Maryland
vs.
Syracuse
College Football
Pick with Analysis
9/20/14
Syracuse will host Maryland on Saturday in a Game that will kick off at 12:30 est. Syracuse opened as a -1.5 point favorite at sportsbook.ag and the Game has received very little play from the public thus far, seeing no movement with the line. The action that has come in, has been fairly balanced with Maryland getting the slight edge (55%).
Maryland was off to a 2-0 start, albeit a shaky one with wins over James Madison and a squeaker over South Florida before losing last week to West Virginia, a team they beat last year 37-0. It was really a pathetic showing for the Terps as they allowed 511 passing yards and were doubled up in the first down department 33-16. West Virginia QB Clint Trickett had an absolute field day picking apart the Maryland defense while building a 28-6 lead.
To their credit, Maryland fought back and didn’t give up, almost coming all the way back. They tied the Game at 37-37 only to lose by a field goal with 4 seconds remaining in the Game. Nice comeback, but obviously there’s some big time defensive problems to fix for the Terps.
Not much to go on for Syracuse here as they are 2-0, but with wins over Villanova (barely) and Central Michigan.
I’ve often praised Maryland coach Randy Edsall. Loved what he did with the UCONN program. Those were results that only a very good football coach could have attained. Yet I have to be honest. If he doesn’t get things going at Maryland, my opinion of him will have to change. Up until this point, he’s had a pass. He’s dealt with injuries in each of his previous 3 seasons yet still managed to improve in the win column each year. But here in his 4th season with the Terps, his stamp is all over this team at this point. These are his recruits, his systems and so on. He’ll be judged by what he does from here forward.
In this spot he has a chance to accomplish something all good coaches accomplish. That’s avenging a loss from the previous year. A year ago these two were both 5-4 coming into this Game at Maryland and it turned out to be one of the worst showings of the year for the Terps. They turned the ball over 5 times and gave up 242 yards on the ground in a 20-3 Game which Syracuse led from start to finish. Both went on to have 7-6 years with similar results, getting blown out by the upper class and beating or playing close Games with middle of the pack teams.
The bottom line here is that these two figure to be very close in talent. It’s certainly a Game Maryland can win and a Game Edsall SHOULD win. It’s the type of Game Edsall is going to be judged by from here forward and not just by some handicapper like me, but by those calling the shots at Maryland, and that’s clear to Randy. He’s further along in his tenure at MD than the gentleman on the opposite sideline, SCott Shafer of Cuse. The same talent that was on both teams a year ago, is once again here this year as these are pretty much the same teams.
The better coach will win this Game. I still think that’s Edsall. Time will tell and certainly, this week will have a major impact on shaping my own opinion from here forward. I’d prefer to get +3 or better with the Terps, so watch the board. For now though, Maryland +1.5