Maryland
Funds shifted by MD for roads that received federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law cash
Money for Interstate 81 was in the plans of multiple governors, the Washington County delegation to the Maryland General Assembly said thanks, and the state’s new transportation secretary acknowledged both the “partnership” with local officials and their safety concerns.
Yet millions of dollars, $68 million to be exact, has been scheduled by the state Department of Transportation to be reduced on the project, designed to widen a 3.5 mile stretch of the highway.
The decision, coming after about $90 million in federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden were originally allocated by the state towards the project, represents a step towards fulfilling a worry that the area’s state senator expressed months ago.
More: State and local officials talk safety as funds discussed for I-81 project completion
“There’s not a shovel in the ground yet,” said Sen. Paul Corderman, R-Washington/Frederick, referring to phase II of the four-part project, during an interview Oct. 5 after Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld met with officials south of Hagerstown. “The state could very easily take that money and move it to another project, and that’s the concern.”
In a news release about the proposal on Wednesday, Corderman said that the “Moore Administration’s ‘Leave No One Behind’ promise is not being fulfilled.” Washington County’s senior state senator also said: “Western Maryland is suffering as a result.”
State commission working on increasing transportation revenue
The shift, coming as a state commission searches for ways to raise transportation revenue, was detailed in a Maryland Department of Transportation overview document released on Tuesday. The department’s budget, known as the Fiscal Years 2024-2029 Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP), is scheduled to be released in January, the same month as Democratic Gov. Wes Moore’s proposed budget.
A draft of the CTP document, which included full funding for the I-81 project, had been circulated earlier this year as Wiedefeld and department officials traveled the state. The Tuesday release from the department said: “In recent weeks, revenue projections have declined further.”
More: With gas tax revenue diminishing, Maryland commission meets to find new revenue for roads
Corderman, the top Republican on the state Senate’s Budget & Taxation Committee, indicated after the secretary’s October visit to Washington County that a priority for him was the “preservation of that funding” for I-81. “It’s just a number on a piece of paper at this point,” said the senator, after the secretary told the officials in the room about a more than $2 billion transportation budget shortfall created in part by diminishing gas tax revenues.
The project to improve Maryland’s roughly 12-mile portion of the road, which carries around than 19,400 trucks per day, according to state officials, has spanned multiple decades. The funding was also a topic of conversation between the governor’s chief of staff and a state delegate representing Hagerstown earlier this year.
A third of proposed ‘Major Expansion Project Reductions’ in 6th district
The road, part of a “critical freight corridor,” as deemed in a letter from the full Maryland congressional delegation to the previous presidential administration, has been a topic of interest over the years for congressmen and both of the state’s Democratic U.S. senators, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen.
U.S. Congressman David Trone, D-6th, who currently represents the district that includes Maryland’s portion of I-81 and who is running to replace Cardin, who is not seeking reelection in the Senate, highlighted his vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in connection to I-81 funds for the state in a news release earlier this year.
A third (4 of 12) of the state’s proposed “Major Expansion Project Reductions” are projects that Trone highlighted his vote on in news releases in 2022 and 2023 about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The most sizeable proposed decrease of the state’s “Major Expansion Project Reductions” was in the district he represents, $105.6 million originally allocated to U.S. 15 in Frederick. There were proposed reductions, too, for road projects in Allegany and Garrett counties, also in the district Trone currently represents.
There were no “Major Expansion Project Reductions” proposed on the Eastern Shore.
Other transportation administration budgets proposed to be cut too
In addition to the major expansion project cuts, which represent construction funding after 2023, the State Highway Administration is slated to reduce roadway cleaning, mowing and litter pickup as a cost saving measure.
The Maryland Transit Administration, Port Administration, Aviation Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, and the secretary’s office are all listed in the document as receiving 8% cuts to their respective operating budgets.
“We must tighten our belts and make tough decisions now to create a sustainable, balanced budget that affirms our transportation priorities and makes key investments to grow Maryland’s economy,” said Wiedefeld, in a release.
More: State moves up 20 spots in economic momentum, but are Western MD, Eastern Shore seeing it?
Also in the release, the department indicated its intent to develop a prioritization system for highway and transit expansion projects to “evaluate project benefits in terms of meeting state transportation goals relative to cost,” adding that the system will be used to help prioritize projects included in the future Consolidated Transportation Program budgets.
“The Maryland Department of Transportation is maintaining planning, design, and engineering funding for all major and minor expansion projects listed,” said a department spokesperson, in an email, referencing page 17 of the overview document. “Most of these projects were not projected to begin construction for several years (e.g., I-81 was not projected to begin construction until FY26).
“These projects will be evaluated for construction funding as they advance through the design and engineering phases and additional Transportation Trust Fund revenue is available,” he said.
January 17, one week after the Maryland General Assembly is scheduled to convene, is the final day for the governor to introduce the budget and capital budget bills.
Dwight A. Weingarten is an investigative reporter, covering the Maryland State House and state issues. He can be reached at dweingarten@gannett.com or on Twitter at @DwightWeingart2.
Maryland
Villanova vs Maryland Prediction, Bet Builder Tips & Odds
Maryland Look the Smart Pick on the Spread
Our best wager is that Maryland are going to cover a generous -6 on the spread. You can get 1.92 that there’s a bigger margin of victory against Villanova.
57-40 Win for Villanova in Pair’s Last Encounter
Villanova Wildcats claimed a victory in their previous game. A 93-49 home win occurred against Pennsylvania Quakers.
Maryland Terrapins won their last game, beating Canisius Golden Griffins at home. It was a 108-37 win.
Villanova beat Maryland in their last head-to-head matchup. It was a 57-40 scoreline.
Expert College Basketball Analysis
The college basketball forecasts are only made once we have established the latest team news. It’s also important to study the form and investigate the most relevant stats to get the full picture.
Key Villanova vs Maryland stats:
We’re excited to see Maryland at -6 on the spread in this college matchup. We think it’s a great number for the betting favorites to cover at odds of 1.92.
If you’re looking for a bigger potential return on your stake, there is always the option to move the line. Consider the betting odds and whether each line can be covered.
Maryland -6 Probability
The sportsbooks imply that our pick has a 52.1% prospect of winning. Taking all factors into consideration, our cappers think there’s a stronger chance of success and have a probability interval between 55-60%. That means we’re regarding it as a value wager.
Villanova vs Maryland Prediction
Maryland -6 @ 1.92
Gamble responsibly 18+. All odds are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change. To use the Bookmaker Live Streaming services you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Geo-restrictions apply.
Published 03:52, 24 November 2024
Correct Score Prediction
Rather than betting on the Terps to win, there’s the option to try your luck when it comes to the correct score lines. Take a chance on a 74-63 triumph in their favor.
Villanova vs Maryland Odds
The odds and lines are updated on a frequent basis. You might therefore find that they are different to the ones listed for the betting predictions and bet builder tips.
Latest Moneyline Odds Suggest Maryland Victory
Maryland have the shortest price to win this college game, with the sportsbooks giving them a 70% probability due to their 1.43 Moneyline betting odds. The market suggests that Villanova are least likely to win at 2.80.
6 is where the spread lies, with total points being 140 right now. There are many ways to bet on basketball including the Totals. Those that want to back Under 140 can find odds of 1.91 available.
The betting sites offer stacks of team props and game lines when it comes to most college basketball contests. Make sure you look through all the available options before deciding which bet to place.
Betting Lines & Odds
Moneyline
Point Spread
Total Points
Player Props & Micro Betting
There is regularly betting value to be found from wagering on the player props with the best online gambling sites. You can find lots of ways to back for or against a specific player lining up for one of the two teams.
Micro betting provides a rollercoaster ride for college basketball bettors. It can be great to enjoy the live lines, with the opportunity to bet on the Next Field Goal. Watch the live action before deciding which way to go.
Team Stats
Latest regular season and playoff games stats.
Villanova Stats
Maryland Stats
Moneyline
- 4 wins and 6 defeats in the last 10 games
- 2 wins and 8 defeats in the last 10 games on the road
Moneyline
- 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games
- 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 home games
Point Spread
- +6 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 games
- +6 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the spread in 4 of the last 10 games on the road
Point Spread
- -6 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 5 of the last 10 games
- -6 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 home games
Total Points
- Game Totals: An average of 140.20 pts in the previous 10 games
- Game Totals on the Road: An average of 136.30 pts in the previous 10 games on the road
- Over 140: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games
- Over 140 on the Road: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 games on the road
- Team Totals: Have scored an average of 72.60 pts and allowed 67.60 pts in the last 10 games
- Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 65.00 pts and allowed 71.30 pts in the last 10 games on the road
Total Points
- Game Totals: An average of 140.30 pts in the previous 10 games
- Game Totals at Home: An average of 141.50 pts in the previous 10 home games
- Over 140: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 games
- Over 140 at Home: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 home games
- Team Totals: Have scored an average of 76.00 pts and allowed 64.30 pts in the last 10 games
- Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 79.30 pts and allowed 62.20 pts in the last 10 home games
Maryland
Instant Analysis: Illinois Basketball Dominates Maryland Eastern Shore 87-40
Coming off its first loss of the season, No. 25 Illinois took the floor at its State Farm Center home in Champaign on Saturday with plenty of motivation against struggling Maryland Eastern Shore.
So even when the Illini showed up with something less than their sharpest weapons, they managed to hammer the Hawks with size, muscle and blunt-force effort in an 87-40 runaway win.
An excellent defensive performance helped stake Illinois (4-1) to an early lead against the Hawks (2-6), allowing the opportunity for more floor time for its non-starters, including freshman Morez Johnson Jr., who had career highs of 10 points and 13 rebounds in just 13 minutes. Freshman forward Will Riley led the Illini with 19 points off the bench – all in the second half – and junior guard Kylan Boswell continued his recent upswing with 13 points, four rebounds and another sinister defensive performance.
After falling to No. 8 Alabama on a middling shooting night, Illinois came out clanking in the first half against the Hawks, “hitting” an atrocious 4-for-21 3-pointers (19.0 percent) before the break. But the Illini’s suffocating defense turned that blemish into an inconsequential blip.
Illinois held Maryland Eastern Shore to 7-for-33 field-goal shooting (21.2 percent) in the first half – including 1-for-12 from 3-point range – and forced 10 turnovers. The Hawks seemed to not know what hit them – and, as Mike Tyson might have noted, certainly had no plan after getting punched in the face. The Illini seemingly cut off every avenue on their opponents, who finished the first half with no assists.
After halftime, Riley was ablaze, pulling up for feathery jumpers and slinking to and around the rim for all-angles buckets that came easily for an 18-year-old in just his fifth college game. The outsized Illini annihilated the Hawks on the boards, 59-38, and held them to 22.1 percent field-goal shooting for the game.
CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein Has High Praise for Illinois Basketball Freshmen
Top 5 Must-Watch Matchups for Illinois Basketball in 2024-25
Maryland
No. 11 Maryland women’s basketball vs. Saint Francis preview
No. 11 Maryland women’s basketball will be back in action on Sunday to host Saint Francis.
The Terps have enjoyed a week off after a dominating win over Towson last Sunday, 98-63, and will look for their first 6-0 start since the 2021-22 season.
“It’s been a week of practices for us to improve and get better,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “Able to really work on some things defensively and fine tuning things on the offensive end to get ourselves ready for Saint Francis.”
Sunday’s matchup will tip-off at 1 p.m. from Xfinity Center and stream on Big Ten Plus.
Saint Francis Red Flash (1-5, 0-0 Northeast Conference)
2023-24 record: 5-25, 4-12 NEC
Head coach Keila Whittington is in her sixth season with the Red Flash and has only led her team to a winning record once. Saint Francis has an overall 46-102 record under Whittington.
Saint Francis earned its first win of the season on Wednesday night, when the Red Flash took down Robert Morris, 58-55, on the road. Saint Francis has suffered defeats to NJIT, Lafayette, Coppin State, Canisius and Loyola Maryland.
Players to watch
Yanessa Boyd, sophomore guard, 5-foot-9, No. 0 — Boyd is in her second season with the Red Flash and has solidified herself as a starter, leading the team in minutes. She also leads the team with 7.7 points per game. after finishing third last season with 7.1 points per game. Boyd is from Frederick, Maryland, and finished her high school career at Riverdale Baptist.
Ineivi Plata, freshman guard, 5-foot-3, No. 10 — Plata has started every game and is second on the team in minutes as freshman out of White Plains, New York. Plata is currently averaging 4.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.6 turnovers per game. She is 9-of-29 from the field and 2-of-16 from 3-point range this season. She scored a career-high nine points against Coppin State.
Natalie Johnson, junior guard, 5-foot-8, No. 5 — Johnson is in her first season with Saint Francis after transferring from Robert Morris, who Johnson had 10 points against on Wednesday. She has only started one game this season, but averages 7.5 points per game, the second most for Saint Francis. Johnson averages 19.8 minutes per game and is a solid piece off the bench for the Red Flash.
Strength
Rebounding. The Red Flash have outrebounded their opponents this season, 194-188. As a team, Saint Francis averages 32.3 rebounds per game, which ranks fifth in the NEC, and is led by Marina Artero and Plata, who both average 4.0 rebounds.
Weakness
Turnovers. Saint Francis turns the ball over 21.7 times per game, leading to a -7.8 turnover margin for the Red Flash. Opponents average 19.7 points off turnovers and the Red Flash’s assist-to-turnover ratio is 0.5.
Three things to watch
1. A differential against Coppin State. The Red Flash fell to Coppin State, 74-38, on Nov. 12, while Maryland previously took down Coppin State on Nov. 7, 70-47. That is a 59-point margin between Maryland’s and Saint Francis’ performances against Coppin State. While anything can happen, the Terps should have no issues beating Saint Francis.
2. An easy stretch. After the Terps defeated then-No. 11 Duke and Syracuse, they have entered a three-week stretch against lower-level competition until its first Big Ten game on Dec. 7 against Purdue. Their final nonconference game of the regular season will be in the midst of Maryland’s conference schedule against No. 4 Texas in the Coretta Scott King Classic. The Terps will need to be conscious of keeping their foot on the pedal over the next two weeks before their schedule gets tough.
3. Keeping pace. The Terps have three players averaging double-digit points in Kaylene Smikle, Shyanne Sellers and Christina Dalce, as well as two players who are averaging upward of seven rebounds per game in Dalce and Saylor Poffenbarger. Scoring and rebounding have been key parts of Maryland’s game thus far, and the Terps are in position to improve these averages Sunday.
“We just want to take where we’re at and continue to keep building and improving and getting better,” Frese said.
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