Week 1: Maryland vs Buffalo 9/3/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Maryland Terrapins and Buffalo Bulls square off in week 1 of college football action at Maryland Stadium on Saturday. The Buffalo Bulls won 4 games last year and enter the second season under coach Maurice Linguist. The Maryland Terrapins won 7 games last year and enter the fourth season under coach Mike Locksley.

The Buffalo Bulls averaged 29.3 points and 405.5 yards per game last season. Buffalo allowed an average of 29.9 points and 415.8 yards per game last season. Matt Myers has a chance to become the starting quarterback after 103 pass attempts last year. Quian Williams and Jamari Gassett are a returning receiving duo that combined for 1,000 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Ron Cook, Jr. had 300 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Defensively, James Patterson returns after leading Buffalo with 114 tackles, Daymond Williams had 6.5 sacks and Logic Hudgens had 1 interception. The Buffalo Bulls have to find stability at the quarterback position, and the loss of running back Dylan McDuffie could hurt. However, there’s potential here, mainly on the defensive side with a lot of returning production. Buffalo should be able to top last year’s win total. 

The Maryland Terrapins averaged 29.3 points and 441.1 yards per game last season. Maryland allowed an average of 30.7 points and 403.5 yards per game last season. Taulia Tagovailoa returns at quarterback after throwing for 3,800 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Rakim Jarrett and Dontay Demus Jr. are a returning receiving duo that combined for 1,300 yards and 8 touchdowns, while Colby McDonald had 300 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, Ruben Hyppolite II returns after 62 tackles, Mosiah Nasili-Kite had 4 sacks and Jakorian Bennett led Maryland with 3 interceptions. Maryland is loaded on the offensive side of the ball, and that gives the Terps a fighting chance in every game on the schedule. The issue is can Maryland improve a defense that was 97th in scoring defense and 85th in total defense. Time will tell. If so, the Terps will make life difficult for all of the teams in the Big Ten.

The Bulls are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The Terrapins are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games and 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall. The over is 9-3 in Bulls last 12 games in September. The over is 4-0 in Terrapins last 4 games overall.

The Buffalo Bulls have a lot of questions on offense to answer, and those issues usually don’t fix themselves on the road against a far more complete and physical team. The Maryland Terrapins are likely going to be explosive yet again offensively, and their defense has no choice but to improve from a year ago. The line is what it is for a reason, and I’m just not high enough on Buffalo to argue the other way. Give me Maryland in a blowout home victory.