The Difference: the Running Game
INTERSTATE 24, Tenn. --- A certain presidential candidate once famously said he would not exploit his opponent's youth and inexperience. Well, expect Maryland to exploit its opponent’s youth and inexperience all night.
Middle Tennessee State will be fired up. The Floyd Stadium crowd will be small but loud. The Blue Raiders will be undaunted by Maryland. But I don’t expect it to matter. No team in the country has fewer seniors than MTSU, which also has only 67 healthy and eligible scholarship players.
The battle at the line of scrimmage is the one to watch. Maryland’s offensive line will manhandle a quick but undersized MTSU defensive line. The Terrapins offensive line outweighs the Blue Raiders by an average of 58 pounds at each position. That will enable Da’Rel Scott to have a chance to duplicate last week’s performance. He may not get as many yards, though, because freshman Davin Meggett and sophomore Morgan Green could get more carries than last week. Green had none, obviously.
Quarterback Chris Turner needs to be solid but not necessarily spectacular. With a tough game against Cal on the horizon, how much of the offense should Ralph Friedgen-James Franklin show if it has tonight’s game in hand?
Maryland defensive tackle Jeremy Navarre is one to watch defensively against a particularly young offensive line. MTSU has some speed offensively, from most accounts, and could threaten to score more than Delaware did last week. But it’s hard to see how MTSU slows Maryland’s running game enough to make the game tight:
Prediction: 31-13 Terps
Let’s roll out some predictions. What’s the final score tonight? How vanilla should the offense be if the game is in hand??
By
Eric Prisbell
|
September 6, 2008; 12:55 PM ET
Categories:
Football
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Posted by: Anonymous | September 6, 2008 1:21 PM | Report abuse
24-17 Terps. We never cover against lesser opponents anymore... (trying to use reverse psychology so we win in a laugher!)
Posted by: Sam | September 6, 2008 1:22 PM | Report abuse
34-17 Terps. Turner: 1 td, 1 int. 3 rushing TDs, spread the wealth. Two FGs. Kicker gets some confidence.
Most of Mid Tenn pts will be junk pts late in the 2nd half.
Posted by: cbs | September 6, 2008 1:49 PM | Report abuse
30-7 Terps
Posted by: dave | September 6, 2008 2:18 PM | Report abuse
Terps 24 - 6. EP Do you have prizes for correct predictions. FREDTERP
Posted by: FREDTERP | September 6, 2008 2:22 PM | Report abuse
How about a $50 gift certificate for Slick Pig BBQ in Murfreesboro, which will get you about eight great dinners?
Seriously, though, I'll try to come up with something by next week's Cal game for the person who can nail the score.
Posted by: Prisbell | September 6, 2008 2:29 PM | Report abuse
I gave 31-24 "Terps" last year on nj.com for the Rutgers game. Missed by 3 points? FREDTERP
Posted by: Anonymous | September 6, 2008 2:44 PM | Report abuse
Obi gets two field goals in a Terps victory, 27-14.
Posted by: Frank | September 6, 2008 3:09 PM | Report abuse
31-14 Terps. 2 touchdowns for scott, one for meggett and turner throws for one.
Posted by: V | September 6, 2008 3:13 PM | Report abuse
How about a $50 gift certificate for Slick Pig BBQ in Murfreesboro, which will get you about eight great dinners?
Seriously, though, I'll try to come up with something by next week's Cal game for the person who can nail the score.
Posted by: Prisbell | September 6, 2008 2:29 PM
Hopefully this turns out a little better than the Redskins song contest on La Canfora's blog, and this time the winner will actually receive their prize...
As for tonight's game, it's a laugher folks.
35-10.
Maryland runs all over them, and yes, covers the -13 spread handily.
Posted by: Rudes | September 6, 2008 4:13 PM | Report abuse
Ok, we'll get one field goal.
38-10
Posted by: Barno | September 6, 2008 4:15 PM | Report abuse
Terps win by 10. 17 to 7.
Close game. Running game dominates and we run out the clock at the end.
Posted by: Kbone | September 6, 2008 4:41 PM | Report abuse
The Terps don't blow teams out anymore, and it's on the road. 24-14 Terps
Posted by: Fort Liquordale | September 6, 2008 4:42 PM | Report abuse
38-13, OBI gets one FG. The defense aka DBLOCK sets the offense up twice with interceptions. The backs aka THE ROC BOYS with the addition of Green will get 300+ rushing. Turner gets 257 in the air. Take this to the house! GO TERPS!!!! TSR STAND UP!!!!
Posted by: steadymobbin | September 6, 2008 4:44 PM | Report abuse
I will have to pick the Terps though I am a little nervous about them playing on the road in a strange environment. I dont see us blowing them out--i will say Maryland wins 23 to 13. Chris Turner throws 1 TD pass and has a decent but not spectacular game throwing for 200 yards.
Posted by: zman | September 6, 2008 4:50 PM | Report abuse
Terps: 34
MTSU: 20
Posted by: Mariolucasforthree | September 6, 2008 7:11 PM | Report abuse
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statement game. Terps win 49-7. They get everyone off their back going into next weeks big game.