Miami vs Maryland Odds 2011 College Football Picks Week 1: The Maryland Terrapins host the Miami Hurricanes in a ACC battle at Byrd Stadium this Labor Day (8 pm ET) to close out 2011 College Football Picks Week-1. Off shore sports book SBGglobal.com currently lists the Terps -3 1/2 chalk favorites with a 45 1/2 (over/under) total. If there is a central theme to this game, it has to be about suspensions since several key players from both sides will be miss the game. Had all the suspensions not taken center stage; the story line would have certainly been about Terps coach Randy Edsall and Hurricanes new man Al Golden making their ACC debuts.
Maryland will be without tailback D.J. Adams and offensive lineman Cody Blue suspended by Edsall for violating team rules. Suspensions cut deeper into the Hurricanes depth-chart when Golden was forced to suspend eight players, including star linebacker Sean Spence, for allegedly accepting improper benefits from booster Nevin Shapiro, who's currently serving a prison term for running a Ponzi scheme. Also included among the suspended is Jacory Harris who was competing for the starting quarterback job with sophomore Stephen Morris.
Morris, tonight's Hurricanes' starter by default, saw six games as a true freshman in 2010 starting the final four regular-season contests. He completed 53.6 percent of his passes for 1,240 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. Morris has a couple of talented wideouts to go to in seniors Travis Benjamin and LaRon Byrd. Benjamin was second on the team with 43 receptions and 743 yards last year, while Byrd ranked third with 41 catches for 441 yards. Expected to take over the rushing load is sophomore tailback Lamar Miller, who as a freshman rushed for 646 yards on 108 carries (6.0 ypr) and a team-best six touchdowns. Miami also possesses an experienced offensive line, with four of five starters back.
Miami took a big hit from its defense losing Spence who was responsible for 111 tackles last year, 17 of those for a loss and was credited with 2 1/2 sacks. The Hurricanes look solid on the defensive line returning senior Micanor Regis and juniors Olivier Vernon, Marcus Forston, and Adewale Ojoma. Verton is the top returning sack artist getting six in 2010.
The Terps return 12 offensive and defensive starters from last years team that went 9-4 including a Military Bowl victory. ACC 2010 Rookie of the Year Danny O'Brien returns at quarterback along with three starting linemen to anchor the offense. Davin Meggett, a Doak Walker Award candidate who posted a team-high 720 rushing yards in 2010, is ready to assume the No. 1 tailback role after splitting time with Da’Rel Scott the last three seasons. Senior Kenny Tate along with juniors Joe Vellano and Demetrius Hartsfield highlight the seven starters back on a defense that scored four times and ranked 38th nationally in points allowed (22.2 ppg) last season. Tate, a 2010 first team All-ACC pick, and Hartsfield are the top two tacklers back for the Terrapins.
Miami vs Maryland Odds 2011 College Football Picks Week 1 (Odds provided by SBGglobal.com): If played on a neutral field I would call this game a pick but at Byrd Stadium the Terps will win it both SU and ATS -3 1/2.
