The Pinstripe Bowl is played each year at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, a nod to the legendary pinstriped uniforms of the Yankees. It features a team from the Big Ten and the ACC, and this year, the Maryland Terrapins will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies.
If you want the college football odds for the Pinstripe Bowl, you’re in the right place. Read on for more information about this exciting matchup.
Pinstripe Bowl 2021
Before we get into the odds, here’s what you need to know about the game.
- Date: Wednesday, December 29th
- Time: 2:15 p.m.
- Venue: Yankee Stadium in New York City
- Participants: Maryland and Virginia Tech
Maryland (-3)
The Pinstripe Bowl is Maryland’s first bowl game since 2016, but they haven’t won a bowl game since 2010 when they beat East Carolina at the Military Bowl. The Terps are looking to make a comeback and end the year with a winning record, as they’re currently sitting at 6-6.
This year, quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa leads the team. Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, averages 300 yards passing per game with 24 touchdowns. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is about 2:1.
Tagovailoa and wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, who has recorded nearly 800 receiving yards this year, might be able to give the Terrapins their first bowl win in a decade, but they’ll first have to get past a robust Virginia Tech defense.
Virginia Tech +3
Like Maryland, Virginia Tech is heading into the Pinstripe Bowl with a 6-6 record. The Hokies’ last bowl appearance was in 2019; their previous bowl win was in 2016 when they beat the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Belk Bowl.
In November, Virginia Tech made news when it parted ways with head coach Justin Fuente. Brent Pry, the former defensive coordinator at Penn State, has been named the new head coach, although he won’t coach them in the Pinstripe Bowl. Instead, interim coach J.C. Price will lead the team in the Bronx and into the offseason, until Pry takes over.
Virginia Tech is typically known for its defense, and this season is no different. However, Virginia Tech will be without one of its primary defensive stars; Jermaine Waller, who was named ACC Midyear Top Defensive Player by the AP, has opted out of the bowl game. He plans to enter the NFL Draft process in 2022.
Who Will Win the Pinstripe Bowl?
This one is a toss-up. The Pinstripe Bowl is one of the most evenly matched bowl games of the postseason, and the favorite has fluctuated between Virginia Tech and Maryland. Keep an eye on the line over the next week, as you might see some changes there.
If you want to look at the bowl’s history, the underdogs have won seven out of the last nine games outright.
The exciting thing about this game is that each team specializes in different things that will help them during this matchup. For example, the Hokies are 35th in rushing yards per game, while Maryland is 78th in rushing yards allowed per game. Meanwhile, Maryland wields the No. 13 passing offense (307.1) in FBS college football, while the Hokies’ defense is only 53rd in passing yards allowed (219.9).
I like to look at two stats in games that are a toss-up. The first is turnover margin. This season, Maryland has a turnover margin of -7 thanks to their 18 giveaways, while Virginia Tech is +2 and only has 12 giveaways. I also like to look at time of possession, where Virginia Tech also has an advantage. It holds the ball for an average of 29 minutes per game, while Maryland only holds it for 28.
I believe that the Hokies’ rushing attack will help them control the ball, while turnovers will also play a significant role in this game.
I’m picking Virginia Tech to win 28-24.
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