Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland (7-5) vs. Nevada (7-5)


The 2008 Humanitarian Bowl welcomes the ACC and WAC to Boise this year. The Maryland Terrapins (7-5, tied for 3Rd in the ACC Atlantic Division) vs. the Nevada Wolfpack (7-5, tied for 2Nd in the WAC) will hit the blue turf of Boise for this year's Humanitarian Bowl.

The Terps are making their third straight bowl trip after a 14-21 lost to Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl last year. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen is 3-2 in bowl games in eight seasons at the helm. Nevada is making their fourth straight bowl visit, after losing 0-23 to New Mexico in last year's New Mexico Bowl. Nevada coach Chris Ault is in his 24Th season for the Wolfpack.

Maryland's losses were at Middle Tennessee, at Virginia, at Virginia Tech, vs. Florida State and at Boston College. They come in on the heels of a two game losing streak. Nevada's losses were vs. Texas Tech, at Missouri, New Mexico State, at Hawaii, and vs. Boise State. Maryland beat five bowl team, while Nevada had two wins over bowl teams at Fresno State and at Louisiana Tech.

Maryland played up to opponents going 4-1 against ranked opponents, but down to unranked opponents finishing 3-4. Nevada is unranked, by the way. The Wolfpack were 3-4 against ranked opponents and 7-2 against unranked foes.

Last year, the non-BCS team beat the BCS team, when Fresno State beat Georgia Tech 40-28, after the BCS had won three out the past four games. Maryland's playing down and up to opponents makes this an interesting pick. Maryland's recent bowls have been against BCS opponents, while Nevada lost the last bowl they played vs. a BCS opponent, when the Wolfpack fell short of defeating Miami-FL in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl.

Cidsports' Prediction

Maryland 21
Nevada 18


peace

No comments: