The 2010 University of Maryland Football schedule has been released.
Sept. 6 Navy @ Ravens Stadium (4PM start)
Sept. 11 vs. Morgan State
Sept. 18 @ West Virginia
Sept. 25 vs. Florida International
Oct. 2 vs. Duke
Oct. 9 Bye
Oct. 16 @ Clemson
Oct. 23 @ Boston College
Oct. 30 vs. Wake Forest
Nov. 6 @ Miami
Nov. 13 @ Virginia
Nov. 20 vs. Florida State
Nov. 27 vs. NC State
My initial thoughts are that this represents a pretty difficult schedule for the Terps to rebound from.
I understand why the Navy game makes sense, but this is not a game I like to see Maryland play. It is one of those games, where if you win as expected; nobody cares. If you lose, it will be seen as a ‘bad’ loss. The Midshipman are coming off of a 10 win season, including a 4 point loss at Ohio State, a win at Notre Dame, and a blowout win over Missouri in the Houston Bowl.
Navy will have a large portion of the Ravens Stadium crowd, and their triple-option offense will be very hard to deal with in Week 1.
To me, this is even more incentive for the Terrapin offense to run the triple-option their-selves this coming Fall. That said, Maryland does have better talent than Navy, and should win this game.
The superior size, and strength of Maryland will have them run all over the Bears of Morgan State – that is a win.
I am happy to see the rivalry vs. West Virginia be renewed, but obviously not excited about a Maryland trip Morgantown. The Mountaineers finished 2009, ranked in the Top 25, and have a veteran team returning for 2010. I see Noel Devine, and Tavon Austin (Dunbar) running all over the Terps, this is a game you have to anticipate a loss.
Florida International of the Sun Belt Conference is coming off a 3 win season. After the game at West Virgina, the Terrapins will feel good about returning him to face the Golden Panthers of FIU. This is a win.
Duke won 5 games in 2009, as Coach David Cutcliffe continues to build the Blue Devils towards respectability. One of those 5 wins came at the expense of Maryland. Duke will be looking to replace their QB Thaddeus Lewis. Cutcliffe is doing good things, but this is a conference game at-home that Maryland can not afford to lose. I see a Terps win.
I like that the Terps will have a bye before heading to Death Valley, but I would still expect a Clemson victory. If the Terps want to step-up within their Atlantic division, they are going to need to steal a game like this on the road. The Tigers are losing RB CJ Spiller, and WR Jacoby Ford, but retain the main components of their defense.
At Boston College is another division game, that will be difficult. The Eagles have won at-least 8 games in 7 straight seasons. BC is always tough, physical, and prepared. The Eagles have beat Maryland 4 of 5 times since joining the ACC. Maybe more than any other game on the schedule, I would like to see Maryland make a statement, and win this game. Right now, I look at this as a loss.
I respect what Cutcliffe is doing at Duke, but hold Coach Grobe at Wake Forest at even another-level. The Demon Deacons had a rough 5-7 season, but Grobe had won a lot of games with limited talent. For the most part, they are a competitive team every season. The departure of QB Riley Skinner, will certainly give Wake a different appearance this coming season. At-home, Maryland should (and needs to) win this game.
The Miami Hurricanes won 9 games in 2009, based on the strength of a lot of talented freshman. You give that group the experience they gained, another off-season of conditioning; and the ACC might have a National power on their hands. QB Jacory Harris was at times inconsistent, but he is an electrifying college-talent. The Terps and Miami last played in the 2006 season, with Maryland winning at-home. It will be very interesting to see where both of these teams are in November. Right now, I would expect a loss.
After a 3-9 season, Al Groh was fired at the University of Virginia. Groh has since moved-on to Georgia Tech as their Defensive Coordinator. The season was an aberration for the Cavs, who are traditionally closer to a .500 team. I imagine there is still some talent for their new coach Mike London to work-with. The Maryland/UVA games the last three-seasons have been horrific for Terps fans. Three years ago, the Terps lost a heart-breaker 18-17 at-home. The following-year Maryland was smashed 31-0 at UVA. This past-season the Terps again lost at-home 20-9. I think this changes this year, and Maryland finds a way to win on the road.
With the departure of Bobby Bowden, Seminole Nation seems energized. Their recruiting class finished within the Top 10, as they signed a flurry of top-players after Bowden’s announced departure. Fund-raising is increasing among their base. They are going to bring back 16 starters, including 10 on offense. Talent (or a lack there-of) has not been an issue for the Seminoles in recent seasons. There has been plenty of talent, but a lack of results. It will be interesting to see if things change under new Coach Jimbo Fisher. One area FSU fans have openly complained about in recent years, was the composite of the Coaching staff as a whole. Fisher has brought in a number of new Assistants, so the players should be hearing some different messages this season. There is certainly enough talent for FSU to win the Atlantic Division, but we will see if they are able to handle the burden of increasing expectations. Maryland played FSU very tough at Tallahassee this past-season, but lost to FSU for the 3rd consecutive-season. The Terps have played right with the Seminoles a number of times in recent years, but the Seminoles have won 4 of the past 6 match-ups. This includes a blasting two-years ago in College Park. If you look at the road-games vs. Clemson, BC, and Miami as losses; this is the game the Terps need to win to exceed expectations. Right now, I would call for a loss.
For some indication of how the NCST season is going to go, take a look at the MLB June Amateur Draft, and Russell Wilson. The Wolfpack QB has a chance to be picked high in the baseball draft, and could leave College. Some people thought NCST would contend for the Conference title in 2009, but finished just 2-6 in the league, and 5-7 overall. Of course, one of their conference wins was a 38-31 victory over Maryland in Raleigh. I like the Terps to turn the favor at-home in 2010.
So at first-glance, I have the Terps finishing 2010 at 7-5 overall, 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and 2-3 in the Atlantic Division.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.