Game notes.................
ACC foes collide in Chapel Hill this weekend, as the North Carolina Tar Heels welcome the Maryland Terrapins to town. Maryland has been one of the nation's more inconsistent teams this season. After losing two of their first three games, the Terps managed to run off three consecutive victories. Unfortunately, the last two outings have resulted in defeat, including a 35-27 setback against Florida State last time out. Maryland has had two weeks to prepare for this matchup with UNC, and the club needs two wins in the final three regular season games to earn bowl eligibility. As for North Carolina, it has won two of its last three bouts to improve to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in ACC play. Last Saturday, the Tar Heels registered what was considered a upset, a 16-14 decision over then-ranked Boston College. Now, the squad must win two of its final three regular season games to become bowl eligible. North Carolina owns a narrow 35-30-1 edge in the all-time series with Maryland, but the Terps have won the last three meetings.
Maryland quarterback Joel Statham looked like an All-American in the second quarter of the team's most recent outing against Florida State, as he tossed a pair of touchdowns and ran for a score in a span of less than nine minutes. Unfortunately, Statham and the offense managed only six points in the other 51 minutes. The signal caller finished 15-of-29 for 177 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and he was sacked twice. Lance Ball was effective, as he ran for 120 yards on 21 carries. While the team can be proud of the fact that it scored 27 points against a strong Florida State squad, the manner in which those points were scored is concerning. Overall this season, Maryland is averaging 25.9 ppg and 383.9 total ypg. Ball has compiled 541 yards while averaging an impressive 5.4 ypc, and Vernon Davis paces the receivers with 32 catches for 592 yards and three touchdowns. As for Statham, he has only played two games this year, as Sam Hollenbach has taken the majority of the snaps. It will be interesting to see how the quarterbacks will be used this weekend.
The Terps surrendered an even 400 yards to Florida State two weeks ago, including 264 yards through the air. Sure, the defense did register a pair of interceptions, but four touchdowns surrendered, including two in the final nine minutes of the contest, proved costly. Only one sack was registered by Maryland, which permitted the Seminoles to make good on exactly half of their third down conversion attempts. Foes are posting 24.2 ppg and 349.4 total ypg against the Terps this season, and of the 23 touchdowns that opposing offenses have scored, 20 have come on the ground. Teams are rushing for 180.0 ypg against Maryland, and UNC figures to test the defensive front. D'Qwell Jackson is widely considered to be one of the nation's elite linebackers, and he has made 98 total tackles, 35 more than his closest teammate.
North Carolina attempted to establish the run against Boston College last weekend, but the result was only 99 yards on 40 carries. Senior quarterback Matt Baker was able to complete 20-of-32 passes for 211 yards, but the offense only scored nine points in the contest on three field goals. The lone touchdown registered by the Heels came on special teams, so it is difficult to give credit to the offense for the win. Nine points in over 34 minutes of possession time simply won't get the job done most days. For the season, North Carolina is averaging 17.6 ppg and 306.5 total ypg, surprisingly low numbers for a team with a winning ACC record. The Heels are only gaining 2.7 ypc on the ground, and they have 11 interceptions with just seven rushing touchdowns. Baker has been inconsistent under center, and as a result, none of his receivers boast big numbers.
The Tar Heels failed to force a single turnover last weekend, but the fact that they limited BC to 14 points in the contest is the far more important stat. The one touchdown came early in the first quarter, and the other was scored in the game's final minutes. For the 53 minutes in between, UNC did not allow a single point. Carolina came up with a pair of sacks and also one crucial interception. Opponents are scoring 25.5 ppg against the Tar Heels this season while racking up 341.9 total ypg. Fourteen of the 23 touchdowns surrendered by the defense have been rushing scores, but UNC is only allowing 3.4 yards per rushing attempt. With only five interceptions, the defense must become more opportunistic when the ball is in the air. Tommy Richardson paces the squad with 65 total tackles, and he has recovered three fumbles.
*I like Maryland to cover the +3 in this game,they are the fresher team coming off the bye and N.C. is coming off a hard fought win over B.C.*
BET ID=34730259
Straight Wager 11/12/05 01:11 ET
200.00/181.82 Result: Pending
Maryland
NorthCarolina 11/12/05 (12:00 ET)
Maryland +3
ACC foes collide in Chapel Hill this weekend, as the North Carolina Tar Heels welcome the Maryland Terrapins to town. Maryland has been one of the nation's more inconsistent teams this season. After losing two of their first three games, the Terps managed to run off three consecutive victories. Unfortunately, the last two outings have resulted in defeat, including a 35-27 setback against Florida State last time out. Maryland has had two weeks to prepare for this matchup with UNC, and the club needs two wins in the final three regular season games to earn bowl eligibility. As for North Carolina, it has won two of its last three bouts to improve to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in ACC play. Last Saturday, the Tar Heels registered what was considered a upset, a 16-14 decision over then-ranked Boston College. Now, the squad must win two of its final three regular season games to become bowl eligible. North Carolina owns a narrow 35-30-1 edge in the all-time series with Maryland, but the Terps have won the last three meetings.
Maryland quarterback Joel Statham looked like an All-American in the second quarter of the team's most recent outing against Florida State, as he tossed a pair of touchdowns and ran for a score in a span of less than nine minutes. Unfortunately, Statham and the offense managed only six points in the other 51 minutes. The signal caller finished 15-of-29 for 177 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and he was sacked twice. Lance Ball was effective, as he ran for 120 yards on 21 carries. While the team can be proud of the fact that it scored 27 points against a strong Florida State squad, the manner in which those points were scored is concerning. Overall this season, Maryland is averaging 25.9 ppg and 383.9 total ypg. Ball has compiled 541 yards while averaging an impressive 5.4 ypc, and Vernon Davis paces the receivers with 32 catches for 592 yards and three touchdowns. As for Statham, he has only played two games this year, as Sam Hollenbach has taken the majority of the snaps. It will be interesting to see how the quarterbacks will be used this weekend.
The Terps surrendered an even 400 yards to Florida State two weeks ago, including 264 yards through the air. Sure, the defense did register a pair of interceptions, but four touchdowns surrendered, including two in the final nine minutes of the contest, proved costly. Only one sack was registered by Maryland, which permitted the Seminoles to make good on exactly half of their third down conversion attempts. Foes are posting 24.2 ppg and 349.4 total ypg against the Terps this season, and of the 23 touchdowns that opposing offenses have scored, 20 have come on the ground. Teams are rushing for 180.0 ypg against Maryland, and UNC figures to test the defensive front. D'Qwell Jackson is widely considered to be one of the nation's elite linebackers, and he has made 98 total tackles, 35 more than his closest teammate.
North Carolina attempted to establish the run against Boston College last weekend, but the result was only 99 yards on 40 carries. Senior quarterback Matt Baker was able to complete 20-of-32 passes for 211 yards, but the offense only scored nine points in the contest on three field goals. The lone touchdown registered by the Heels came on special teams, so it is difficult to give credit to the offense for the win. Nine points in over 34 minutes of possession time simply won't get the job done most days. For the season, North Carolina is averaging 17.6 ppg and 306.5 total ypg, surprisingly low numbers for a team with a winning ACC record. The Heels are only gaining 2.7 ypc on the ground, and they have 11 interceptions with just seven rushing touchdowns. Baker has been inconsistent under center, and as a result, none of his receivers boast big numbers.
The Tar Heels failed to force a single turnover last weekend, but the fact that they limited BC to 14 points in the contest is the far more important stat. The one touchdown came early in the first quarter, and the other was scored in the game's final minutes. For the 53 minutes in between, UNC did not allow a single point. Carolina came up with a pair of sacks and also one crucial interception. Opponents are scoring 25.5 ppg against the Tar Heels this season while racking up 341.9 total ypg. Fourteen of the 23 touchdowns surrendered by the defense have been rushing scores, but UNC is only allowing 3.4 yards per rushing attempt. With only five interceptions, the defense must become more opportunistic when the ball is in the air. Tommy Richardson paces the squad with 65 total tackles, and he has recovered three fumbles.
*I like Maryland to cover the +3 in this game,they are the fresher team coming off the bye and N.C. is coming off a hard fought win over B.C.*
BET ID=34730259
Straight Wager 11/12/05 01:11 ET
200.00/181.82 Result: Pending
Maryland
NorthCarolina 11/12/05 (12:00 ET)
Maryland +3
