2008 Maryland Terrapins College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting football this season, don’t miss Alex’s winning college football picks.

Maryland Terrapins (6-7, 3-5 in 2007, 5th place in ACC Atlantic)
The Maryland Terrapins have been the epitome of mediocrity in the ACC for years. The team has won between three and five conference games every year since 2003, and it appears that 2008 will be much of the same for HC Ralph Friedgen and the Terps.

2007 Highlight: Despite beating two top-10 teams earlier in the season, Maryland still found itself a win short of bowl eligibility going into their final game of the 2008 season at North Carolina State. The rushing attack piled up 249 yards and four scores for the Terps’ offense, while the ‘D’ held the Wolfpack to 250 total yards in the 37-0 whitewash in Raleigh.

2007 Lowlight: The 4-4 Terps went into Chapel Hill to take on the lowly 2-6 North Carolina Tar Heels in the first week of November. The offense was a complete disaster for Maryland, as they only converted four of 14 third down attempts. Butch Davis and the Tar Heels locked up the mild upset in the 3rd quarter when they took a 16-3 lead. They held on to win 16-13, and sent the Terrapins back under .500.

Offensive Outlook: It looks as though Friedgen has little idea who his starting quarterback is going to be this season. Jordan Steffy and Chris Turner are both returning with experience, but neither put up stellar numbers in ’07. Look for Florida transfer Josh Portis to take some snaps under center this season as well. Regardless of who the field general is they’ll be looking for junior WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, who had 786 receiving yards a year ago. Heyward-Bey has the potential of being a first team All-ACC player by year’s end.

Defensive Outlook: The defense only returns five starters from last year, and none of the incoming talent appears to be anything to rave about. Senior LB Dave Philistin must have another strong season to give a secondary with only one returning starter a chance. DT Jeremy Navarre had 5.5 sacks a year ago, and will be the anchor to a relatively young defensive front.

2008 Preview: There’s just enough cupcakes on the Maryland schedule that could have this team bowling yet again, but they’re not one of the stronger squads in the ACC. Delaware, Middle Tennessee, and Eastern Michigan are obvious must-wins, but a home slate which includes California, Wake Forest, NC State, North Carolina, and Florida State could mean that the Terps won’t have to win a conference road game to qualify for a bowl game. It could be a return trip to the Emerald Bowl in ’08.

2008 will be a success if… one of the quarterbacks sets himself apart from the rest. Dual quarterback systems usually aren’t very successful, and the team apparently has little confidence in any of their options. If Steffy and Turner can’t step up their play from a year ago, Portis better step in and make an impact in a hurry, or the Terps offense will struggle all season.

It should be another ho-hum year for the Terrapins, who will be content just to get to make another bowl trip this winter.

Prediction: 6-6, 5th place in ACC Atlantic

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