourth-down conversion percentage defense (16th, 36.4%), first-down defense (Seventh, 184), fumbles recovered (11th, 12), sacks (Ninth, 3.25 per game) and tackles-for- loss (13th, 7.7 per game).
The sting from a 31-30 loss in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium two years ago lingers for some seniors. The Eagles haven’t won a bowl game since 2007. The Eagles will face Maryland for the first time since beating the Terrapins, 29-26, in 2013.
Maryland vs Boston College Quick Lane Bowl Free Pick: Maryland Terrapins
Terrapins are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games. Under is 26-8 in Eagles last 34 non-conference games.I’d still go under that low total. Take Maryland on NCAA Football odds.
