A Tiger vs. a Turtle (Terrapin) would not be a fair fight in the wild, but on the football field, slow and steady could win this race. Maryland's 7-5 record is not what it seems as they play in the most difficult division in college football, the Big Ten East.
While Auburn also faced a challenging schedule, they had rough performances, such as losing to New Mexico State.
On the season, Auburn was 6-6 against the spread, but they finished better covering in four of their last five games. After a strong start for Maryland, they sputtered mid-season but closed strong, winning two of their last three and covering the spread in each contest.
Their offense was also at its best late in the season, hitting the OVER total points in four of their last five games.
Here are the Auburn vs. Maryland live odds, team betting news, player opt-outs, FanDuel game props, and a betting prediction for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
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Live odds for Auburn vs. Maryland
Check out the spread, moneyline, and total points live odds for Auburn vs. Maryland in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl matchup from the top online sportsbooks.
Auburn Tigers betting news
Auburn's first season under Hugh Freeze was a roller coaster, with major upset wins and underwhelming losses. It will likely take Freeze a few seasons to get the Tigers back to a National Championship-contending program.
Freeze is known for having top-tier offenses, and he has had some really good quarterbacks over several different stops in his career.
This past season, he did not have that, as Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne performed much like he did during his time as a Spartan. He would have a great game and follow it up with two bad ones.
The senior quarterback would have an incredible first half and follow it with multiple turnovers in the second half. Simply put, he was not consistent enough for Auburn to beat stronger opponents, leaving them susceptible to being upset by weaker opponents.
More: CFB bowl odds | Learn about NCAAF betting odds
Auburn Tigers opt-outs for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Auburn will miss several important players for the Music City Bowl, especially on the defensive side. Their two starting corners and top interior defensive linemen have all opted out, leaving their defense with some big voids to fill.
- Ja’Varrius Johnson, WR (transfer portal)
- Robby Ashford, QB (transfer portal)
- Omari Kelly, WR (transfer portal)
- Jyaire Shorter, WR (transfer portal)
- Malcolm Johnson Jr., WR (transfer portal)
- Tyler Fromm, TE (transfer portal)
- Marcus Harris, DT (NFL Draft)
- DJ James, CB (NFL Draft)
- Nehemiah Pritchett, CB (NFL Draft)
- Marquise Gilbert, S (transfer portal)
- Stephen Sings, DE (transfer portal)
- Stephen Johnson, DL (transfer portal)
- Enyce Sledge, DL (transfer portal)
- Austin Auberry, CB (transfer portal)
Maryland Terrapins betting news
Maryland had a fantastic start to the season, winning their first five games. Then, the Terrapins hit the hardest part of their schedule and lost five of their next six games.
Three of those defeats came to top ten ranked opponents, including Michigan, who is in the College Football Playoff, and Maryland kept that game within one score.
It will be interesting to see Maryland without longtime starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who has opted out and is preparing for the NFL Draft.
In his place will be Billy Edwards Jr., who is trying to prove he is ready to be the next starter for Maryland, not only for the bowl game but also for next season.
Maryland may put a lot of stock into how Edwards performs and whether he could compete with MJ Morris, who the Terrapins landed from the transfer portal.
With a transfer quarterback already committed, Edwards could use a big performance to enter the portal and find a better chance at a starting gig for next season.
Maryland Terrapins opt-outs for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Maryland will be without Tagovailoa, the program's stat leader in almost every passing category. They will also be without their number-one corner and several top defensive contributors.
The only good thing is the Tigers are in a similar position of missing so many players.
- Taulia Tagovailoa, QB (transfer portal)
- Ja’Kavion Nonar, OT (transfer portal)
- Rico Walker, TE (transfer portal)
- Corey Dyches, TE (transfer portal)
- Ramon Brown, RB (transfer portal)
- Tyrese Chambers, WR (transfer portal)
- Tarheeb Still, CB (NFL Draft)
- Gavin Gibson, CB (transfer portal)
- Corey Coley Jr., CB (transfer portal)
- Jaishawn Barham, LB (transfer portal)
- Tamarcus Cooley, DB (transfer portal)
- Kobi Thomas, LB (transfer portal)
- Riyad Wilmot, DE (transfer portal)
- Avantae Williams, DB (Transfer portal)
Auburn vs. Maryland props for TransPerfect Music City Bowl at FanDuel
- Auburn -2.5 & OVER 49.5 points (+210)
- Auburn -2.5 & UNDER 49.5 points (+165)
- Maryland +2.5 & OVER 49.5 points (+550)
- Maryland +2.5 & UNDER 49.5 points (+290)
- First-half spread: Auburn -3.5 (-106) vs. Maryland +3.5 (-114)
- First-half total: 23.5 points OVER (-112) / UNDER (-108)
- Auburn team total: 27.5 points OVER (+100) / UNDER (-128)
- Maryland team total: 20.5 points OVER (-102) / UNDER (-125)
Auburn vs. Maryland prediction: Maryland handles the Tigers
There are a lot of questions for both teams, as each will have quite a bit of roster turnover by next season.
For this matchup, though, the Terrapins have a hungry quarterback looking to prove he deserves a chance to be the starter. Auburn has had a lot of inconsistency at the quarterback spot.
That is why the Terrapins will perform strongly and take down Auburn in the Music City Bowl.
Pick: Maryland
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