Week 13. Terps hit the road at Penn State looking for final attempt at gaining bowl birth

WHEN: Saturday November 24th 2017

WHERE: Beaver Stadium in State College Pennsylvania.

TIME: Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm ET

TV: Game can be seen nationally on ABC (Check your local listings)

 

OVERVIEW OF THE TERPS

 

After a near what would have been a monumental upset of a top 10 ranked Ohio State football team, the majority focus this week has been getting the players back up emotionally and physically after such a heartbreaking last second loss.

The Terps seniors have been much more vocal these last few weeks and this week the focus was mainly on encouraging the young guys and avoiding a let down performance this weekend against Penn State.

Usually in college football teams struggle to get back up for games in the following week after a hard fought loss however Maryland (5-6, 3-5) shouldn’t have much of if any of such struggles.

Mainly because the last match up vs this week’s opponent was a major wash for the bad guys.

Last season finale saw a Maryland team who was still caught up in the previous week defeat in the hands of the Rutgers Scalett Knights only to followed that last minute loss with a major egg the following week at home against these very Nittany Lions.

The final score last season was 63-0 absolute embarrassment by Maryland in the hands of PSU and the Terps vow this week to seek major revenge.

While many at Maryland would love to consider Penn State as rival and trust me many in the Terps fan base dispiced PSU more so than probably only to Duke.

However for the PSU side the hatre is just not the same.

Many PSU fans don’t even consider Maryland good enough to be a rival to PSU however a win Saturday could go a long way in changing those thoughts.

In their previous 41 meetings PSU has absolutely dominated this match up winning 38 of those previous 41 meetings.

Maryland has only managed 2 victories with the first one coming in their very first meeting way back in the 50’s and the latest coming in 2015 in the infamous “No Handshake game”.

All Penn State has done since that Maryland victory in State College is obliterate the Terps with a average victory margin of 30+ since.

Last season Ohio State also gave Maryland a major whooping however as we saw last weekend teams can change “a lot” over a year and Maryland is a much better team albeit with enormous distractions.

If the same Maryland team or better shows up that we saw against the Buckeyes the Terps wouldn’t only keep up but they’ll have a very good shot at beating a much weaker PSU team than in previous seasons.

 

PENN STATE OVERVIEW

 

The Nittany Lions coming off a near upset in New Jersey barely beating Rutgers 20-7.

The Lions were over 28 points favorites but allowed Rutgers to stay in the game up until a few terribly Scalett Knight’s turnovers late in the second half.

Penn State (8-3, 6-2) are looking to win their 9th ball game and possibly lock up a Near Year Six bowl game birth and a chance to go for their 3rd straight 10+ win season.

The Lions are led by do it all senior quarterback Trace McSorley whose as tough and competitive as they come regardless of position in college football.

This guy is an absolutely gamer who’ll put it all on the line each and every game for his team.

Maryland knows McSorley well as he’s been a thorn on the Terps side over his PSU career.

Trace hasn’t had the season him or anyone else thought he’ll have coming into the season and has been hurt and injured for majority of the season.

I doubt if he’s even healthy come Saturday but no question the guy will still play on his final chance to play in front of the State College faithful.

This is not nearly as good a offensive PSU team as we’ve saw lately but they do still have plenty of top level talent though young at this stage in their respective careers.

A guy like KJ Hamler is their number one playermaker not at running back thus if the Terps don’t contain him as they failed miserably against the Buckeyes playmakers on the outside then Penn State will win period.

For the Terps to win Saturday they must absolutely make PSU one dimensional and keep McSorley from leaving the pocket at ALL times, the guy is deceptively fast for a quarterback and if the Terps fail to recognize that then he’ll make them pay dearly.

 

KEYS TO VICTORY

 

FEED McFarland

KEEP feeding #5 and DO NOT go away from him

NO Turnovers CANNOT give PSU short fields

CONTAIN TRACE (Do NOT let him leave the pocket)

DB’s bounce back (CANNOT get beat DEEP)

FORCE short Passes (Come Up And Tackle)

SPECIAL TEAMS MUST BE SPECIAL (Going to need a game changing play by the ST)

THROW on first down (KEEP PSU guessing as they’re very young and inexperienced on defense)

TRICK PLAYS ( Play with absolute desperation/ Try and do everything to WIN)

 

PREDICTION

 

Maryland offense comes out swinging as Tyrell Pigrome hits a few bombs deep down the field early and the defense frustrates McSorley to the tune of 4 sacks and 3 cause turnovers (2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery). McFarland continues his torrid pace with another 200+ rushing showing. Terps finally clinch that elusive 6th victory of the season.#GOTERPS