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2009 Maryland NCAA Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on July 21, 2009

maryland 72109 The Maryland Terrapins are coming off an 8-5 campaign in 2008, capped off by a Humanitarian Bowl victory over Nevada, but they lost 30 seniors from that team. Will less experience mean less wins for the Terps in 2009. Get my take in this college football betting preview. Maryland is listed at +30,000 to win the 2009 BCS championship at Sportsbook.com.

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Offense – Maryland ranked just 92nd in the country in scoring offense last season, averaging only 21.8 points per game, but the talent is there to improve on that number this season. It all starts with senior quarterback Chris Turner. Turner threw for 2,516 yards last season and is quickly moving up in the Maryland record books. He enters his third season as a starter ranked seventh on Maryland’s all-time list with 4,474 passing yards. Turner should benefit from a strong running game led by Da’Rel Scott. Scott earned first-team all-league honors after rushing for over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. The Terps did lose no. 1 wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey to the NFL, but they are expecting big things from Torrey Smith this season. He came on strong late in the year and finished with 24 catches for 336 yards and two scores. He should easily double those numbers. While the skill positions are looking pretty solid, the Terps won’t be able to excel if the offensive line doesn’t hold up on its end of the bargain. Maryland lost five of its top seven linemen from last year’s squad, including a trio of starters.

Defense – Maryland is excited about the arrival of new defensive coordinator Don Brown and his blitz-heavy defense. While this should end up being a good look for the Terps over time, the big question is if they have the troops to pull it off this season. The defensive line certainly looks like a problem area after losing staples Jeremy Navarre and Trey Covington. Tackle Travis Ivey is really the only guy who has proven much at all and he has been hampered by injuries. He’s got to stay on the field this season. The Terps also lost key guys in their linebacker corps, but they will benefit from their top linebacker, Alex Wujciak, coming back. Wujciak’s 133 stops last season were the second most by any player in the ACC. He should be an all-leaguer in 2009. Across the back, the Terps enter the season looking like they’re in good shape. The safety position is deep with tough players who aren’t afraid to hit and have shown the ability to come up with big interceptions. Terrell Skinner is about as aggressive a free safety as you’ll find and strong safety Jamari McCollough led the Terps with four picks in 2008.

Prediction: 6th ACC Atlantic – The Terps are young and they have questions up front on both sides of the football. Plus, they must adjust to a new defense and one that can give up big plays frequently if assignments are blown. Plenty of skill players remain, but I believe Maryland’s inexperience will show this season. Maryland is listed at +1600 to win the ACC Atlantic at BetUS.

The winning starts here with Jimmy Boyd’s expert football picks!

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