09/05/09 at California
Cal is ranked #12 in the nation and will be looking to avenge last year's 35-27 defeat at Byrd Stadium. The Bears were 9-4, fourth in the PAC-10 and beat Miami 24-17 in the Emerald Bowl. 13 starters return for the Bears, which is one reason they are 21 point favorites over the Terps.
09/12/09 James Madison
Terps home opener, it's the first meeting of these two since 1998, which resulted in a Maryland 23-15 win. James Madison finished last season 12-2 and was ranked #1 in the Football Championship Series (Formerly NCAA Division 1-AA) for part of the year. JMU averaged 401 yards, 38 points per game and reached the FCS playoff semi-finals. This will not be a picnic for the Terps, who struggled to beat FCS foes Delaware and Villanova their past two home season openers.
09/19/09 Middle Tennessee State
Last year the Blue Raiders upset the Terps 24-14 on their home field. I called it one of the more disgusting losses in Ralph Friedgen's tenure at Maryland. Hopefully the Terps extract some revenge. We'll get an idea of how good MTSU is when they open their season at Clemson. Maryland leads the series 2-1.
09/26/09 Rutgers
Rutgers finished their season winning seven straight after a 1-5 start. Included in their streak was a win over NC State in the Papa John's Bowl. That was Rutgers third straight bowl win. Maryland and Rutgers met in 2007, with Chris Turner coming off the bench for an injured Jordan Steffy and guiding the Terps to a 34-24 upset win on the road. Rutgers has eight starters back on offense this year and has a pre-season #25 ranking by ESPN.
10/03/09 Clemson
When these two meet, the game is usually close. Four of the last five meetings have been decided by four points or less. Last year the Terps won at Clemson 20-17. This year Clemson has a new Head Coach in Dabo Swinney. The Tigers usually play well at College Park, going 13-11-1 all time. They have won their last two at Byrd Stadium, including a 30-17 win in 2007.
10/10/09 at Wake Forest
Bad memories the last time the Terps were at Wake Forest. The Terps blew a 21 point lead and lost 31-24 in overtime. Maryland won last year's game at Byrd Stadium 26-0. Each of the past three seasons Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe has led his team to eight or more wins and a bowl appearance. They beat Navy in the inaugural Eagle Bank Bowl last December at RFK Stadium. Riley Skinner, the QB who seems like he's been at Wake Forest forever, returns for his senior season. Maryland leads the all time series, 41-15-1 and are 20-7-1 at Wake Forest. Wake's won two of the past three meetings though.
10/17/09 Virginia (Homecoming)
Virginia just flat out thumped Maryland 31-0 last year at Scott Stadium. The Cavs also won a close game at Byrd Stadium 18-17 in 2007. Always an intense game between these two schools. The Cavs finished 5-7 last season and Head Coach Al Groh is on the hot seat this season.
10/24/09 at Duke
No longer the laughing stock of the ACC, Head Coach David Cutcliffe lead Duke to four wins last year in his inaugural season coaching the Blue Devils. Cutcliffe turned down the Tennessee Head Coaching job when it became available last Winter. Cutcliffe was an assistant there under Phillip Fulmer prior to taking the Duke job. In other words, Cutcliffe's on to something at Duke and is thinking possible bowl bid. Duke has beaten Maryland once in the past ten meetings. Last year Duke's defense allowed ten fewer points per game and is expecting to be a solid unit in 2009. First meeting between the two schools since 2004. Maryland is 30-18 all time vs Duke.
11/07/09 at North Carolina State
NC State was one of the hotter teams in the conference, winning their last four games before losing to Rutgers in the Papa John's Bowl. Last year Maryland won in the rain 27-24. NC State is led by All-ACC Quarterback Russell Wilson. Maryland has won three in a row vs the Wolfpack.
11/14/09 Virginia Tech
The Hokies are 32-8 in the ACC since joining the conference in 2004, winning the ACC title three times. The Terps lost last year's game 23-13. Overall Maryland's ACC record with Virginia Tech is 0-3 and they have been outscored 106-28. With eight starters back on offense and seven starters back on defense, Virginia Tech is a favorite for the ACC title.
11/21/09 at Florida State
The Seminoles hammered the Terps at home last year 37-3 in brutally cold temperatures. I know as I stayed for the entire game when most fans departed at halftime. Prior to last season's debacle, Maryland had played Florida State tough and won home games in 2004 and 2006. It's been awhile since Florida State won the ACC (2005). Head Coach Bobby Bowden's team went 9-4 last season and finished ranked in the top 25.
11/28/09 Boston College
The Eagles have won three of four meetings with the Terps since joining the conference. Maryland's lone win was a 42-35 win at Byrd Stadium in November 2007. Last year Boston College won 28-21. This year the Eagles promoted their Defensive Coordinator Frank Spaziani to Head Coach. BC had a lot of player turnover this offseason so they probably won't be the division title contenders they have been in the past. Their secondary lead the nation last year with 26 interceptions so I expect them not to miss a beat defensively.
In most magazines I've picked up I see the Terps are picked fifth or sixth in the ACC Atlantic Division. Coach Ralph Friedgen I'm sure is anxious to prove people wrong about his team and will no doubt use these picks as a motivator. I'll do my best to highlight their season with pictures and thoughts from my seats at Byrd Stadium in Section 19, Row EE.
