Maryland Terrapins (6-6 SU, 4-8 ATS) vs. Boston College Eagles (6-6 SU, 5-6-1 ATS)
College Football Bowl Game – Quick Lane Bowl
Date/Time: Monday, December 26, 2016 at 2:30pm EST
Where: Ford Field Detroit, MI
TV: ESPN
by Bob, NCAA Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: MAR -1 / BC +1
Over/Under Total: 43.5
On Monday, December 26th we will see the third ever installment of the Quick Lane Bowl which takes place in Detroits Ford Field. This season, the Maryland Terrapins from the Big Ten will take on the Boston College Eagles of the ACC. Maryland comes in with a record of 6-6 overall as does Boston College.
This will be the 12th time these two programs have met since 1985 and the 10th meeting in the last 13 years. Much reason for there being quite a few match ups as of late is the fact that they played in the same conference (ACC) once Boston College came over from the Big East. Since that time, Maryland packed up, left the ACC, and is now part of the Big Ten. Boston College leads the all-time series 8-3 and has won the last three showdowns dating back to 2011.
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The line on this game is a near straight up pickem, but most books have the Maryland Terps as the one point favorite over Boston College. The total points are set at 43.5 which is just a half point lower than it was when the line was originally released at 44 a week or so ago. If the trend remains, we could potentially see Maryland as a 2-3 point favorite over the Eagles. 64% of the action is on the Terps to cover while 58% likes this game to stay under the posted total for now. Against the spread this season, neither team was very impressive with Maryland going 4-8 ATS and Boston College going 5-6-1.
Maryland came out in 2016 with a 4-0 start but that was against lesser competition. As the season winded down, the Terrapins were only able to win two of their final seven games of 2016. In the Terps defense, the schedule was not easy down the stretch. They faced off against Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and an Indiana team that is much better than most give them credit for. The run was not easy for Maryland but with that said, they did not even stay competitive in those games. Ohio State shelled them 62-3 while Michigan just a week before beat them 59-3. Much of the reason for such a horrible finish is not just that they played good or great teams, but Maryland just is not that good and they will need a gutsy performance from their quarterback, Perry Hills, who only passed for 1,235 yards all season. The Terps will also need to get a run game going in order to maintain and keep their defense well rested on the sideline.
Boston College comes into the Quick Lane Bowl with the same record as Maryland and other than BC winning their last few games down the stretch, much of their schedule was similar to the Terps results. In the games against top teams, Boston College was dominated. Florida State took them to the woodshed 45-7, Louisville beat them 52-7, and Virginia Tech handed them a 49-0 loss in week three of 2016. Just like Maryland, Boston College does not hold up well against superior teams. Good news is in this bowl game they are not playing a superior team. The key to this contest not only for the Eagles but both teams are turnovers. Whoever wins the turnover battle will probably win this one. Both teams lack great offense and both teams have trouble on defense at times. This bowl game is the epitome of a toss upthe spread proves it.
I for one will be laying off this game. There is no way I will put my hard earned money on either of these two programs. Both teams beat up on cupcakes then get dominated by teams that were ranked in the top 25. I do feel that Boston College may have the better quarterback as well as a little better defense but again, I have no idea who to take. My gut tells me that the Boston College Eagles win this game but it will be a close one down to the very end.
Bobs Pick to Cover the Point Spread: TAKE THE BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES PLUS THE POINT
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