UConn Huskies vs Maryland Terrapins Betting Pick & Prediction 8/31/24

SECU Stadium in College Park is the site for the week one matchup between the Maryland Terrapins and the UConn Huskies, set to kick off at 12:00 ET on Saturday, August 31st. FSI will be handling the broadcast as both teams open their seasons. The over/under line is currently at 46.5 points, with Maryland favored by -20.5 points. The money line odds have Maryland at -2228 and UConn at +985.

UCONN HUSKIES VS MARYLAND TERRAPINS BETTING PICK

The Pick: UConn Huskies +20.5

This game will be played at SECU Stadium at 12:00 ET on Saturday, August 31st.

WHY BET THE UCONN HUSKIES:

• We have the Maryland Terrapins winning this one by a score of 31 to 15
• Even though we like the Maryland Terrapins to win, our ATS pick is to take the UConn Huskies at +20.5
• We see this game finishing below the line of 46.5 points

Will The UConn Huskies Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs

UConn was favored in just three of their 12 games last season, finishing with a 3-9 overall record. They went 1-2 in those games and 2-7 as the underdog. The Huskies struggled on the road, going 2-4, and had a 1-5 record at home.

Heading into this season, UConn is ranked 110th in our power rankings, with a 53.2% chance of being bowl-eligible, which ranks 80th in the country.

UConn’s offense last season was led by quarterback Joe Fagnano, who threw for 173 yards and one interception. Overall, the Huskies averaged 19.1 points per game, ranking 96th in the country. Their passing game averaged 190.3 yards per game, while the rushing attack, led by Cam Edwards with 618 yards and four touchdowns, averaged 136.9 yards per game.

The Huskies struggled on third down, converting just 34.9% of their opportunities (101st nationally). They also threw seven interceptions as a team and finished 92nd in rushing yards per game.

UConn’s defense allowed 29.8 points per game last season, ranking them 64th in the nation. They struggled to stop the run, giving up 149.8 rushing yards per game, which placed them 82nd in the country. In the passing game, the Huskies allowed 258.8 yards per game, putting them 157th nationally. Opposing quarterbacks completed 67.1% of their passes against UConn and had a combined passer rating of 100.5.

Are The Maryland Terrapins Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?

Maryland is 46th in our pre-season power rankings, with a 71.7% chance of being bowl-eligible this season. However, their odds of winning the Big Ten are slim, at just 0.4%. In the futures market, they are longshots at +11500 (0.9%), ranking 11th out of 18 teams in the conference.

Last season, Maryland finished with an 8-5 overall record, going 5-3 at home and 3-2 on the road. They were favored in nine of their 13 games, going 5-4 as the favorite and 3-1 as the underdog. The Terrapins enter this season with the 45th best odds of being bowl-eligible, according to our pre-season rankings.

Maryland’s offense was 40th in the country last season, averaging 29.7 points per game. The Terrapins were 23rd in passing yards per game, averaging 278.9 yards through the air. However, their rushing attack was less effective, ranking 107th in the nation. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who threw for 128 yards last season, is the top returning QB for Maryland. The Terrapins also brought in MJ Morris, who transferred from NC State and threw for 719 yards last season.

Roman Hemby, who rushed for 680 yards and four touchdowns last season, returns to the backfield for Maryland. The Terrapins will also look to Tai Felton, who had 723 receiving yards and six touchdowns last year, as a key target in the passing game.

Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 76.5 against Maryland last season, which was the 22nd lowest figure in college football. Overall, the Terrapins’ defense was 31st in the nation, allowing 22.5 points per game. They were also decent vs. the run, ranking 46th in rushing yards allowed, but their pass defense was a bit weaker, ranking 62nd in passing yards allowed.