Sixteen Points Won't be Enough

Like I have said before – in this blog, in the newspaper, on the radio, on TV – this game is close to being a toss-up because Maryland plays well at home, plays well against better competition and usually bounces back strong after losses. But the more I look at North Carolina, the better I feel about the Tar Heels. I will have a prediction tomorrow, but when talking to quarterback Chris Turner about the game yesterday, it was clear that the Terrapins need to put up some points.

Turner said 16 points won’t be enough to win Saturday’s game, in all likelihood.

“We are going to have to score some points,” he said. “It might be a shootout.”

The problem is that Maryland is 11th in the ACC in scoring offense, averaging 17.2 points in conference games. The Tar Heels are third, averaging 26.2 points in ACC games.

The other problem is that North Carolina is first in total defense. And Maryland has not played any of the teams that rank in the top four in the conference in total defense (in conference games).