Maryland (6-6) vs. Oregon State (8-4)

Conference Matchup: ACC vs. Pac-10
Date: Dec. 28
Location: AT&T Park, San Francisco
Spread: Oregon State -4

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This game provides some intrigue as it features two teams that each had rough starts to the season before coming on strong. Oregon State lost its first two Pac-10 games against Arizona State and UCLA before reeling off a string of victories that included wins over then-No. 2 California and No. 18 Oregon. In Mike Riley's two-part tenure at the school, the Beavers are 3-0 in bowl games. The Terrapins were one of just four teams to defeat two teams ranked in the top 10 this season, defeating then-No. 10 Rutgers early in the season and defeating No. 8 Boston College later on. However, Maryland struggled in the middle of its season and did not become bowl eligible until its final game, a 37-0 win over N.C. State. The Terrapins have also won their last three bowl games, outscoring their opponents at a 95-17 clip. The key to the game might be which team controls the line of scrimmage; Maryland boasts a fairly strong rushing attack, but Oregon State is one the nation's top run stuffers. These teams look fairly even on paper, so there would appear to be value in taking the points. However, the Beavers finished the season with more momentum and they have a little more punch on offense.

Maryland can cover if: If the Terrapins can establish their run game against one of the nation's top run defenses, they should be able to control the clock and play the type of low-scoring game that they seem to favor. Maryland is one of just four teams in the country to have two running backs rush for more than 750 yards; Keon Lattimore has 789 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Lance Ball has gained 763 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. However, the Beavers have the nation's second-ranked rush defense (75 yards per game), so something has to give. Maryland's offense plods along at a 24-points-per-game clip, among the bottom third in the country. But it's the outcome also depends on which Maryland team shows up. Despite its success against top-ranked teams, Maryland has been wildly inconsistent and went just 3-5 in the ACC, suffering losses to Virginia and North Carolina in games they should have - or at least could have - won.

Oregon State can cover if: If the Beavers play the way they have the past seven weeks or so, they should be just fine. In addition to bowl success, the Beavers have developed another trend under coach Mike Riley: inconsistency. They sometimes look incredibly formidable, and always seem to have the most dangerous upset potential in the Pac-10: see last year's win over USC and this year's over Cal. But when they lose, they tend to lose big, often appearing turnover- and penalty-prone and lacking organization. They were hammered at both Cincinnati (34-3) and USC (24-3), managing just a field goal in each game. Even former QB Derek Anderson, who is now experiencing success in the NFL, was wildly erratic in his play and often doomed his team with too many turnovers. This year's starter Sean Canfield has kept the "tradition" alive, throwing for 1,593 yards but just eight touchdowns against 14 interceptions. But the Beavers have a more balanced attack than do the Terrapins, as they also feature a 1,000-yard rusher in Yvenson Bernard, who has 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. If the Beavers can avoid the big mistake on offense and their defense can slow the Maryland rushing attack, they should be in good position to win and cover the spread.

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General Notes: The Emerald Bowl is the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Beavers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five bowl games. The Terrapins are 2-5 ATS in their last seven non-conference games, and 1-4 ATS in their last five as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points.