Posted on
12/24/2007 4:44:14 PM
College Football Betting – Emerald Bowl: Terps vs. Beavers
By Russell Edward
If you bet on college bowls, this is one game you’re going to love watching. Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen is known for his trick plays and his ability to mix things up. Sometimes his offense is pas-happy and entirely vertical, while at other times, his team relies on the option attack. As this Emerald Bowl game has given him and his squad loads of time to prepare, look for more exciting plays from the Terrapins as they try not only to cover this six-point football betting spread, but to win the game outright.
Maryland Terrapins +6 vs. Oregon State Beavers –6
While certainly not known as explosive, Maryland’s offense has been getting their act together as of late. They will continue to rely more on the running game, led by running backs Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball, more than on the passing game. The offensive line has been hit by the injury bug through the season, but that has not stopped these two impressive backs from combining for 1,552 yards and a stunning 25 touchdowns this season. Helping things if the fact that right offensive guard Andrew Crumney will be back in the lineup again; he returned for the final game of the regular season after missing five games with a broken leg. They will all have their work cut out for them against this tough and stingy Beavers run defense that gives up just 2.1 yards per carry.
Emerald Bowl @ AT&T Park: 8:30 PM, Friday, December 28, 2007
The Terrapins passing game is more of an afterthought at this point. Quarterback Chris Turner has only thrown five INTs all season, but the problem is that he also has just five TDs to go along with those. While he is tough in the pocket, he hangs on to the ball too long and that could be the difference in this game, as the Beavers pass rush is among the tops in the nation. Maryland will have to keep a back or a tight end in pass protection schemes when Turner drops back. If they are successful in protection, Turner will try to find wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey downfield. One big key to success for the Terps will be Heyward-Bey’s relative success against Beavers corner Keenen Lewis.
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