Maryland

"Good Road Win" by "J-Dawg" Jarrett Whaley

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Terps off to a good start with last road win and they have a good shot against Virginia this weekend.

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"Terps Do Know How to Play Run Defense" by Joe Johnson

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   Maryland stopped one of the better running teams in the ACC. What's next?
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"Don't Fear the Turtle" by Drew Smith

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The Fridge is Hot!

• Terps tough to figure out
• Welcome to the bench

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"Maryland's Run Defense To Be Tested Again" by Joe Johnson

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   West Virginia rolled up more than 300 rushing yards against Maryland. The Terrapins' next opponent Wake Forest gained more than 400 on the ground in its last game. Maryland only has a week to figure out how to stop teams that like to run the ball.
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"Miller Accepts Role Change on Maryland's Line" by Joe Johnson

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   Maryland tight end Derek Miller put blocking ahead of catches against Clemson. Miller's move to tackle from tight end was for the good of the team.
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"Fear the Turtle this Week" by Drew Smith

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Maryland should return to winning ways

• Young, but good
• Fridge Fever

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Prediction: Clemson 27, Maryland 13 by Drew Smith

This one makes so much sense, it scares me. Clemson should win going away, but the Tigers have had problems in College Park during the Tommy Bowden era. Still, Clemson is the far superior team and they've got confidence while the Terps needed a final minute touchdown to beat Navy.

I'm also a big fan of Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, and I don't see Maryland's defense stopping his passing game. You also have to like Clemson, with its strong kicking game and that can be crucial in a road game like this.

Prediction: Clemson 27, Maryland 13

"Merrills Could Take Some Pressure off Maryland's Offense" by Joe Johnson

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   Maryland has a good running back in Mario Merrills -- at least through the first game. If the Terrapins are going to move the ball, they need a running game. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen wasn't sure what his running back situation was going to be but now he has at least one who can go for 100.
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Prediction: Clemson 24, Maryland 17 by Joe Johnson

Tommy Bowden's got this team turned around. The Tigers have won six of their last seven games and they will win again on Saturday because they have a better quarterback. Yeah, Charlie Whitehurst got knocked out of Clemson's win over Texas A&M but he still was 14 of 19 for 185 before going out.

History has been on the side of the Tigers in the series with Clemson holding a

28-23 advantage. When the game is played in College Park, it is all knotted at 11 -11. There has been one tie.

Maryland struggled to beat Navy, a lesser opponent. The Terps had to pull it out with a touchdown pass from quarterback Sam Hollenbach to Drew Weatherly with just over a minute left. Mario Merrills did rush for a career-high 149 yards against Navy, but the Midshipmen's defense isn't nearly as good as Clemson's.

Clemson raised its game and beat a ranked team. The Tigers did surrender the lead late in the fourth quarter to Texas A&M but they were able to put that behind them and drive for the winning field goal. A strategic blunder by the Aggies not to go for two left the door open for Clemson and the Tigers stormed through it.

Prediction: Clemson 24, Maryland 17

Prediction: Clemson 17, Maryland 20 by Rick Fields

It's early in the year and you never know with the ACC but right now, you've got to admit that momentum is with Clemson.  Many had written the Tigers off before the season even started especially with a beginning stretch that looked horribly brutal but after Tommy Bowden's resurgent squad took out Franchione's 17^th ranked Aggies, new respect was earned and a solidified belief level has emerged among the Clemson team and faithful.

But you can never count the Fridge out and Maryland even in years of great success has started slow.  The Terps struggled last week against Navy and all indications point to the Terps declining in the ACC power structure.

But we're in the whacky ACC and with most people believing that the Terps are already down for the count, the setting is ripe for an upset.

Prediction: Clemson 17, Maryland 20