Pinstripe Bowl 2021: Odds, Daily Fantasy Tips for Maryland vs. Va Tech
December 28, 2021
The Maryland Terrapins and Virginia Tech Hokies will try to win the Pinstripe Bowl in different ways.
Maryland prefers to air the ball out behind quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. The Terps averaged 307.1 yards per game through the air in the regular season.
Virginia Tech is almost forced to run the ball in a successful manner. Quarterback Braxton Burmeister entered the transfer portal, and wide receiver Tre Turner opted out to focus on the 2022 NFL draft.
The Hokies will call on running back Raheem Blackshear in an offense that averaged 11 more rushing yards per contest than yards through the air.
The ACC squad is at a disadvantage from a personnel standpoint, but if its offense gets going, it could put up high totals against a Maryland defense that conceded at least 30 points in each of its six losses.
Pinstripe Bowl Info
Date: Wednesday, December 29
Start Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app
Game Odds
Spread: Maryland (-3.5)
Over/Under: 54.5
Money Line: Maryland (-160; bet $160 to win $100); Virginia Tech (+140; bet $100 to win $140)
Daily Fantasy Tips
Stack Maryland's Pass-Game Stars
The conventional logic leading up to the Pinstripe Bowl suggests Maryland has more motivation to leave Yankee Stadium with a victory.
Maryland is participating in a bowl game for the first time since 2016, and it can use Wednesday's game as a springboard into next season with Taulia Tagovailoa coming back at quarterback.
Virginia Tech went through a coaching change at the end of the regular season, and its offense is weakened by a few key absences.
Tagovailoa and his wide receivers should get to work early inside the home of the New York Yankees. He attempted at least 30 passes in each of his last five appearances.
Wide receiver Rakim Jarrett and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo are two of Tagovailoa's top targets. They should be added alongside the Maryland quarterback in any daily fantasy football contests.
Jarrett caught 56 balls for 769 yards and Okonkwo had 49 catches for 433 yards during Maryland's 6-6 campaign.
Tagovailoa has all the motivation to play well on Wednesday to create some momentum going into 2022, and he should be given every opportunity to throw for over 300 yards and a few touchdowns.
Look to Virginia Tech's Rushing Game
Running back is the only offensive skill position where the Hokies have their top player participating in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Raheem Blackshear carried the ball on 121 occasions for 714 yards and six touchdowns. He could earn around 20 carries against Maryland, with Braxton Burmeister in the transfer portal. Burmeister had 117 rush attempts this season.
The junior running back produced his only two 100-yard games of the campaign over the last three games. That is a promising sign for the makeshift offense.
Blackshear should find some holes in the Maryland defense since the Terps gave up 415.6 yards and 32.4 points per game.
Virginia Tech will throw the ball at some points, but most of its offense should run through Blackshear since he is the best player suiting up for the ACC squad.
You should put Blackshear into one of the running back spots for Wednesday's three-game DFS slate because of the expected high volume.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).