The Maryland Terps have never been so glad to see a bye week then this past week, as the Terps enjoyed a much needed bye week, as the Terp’s looked to get healthy and regroup after a rough game the week before against Indiana losing on the road 42-28.

Maryland is looking to bounce back and get back into the win column with a Friday night showdown with Northwestern on national TV, as the Terps look for there first Big 10 win of the season.

We’ve got your Friday night plans covered 🐢

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— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) October 6, 2024

Maryland (3-2, 0-2 Big 10) look to start building some momentum heading into the middle of the Big 10 schedule with a date with the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2 Big 10) who are losers of two straight games, as the Terps head into the game with some key injuries which include WR’s Tai Felton and Kaden Prather and safety Dante Trader Jr.

It would be a big loss if Trader Jr. is unable to play, but I think the defense will be ok and still force some turnovers as Maryland leads the nation in turnover margin at (+11), as well as being 2nd in the Big 10 in interceptions with 8, which is 2 behind Minnesota.

It would be devastating if Felton and Prather are unable to go, as Felton is tied for 2nd in the nation in receptions per game at 9.2 catches per game and is also 6th in the nation in receiving yards with 642 yards.

I say this would be devastating because, now Terps fans tell me if I am wrong here, but I cant see “the next man up” coming close to that kind of production, but more importantly it would mean that the Terp’s would have to get the run game going.

Here lies the problem, as Terps fans are well aware of the difficulties that the revamped offensive has had this year in opening up very few holes for the running game and to make matters worse the Northwestern defense is 17th in the nation in allowing rushing yards per game at allowing only 93.2 yards per game.

The Maryland rushing attack is ranked 12th in the Big 10 in rushing yards per game at 146 yards per game, so on paper this does not bode well for the Terp’s.

Maryland is favored by 9.5 at home against a Northwestern team that is reeling and more then likely will have nothing to lose.

Where as, I think this is must win for Maryland in order to keep there bowl chances alive and to get some confidence and momentum, going into next weeks game against conference newcomer USC.

I hope Maryland does not over look the Wildcats and be thinking ahead to the USC game, because if Felton and Prather are unable to go, this Friday night game under the lights and in the national spotlight will come down to turnovers and penalties.

This could be a trap game for Maryland and it will be a close one in College Park, as the defense will come up big in this game.

Prediction:
Maryland 24
Northwestern 16