Tag: Terrapins

Rutgers slight underdog in season finale

both the Scarlet Knights and their opponents, the Maryland Terrapins, both come into the game with a 5-6 record. A win for either team results in them going bowling. 

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3gzhz7qrm49z6q player_id=none image=https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The last week of the regular season for the Big Ten is upon us. For Rutgers, they enter the week with qualifying for a bowl game on the line. In fact, both the Scarlet Knights and their opponents, the Maryland Terrapins, both come into the game with a 5-6 record. A win for either team results in them going bowling.

Rutgers is at home in the contest, but the Terps come to town as a 1.5-point favorite according to Tipico Sportsbook. Maryland has had a similar season to Rutgers. They started the season 4-0 (Rutgers started 3-0) before dropping three straight. They rebounded to win another game before dropping all three games in a gauntlet stretch versus Penn State, Michigan State, and Michigan. Both teams only Big Ten victories this season came against Illinois and Indiana.

Looking at the USA TODAY 1-130 re-rank, both teams had similar up-and-down movement all season. The Terrapins currently sit at No. 77, whereas the Scarlet Knights came in at No. 80. The final regular season game will determine Big Ten results, 1-130 standing, and obviously their bowl game eligibility as well.

In the latest update from the analytical arm of ESPN, the ESPN FPI gives Rutgers a 66.7% chance of walking away from Piscataway with a victory – their largest number this season. The OU total was set at 53 – also the highest total for any Rutgers game this season.

When looking at records against the spread, it heavily favors the Scarlet Knights. They are 6-5 ATS for the season. The Terrapins are 3-8 ATS on the season and have lost the last seven. Straight up, Maryland has fallen apart as well losing six of the last seven. Their one win was an unimpressive three-point escape against Indiana. With that being said, the fact that Maryland enters the game as a road favorite is not a good sign for Rutgers fans.

The point total has almost been a gimme when betting on the Scarlet Knights given their low offensive point total. Five of the last six games for Rutgers has gone under. In five of those games, Rutgers has scored 20 points or less. On the other side, Maryland has seen six games go over this season. Even with that being the case, taking the over in a Rutgers game does not seem like the smart move.

All Betting Lines are Courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook

  • Money line: Maryland -125 (bet $125 to win $100) Rutgers +102 (bet $100 to win $102)
  • Against the spread (ATS):  Maryland -1.5 (-115) Rutgers +1.5 (-107)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 53.5 (O: -110 U: -110)

Visit our free to play game lobby at Daily Ticket, Powered by Tipico Sportsbook

A key 2021 Wisconsin basketball target sets his decision day and his final four schools

One of the fastest rising players in the class of 2021 has narrowed his decision down to just four schools, and set the date and time for his commitment. James Graham III, who has exploded on the Wisconsin AAU scene over the past year with Wisconsin …

One of the fastest rising players in the class of 2021 has narrowed his decision down to just four schools, and set the date and time for his commitment.

James Graham III, who has exploded on the Wisconsin AAU scene over the past year with Wisconsin Playground Club, is set to make a decision on Monday, August 17 at 10 AM central time according to his Twitter.

The Badgers are joined by Auburn, Maryland, and Memphis in the 6-8 small forward’s final four.

Graham is a 6-8 SF with a versatile skill set. The Milwaukee native plays for one of the top Wisconsin club programs in the state in Wisconsin Playground, and has already had an impressive start to his summer circuit.

According to Movement Hoops, Graham averaged 21 points per contest and hit 47 threes for Nicolet as a junior en route to a 22-3 overall record.

Graham has risen all the way up to No. 57 in the 247Sports 2021 class rankings.

The 6-8, athletic forward has a sweet stroke from the outside that forces defenses to step out and respect him. Either as a catch-and-shoot threat, or getting in his bag off the dribble, Graham has excellent range and a high release point on his jumper. The Wisconsin PGC stud feels like the modern forward. He runs the floor with ease, can pull up from anywhere on the hardwood, and finishes with authority at the rim. The Nicolet star also showed flashes of his passing ability out a face-up or post-up during his junior year.

In terms of his recruitment, Maryland is the heavy 247Sports “crystal ball” favorite. Seven 247Sports analysts have all projected that Graham ends up with the Terrapins.

Wisconsin fans should stay tuned on Monday morning for a decision from one of the top players in the Badger state.

 

NBA Draft: Maryland’s Jalen Smith is a name to watch for the Golden State Warriors

If the Golden State Warriors decide to not use their top pick on Onyeka Okongwu or James Wiseman, Maryland’s Jalen Smith could be an option in the frontcourt.

As the rest of the basketball world turns their attention to the NBA bubble, draft season has arrived early in the Bay Area.

The Golden State Warriors are one of eight teams outside of the league’s restart in Orlando. Although their league-worst 15-50 record didn’t earn them an invite to Disney World, the Warriors will be in line for a top-five pick in the draft for the first time since 2002.

With a bevy of options on the table, the Golden State Warriors will use the start of their extended offseason to decide how to deploy their first-round draft pick. After the NBA Draft Lottery in August, the Warriors will have a better idea of what prospect they can bring to the Bay Area.

If Steve Kerr and Bob Myers opt to bring help to the interior at the top of the draft, USC freshman Onyeka Okongwu and Memphis center James Wiseman have been popular names at the start of mock drafts. Despite Okongwu and Wiseman’s popularity, other members of the frontcourt class are worthy of a look for the Golden State Warriors.

[lawrence-related id=23914,29079]

If the Warriors decide to move down in the draft — or reach for a surprise, Maryland’s Jalen Smith could be a name to watch for the Golden State Warriors.

The Maryland prospect was listed at No. 19 in the Warriors Wire NBA Draft Big Board.

On his way to earning Third-Team All-American honors, the Maryland sophomore tallied 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. On his way to helping Maryland to a No. 12 AP ranking, the 6-foot-9 big recorded four games scoring 20 or more points.

Against Indiana, Smith recorded his college career-high with 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 11 rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal in the Terrapins’ 77-76 victory. Smith flashed his steady jumper against the Hoosiers, swishing four 3-pointers. Against Northwestern, the former McDonald’s All-American recorded a monster double-double with 22 points and 19 rebounds.

With Kevon Looney and Marquese Chriss currently listed on the Warriors depth chart, Smith could bring a new dynamic to Kerr’s rotation. Shooting 36.8% from 3-point range, Smith has proven he can step out and knock down shots from long distance.

Smith is a fierce athlete, running the floor at a pace that would fit alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. He’s a springy athlete that could threaten in the lob game when on the floor at the NBA level. On the defensive end, Smith uses his 7-foot-1 wingspan as a rim protector. Against Rutgers, Smith swatted a whopping six blocks. Smith recorded 13 games with three or more blocks in his sophomore season in Mark Turgeon’s program.

With their season over, and months on the calendar until October’s draft, the Golden State Warriors will have plenty of time to do their homework on Smith, and the rest of the 2020 draft class.

[lawrence-related id=28337,25191,24931,23914,27791,26576]

[vertical-gallery id=29502]

Former Alabama QB Taulia Tagovailoa, younger brother of Tua, transfers to a Big Ten opponent

The former Bama QB has a new home in the Big Ten

[lawrence-newsletter]Former Alabama QB Taulia Tagovailoa is headed to the Big Ten Conference. The younger brother of Tua Tagovailoa, the 2020 first round NFL draft pick of the Miami Dolphins, is transferring to Maryland he announced Friday.

A consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school, Tagovailoa originally chose Alabama over the likes of Florida and LSU.

Last season at Alabama, the younger Tagovailoa appeared in five games while playing sparingly in those appearances. He finished the year 9-12 passing with 100 total yards and a touchdown. The news comes just a couple of months after former Maryland QB Tyrrell Pigrome transferred from the program to Western Kentucky, leaving a spot open at the position.

Wisconsin will see Maryland on the road on October 24, 2020.

Saints to hire Maryland coach Cory Robinson to defensive staff

The New Orleans Saints are expected to hire Maryland Terrapins coach Cory Robinson, a respected defensive assistant from the college ranks.

The New Orleans Saints appear to have filled the vacancy left by assistant defensive backs coach Leigh Torrence, with Maryland defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Cory Robinson set to join them. News of Robinson’s addition was first reported by AL.com’s Matt Zenitz, which was confirmed by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Torrence left for a higher position with the New York Jets, rejoining defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (who Torrence once played for when they were both with the Saints, back in the early 2010’s). It’s a bit of a surprise that the Saints added someone to replace him this late in the game, but they obviously value having as many eyes as possible on the back end of the defense. He’ll work with secondary coach Aaron Glenn and senior defensive assistant Peter Giunta.

But let’s circle back to Robinson. He joined Maryland coach Michael Locksley’s staff just a year ago, having first worked as the Terps’ director of player personnel back in 2015. Sandwiched in-between were stops at Toledo (2016), Temple (2017), and Rutgers (2018), as cornerbacks coach.

This feels similar to the addition of defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen back in 2017. Like Robinson, Nielsen was a highly-regarded position coach who had earned a promotion to the NFL by successfully recruiting and developing talented athletes. Nielsen has done a great job coaching up inexperienced players like David Onyemata and Marcus Davenport; now, Robinson will get the same opportunity.

The Saints will go into the 2020 season with their coaching staff largely intact. While linebackers coach Mike Nolan was hired away by the Dallas Cowboys as their new defensive coordinator, the Saints made an in-house promotion to elevate Michael Hodges into that spot. With Robinson filling in for Torrence, New Orleans is poised to run it back one more time.

[vertical-gallery id=29192]

Maryland at Ohio State college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Maryland Terrapins at Ohio State Buckeyes betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Maryland Terrapins (22-4, 12-2 Big Ten) visit the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-9, 7-8) Sunday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, for a 4 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Maryland-Ohio State odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Maryland at Ohio State: Three things you need to know

1. No. 7 (USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll) Maryland totes a nine-game win streak into this Big Ten showdown against No. 24 Ohio State. The win streak has vaulted the Terrapins into a two-game lead in the Big Ten standings. Maryland beat the Ohio State 67-55 in College Park Jan. 7.

2. Four of Maryland’s wins during the streak have been away from home. That’s a stark contrast to UM’s first four road games this season, all of which were losses. The Terps have shot the ball much better and taken much better care of it in the latter four. Turnover numbers have been the biggest area of change. And, especially for a good defensive team, Ohio State has recently struggled in forcing opponents into turnovers.

3. Two key areas of this one for Maryland will be its ability to get some offensive rebounds and get to the foul line. Recent OSU trends are solid in both areas. The Buckeyes have out-rebounded foes in seven of their last eight games. Until a Thursday loss at Iowa, OSU had held opponents to just 14 free throws per game over its previous seven.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Maryland at Ohio State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Ohio State 68, Maryland 64

Moneyline (ML)

Ohio State’s average margin of victory at home has been a robust 18.6 points. The Buckeyes have held teams to a 36.3% field-goal accuracy mark in their own barn, and their strong rebounding helps suffocate comeback runs. OHIO STATE (-139) is a nice price to leverage in a straight-up play.

New to sports betting? Every $1.39 wagered on the Buckeyes ML will profit $1 if they win.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The Buckeyes are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games as a home favorite. They are 4-2 ATS when seeking revenge for a road loss. There is some profit cushion in the OHIO STATE -2.5 (-106) line. It’s worth splitting a moderate-confidence play with the above moneyline wager.

Over/Under (O/U)

Trends make for a lean toward an Under in principle, but the number here is solid. PASS on the O/U 133.5 (Over +100, Under -121).

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=11866]