CFB Football Previews – Maryland Terrapins vs Florida State Seminoles
2011 has certainly been a disappointing season for a Maryland team many people liked as an ACC sleeper. However, even though the Terps lost their last game, there were some positive signs against Clemson.
NCAAF Week 8: Maryland vs Florida State
Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Venue: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN2
Maryland Terrapins at Florida State Seminoles Betting Lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line: Maryland +550, Florida State -710
Spread: Florida State -17
Over/Under: 55.5
They led the country’s No. 8 team by 18 points as late as the third quarter and their newly anointed starting quarterback looked very dangerous.
Can C.J. Brown get his first win as a starter against Florida State this week?
Maryland Terrapins (2-4)
2011 just hasn’t unfolded the way Maryland hoped it would. Things looked promising after a Week-1 win against Miami and the Terps even held their heads high after a close loss to West Virginia but a 38-7 defeat against Temple in their third game told us what they really were: an also-ran.
Maryland’s defense has been among the FBS’ worst, ranking 104th overall. It allowed a whopping 39 second-half points in its wild 56-45 loss, blowing an 18-point lead in the final 25 minutes. But it’s not like the Terps were expected to be stingy this season. Bettors liked them because they liked quarterback Danny O’Brien.
What happened? His job was considered totally secure entering the season. In fact, most us dubbed him one of the ACC’s best quarterbacks. But, after O’Brien threw more interceptions than touchdown passes over Maryland’s first five games, Randy Edsall installed C.J. Brown as his starter last week. And, boy, did Brown ever take the job and run with it. He threw for three touchdowns versus one interception and he ran for 162 yards in 22 carries. He may not be as crisp of a passer as O’Brien but his legs make him a very different threat to opposing defenses. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Florida State Seminoles (3-3)
It’s eerie how similar Florida State’s path has been to Miami’s this season. Both are storied programs, both entered 2011 with inflated expectations, both have labored their way to .500 records and both have shown some encouraging signs of late.
FSU darn well should have dominated an overrated Duke team last week and it did, winning 41-16. It was especially nice to see quarterback E.J. Manuel looking healthy and sprightly. He threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns – on just 9 of 14 passing. He also ran for 62 yards and two scores.
The pick:
I certainly like FSU to win this game, as I don’t see Maryland stopping the Seminoles from scoring. However, if Brown and the Terps could move the ball on a respectable Clemson defense, I could see them keeping this game within 17 points, even against a stout FSU defense. Florida State to win but not cover.
Maryland vs Florida State prediction: Florida State 41, Maryland 27
Money Line: Florida State -710
Spread: Maryland +17
Over/Under: OVER 55.5 The 2011 CFB Season is finally here. Welcome to the CappersPicks.com college football weekly predictions pages! We KNOW you will find our FREE weekly college football picks, tips, betting advice,
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