UConn vs. Maryland Odds & Betting Predictions - August 31, 2024

Follow On X: https://x.com/PicksOffice The third year of the Jim Mora era dawns for UConn with a combination of hope and trepidation, but there's reason to believe that the Huskies can keep this one closer than the spread is indicating. Two seasons ago, the Huskies pulled off one of the season's biggest surprises—earning a bowl berth—though it had become apparent last year that they had overachieved, limping much of the way through the campaign. With a more manageable schedule—and the motivation of closing out the last year with two straight wins—UConn hopes to come in hot against Maryland on Saturday. The Huskies' quarterback situation was some kind of carousel, with three different starters getting heavy time last season, although this year, it's going to be sophomore Nick Evers—a two-time transfer from Oklahoma and Wisconsin. He's athletic, so that adds a different dimension when he's at the quarterback position. Combined with quite a few running backs already in the mix, UConn must simply be able to establish the ground game, opening up stuff downfield for some play-action passes. Evers should do well to exploit the Terps' defense, mainly pertaining to its suspect aerial performance. How much has changed defensively remains to be seen, but a new defensive coordinator being on campus is the biggest thing for UConn. Mora no longer has to balance head coaching duties with calling defensive plays, so maybe this helps a side that struggled to get off the field last year. After the secondary was rumored to be the biggest strength, the Huskies have some major transfers who came in. The linebackers still are a work in progress, but the improvements made on D should be enough to keep Maryland in a manageable state. The quarterback position is of most urgency for Maryland, as the Terrapins are uncertain under center with four-year starter Taulia Tagovailoa having left the program. More than likely, it will be Billy Edwards Jr. who gets the start, but with very little experience, much is skeptical of his ability to run the offense successfully. In the wings is former NC State transfer MJ Morris, should another replacement need to be made. This can lead to a quarterback uncertainty that ripples through the whole offense and creates inefficiencies that UConn can take advantage of.