Maryland
Charlotte vs Maryland Odds, Prediction: Why to Bet the Terrapins
Charlotte vs Maryland Odds
Saturday, Sept. 9
7:30 p.m. ET
NBC
| Charlotte Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|
+24.5 -110 |
50.5 -110o / -110u |
+1200 |
| Maryland Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|
-24.5 -110 |
50.5 -110o / -110u |
-3000 |
The Charlotte 49ers will head to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins. It will be the second time in as many seasons that these teams will face off after the Terps dominated Charlotte, 56-21, in the first matchup.
Charlotte is coming in with a bit of a different look. It has a totally new regime and is coming off a solid 24-3 win over South Carolina State. The 49ers were pretty abysmal last season, going 3-9, but there’s hope for a better tomorrow under new head coach Biff Poggi.
The Terrapins are looking to build off on a solid season last year. They’ve gotten progressively better, and 2023 is off to a solid start already. Maryland handily won its game against Towson last week, 38-6, and will have a tough test against a motivated Charlotte program.
So, where does the betting value lie in Saturday’s matchup? Let’s dive into the Charlotte vs. Maryland odds and find a pick and prediction in this college football betting preview for Saturday, Sept. 9.
Even though the 49ers got off to a great start this season, I’d caution against putting all your eggs into their basket. This team has skill on offense, but defensively, it was a total disaster last season.
Adding Poggi, the former Michigan associate head coach, to run things may help turn the tide though. There’s still a lot to learn for this roster.
Quarterback Jalon Jones had a pretty forgettable showing last week, throwing for 125 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions — a bit of a red flag, especially when you think about who Charlotte was playing.
Luckily for the Niners, Jones is a proficient runner and ran for 63 yards and a touchdown. Along with him, top rusher Durell Robinson had himself a solid game, averaging 6.5 yards per carry with a touchdown to boot.
The defense had a wonderful showing last week even though South Carolina State isn’t much of a formidable opponent. Regardless, it was an impressive showing from the 49ers. They were the 18th- and 13th-best team last week in both Rushing and Passing Success Rate, respectively.
I expect this defense to be much better than it was, which isn’t saying much.
Poggi also brought in Ryan Osborn, who served as a defensive assistant with the Baltimore Ravens last season, and his NFL experience will come in handy.
The question is, how will they respond to a much better Maryland team?
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Maryland’s program was in a bit of disarray until 2021. The Terps turned the program around by having two consecutive .500 seasons for the first time since 2013-14. After last year, there’s reason to believe a third is in the cards.
Fifth-year senior Taulia Tagovailoa had himself an exceptional start to the season last week by throwing for 260 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been a really accurate passer in his career, averaging a completion percentage of 67%, and will look to post his third consecutive 3,000-yard season.
Another main force of this offense is running back Roman Hemby, who ran roughshod over college football last season with nearly 1,300 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns.
The redshirt sophomore showed out against Towson, with 58 rushing yards and a touchdown. I fully expect Hemby to have an even bigger season in an amplified offense this year.
Last season, a heavy emphasis was placed on the run, but with new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, there may be some more action for receivers.
Maryland finished near the bottom in Passing Success Rate nationally in 2022. However, last week, Corey Dyches had himself a day with six receptions, 108 yards and a touchdown.
Maryland had a pretty impressive season defensively, but it’s looking now that some work needs to be done in rush defense. Last week, the Terps were 109th in Rush Success Rate, whereas the pass defense was 10th. Not only that, but they ranked 123rd in Havoc, which isn’t acceptable against a low-ranked FCS team like Towson.
Charlotte vs Maryland
Betting Pick & Prediction
Even though I do see significant improvement from the 49ers, this will be a tough test. Last season when these teams faced off in Charlotte, the Terps came out on top easily. This time, it will be in front of the Maryland faithful.
Maryland enters as a 24.5-point favorite, and I’m leaning toward the Terps.
I look at the quarterback play, and Tagovailoa is by far more superior than Jones. Not only that, but I was encouraged by Dyches and can expect Hemby to have another solid game.
Jones’ performance last week also didn’t give me hope. Throwing two interceptions against South Carolina State, no matter how different the offense looks, will always leave me with a sour taste.
There’s not much to ogle over on Charlotte’s team, and that program will need some time to build itself to be legitimate. However, this week, with a Maryland team that keeps improving, I think this bout will be a knockout.
Pick: Maryland -24.5 (-115)
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