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- After a hot start, Maryland has dropped the last two.
Maryland started the season going 4-0 but got beat pretty well the last two games by being outscored 117-31. It didn’t help that the last two teams they faced were Top 10 teams in Iowa and Ohio State. Hard to fully gauge this team as the first four opponents weren’t exactly headliners and the last two teams were the top two teams in the conference. Before losing the last two, the offense was scoring 37 points a game before stalling to 15 points a game in their last two outings.
- Maryland enters the game banged up.
Like a couple of teams in the conference, Maryland has lost a few of their top playmakers for the season. The Terrapins will be without their top two receivers in Dontay Demus Jr. and Jeshaun Jones, who are both out for the rest of the season. They will also be missing one of their leaders on defense in linebacker Durell Nchami. Look for Rakim Jarret to fill in at receiver and Lawtez Rogers on defense.
- Maryland goes how far Taulia Tagovailoa takes them.
In the first four games of the season, the junior quarterback had 10 touchdowns, one interception and averaged 335 yards a game. In the last two games which were losses, he had four touchdowns, seven interceptions, and averaged 218 yards per contest. No doubt Taulia is one of the better playmakers in the conference and can beat you either on the ground or in the air. He tore up Minnesota last year passing for 394 yards and three touchdowns, adding two touchdowns on the ground.
- Maryland sure does like to play Minnesota.
Heading into this season, Maryland is 14-27 since 2017. Three of those wins have come against Minnesota, meaning P.J Fleck is 1-3 against the Terrapins giving them 20% of their wins the last four years. Just like how Fleck has been successful against Nebraska and Purdue, Maryland has had the same success against the Gophers. The only win Fleck has had against Maryland was in 2019 when the Gophers went on to win 11 games that year.
- Maryland is looking to go bowling.
Maryland’s last bowl game was in 2016, which is also the last year they finished above .500. They have gone to four bowl games since 2010, which was also the last time they won a bowl game. Already at 4-2, their chances of going to a bowl game aren’t great according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. They only have Maryland being favored in one of their last six games, which is against Indiana. They also play Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan, and close out the year at Rutgers. They give Maryland a 26% chance of winning against Minnesota.