When opening lines were posted for Wednesday’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium (2:15 p.m., ESPN), the Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6 SU, 5-7 ATS) were installed as 3-point favorites over the Maryland Terrapins (6-6 SU, 4-8 ATS) despite the fact interim coach J.C. Price would be at the helm.
But then Hokies either started entering the transfer portal or opting out of the bowl game in order to begin preparing for the NFL Draft. The betting market took notice, and the line began a steady march to the other side, with the Terrapins now laying 3.5 points, per oddsboards the day before the game.
On offense alone, Virginia Tech will be without starting quarterback Braxton Burmeister and top backup Knox Kadum, both of whom are transferring, as is starting wide receiver Tayvion Robinson. Tre Turner, another starting receiver, opted out.
There are also questions about two of the receivers currently atop Virginia Tech’s depth chart. Da’Wain Lofton didn’t practice on Sunday, and his status for the game is uncertain. Kaleb Smith, also listed as a starting receiver, missed Sunday’s practice and had a brace on his left leg, according to The Roanoke Times.
So the Hokies may be without four of their top receivers and will rely on quarterback Connor Blumrick, who will be making his first career start. Blumrick, however, took 42 snaps in a 38-26 loss to Miami and says recent practices have him ready for the Terrapins.
“We’ve had two weeks of practice now,” Blumrick told The Roanoke Times. “We’ve been throwing it. We’re going to throw it. I’m very confident in our young receivers that are going to be out there on Wednesday.”
Virginia Tech’s offense will likely focus heavily on running back Raheem Blackshear, who has rushed for 714 yards and six touchdowns in addition to catching 23 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown.
Maryland, meanwhile, will be looking to air it out as quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa completed 308 of 450 passing attempts for 3,595 yards. Tagovailoa threw for 24 touchdowns, but with 11 turnovers, he can give Tech’s defense opportunities to make big plays.
Tagovailoa has plenty of weapons to choose from, as receivers Rakim Jarrett and Carlos Carriere and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo each have five touchdowns, and running back Tayon Fleet-Davis accounted for 664 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.
Pinstripe Bowl Total And Trends
The total opened at 53 and has since risen to the 54.5 to 55 range, despite Virginia Tech missing a number of key offensive performers. This is a testament to Maryland’s offense and the fact the Hokies could also be without four of its top cornerbacks. The Hokies had just six defensive backs at Sunday’s practice, The Roanoke Times reported.
Ranging from 47.5 points to 60, the ‘over’ has hit in four of Maryland’s last five games. Virginia Tech has seen the ‘over’ hit in just four of its 12 games.
In its last eight games, Maryland is just 1-7 ATS.
Among the available prop bets is whether both teams will score at least 10 points. Anyone thinking the Hokies will struggle to score can get the ‘No’ at +775 at BetMGM, but shop around to see if there’s a better number elsewhere.
At BetRivers, you can play alternate totals as low as 45.5 or as high as 63.5 if you think the offenses will be as potent as Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton could be against substandard pitching at Yankee Stadium.
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