116 replies to this topic

[BSLZackKiesel]

Following a hard-fought road victory over Indiana, the Terps return to College Park to face Northwestern for Homecoming. QB Taulia Tagovailoa will have an MRI today and we should know more about his status after that, but the working assumption is that Billy Edwards, Jr. will be the signal caller for awhile, if not the entirety of the season. The Wildcats are currently 1-5 (1-2), with their only win coming in Week Zero against Nebraska in Dublin. The 2020 season which saw them win the Big Ten West and finish ranked #10 in the country feels a long way off at this point.

 

Maryland received some votes in last week's AP Poll, so keep an eye on that this week.

 

ESPN's FPI currently ranks Maryland as the #20 team in the country.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Maryland receives 5 votes in this week’s AP Poll, ranking them #33 in the country.

[Pedro Cerrano]

The goal all year was to hold your own against the elite Big 10 teams and make a bowl. Obv winning this game and Rutgers is important.

More curious to see how we hold up against Wisconsin. Ohio State. Penn State. Etc

[BSLZackKiesel]

Maryland opens as 13.5-point favorites in this game.

[BSLMikeLowe]

More curious to see how we hold up against Wisconsin. Ohio State. Penn State. Etc

 

Think that's going to depend on Tagovailoa's health. Hopefully it's not serious and he can come back. With having NW this week then a bye, that gives him a little cushion before going to Wisconsin Nov 5th.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Think that's going to depend on Tagovailoa's health. Hopefully it's not serious and he can come back. With having NW this week then a bye, that gives him a little cushion before going to Wisconsin Nov 5th.

Yeah, I think they can win with Edwards but a lot more has to go right (good running game, no penalties, solid defense). Taulia’s abilities negate a lot of that. Based on how he reacted to the injury, and the fact he was carted off the field, I’d be shocked if it’s something other than a torn ACL.

[BSLZackKiesel]

The team has announced that Tagovailoa won’t be speaking to the media tomorrow. He’s spoken every Tuesday during the year. We should hear today or tomorrow about the extent of his knee injury.

[BSLMikeLowe]

I'd say that's definitely a bad sign.

[BSLZackKiesel]

I'd say that's definitely a bad sign.

Yeah, they typically schedule surgeries pretty quickly so that may be where he’ll be tomorrow.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Yeah, they typically schedule surgeries pretty quickly so that may be where he’ll be tomorrow.

 

I guess if you want to take the optimistic point of view, maybe his status is up in the air and they don't want to put him in front of the media at this point.

 

But this is Maryland, and he's a QB....I think we can do the math there.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Maryland’s depth chart for this game has Tagovailoa listed as the starting QB, but as we’ve seen before that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

We should know more when Locksley addresses the media at Noon.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Locksley says that Tagovailoa’s injury was a re-aggravation of the injury he suffered against Michigan (sprained MCL). He received an MRI and a second opinion, and is a game-time decision for this week’s game.

On one hand, it sounds like he hasn’t had surgery. On the other, receiving a second opinion isn’t a good sign that it’s something minor. At the very least, it’s extremely doubtful that we see him this week with the bye next week.

There’s also a rumor (and a picture) going around that he was spotted at practice yesterday. So that’s something.

[BSLMikeLowe]

The game-time decision thing is just typical gamesmanship, leaving Northwestern to possibly have to prepare for two different QBs. I bet even the social media stuff is part of it. Hopefully he's good to go Nov 5 at Wisconsin.

[BSLMikeLowe]

No movement on the -13.5 point spread following the announcement yet, but the over/under dropped 2 points (52.5 to 50.5).

[BSLZackKiesel]

To this point in the season, Maryland is tied with Houston for committing the fourth-most penalties in the FBS.

Who’s committed the most? Alabama.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Who’s committed the most? Alabama.

 

Bryce Young hides a lot of warts. The penalties seem to be an issue for them exclusively on the road. Of their 66 on the season, 42 came in their three road games, including 17 at Tennessee Saturday, which was a school record.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Reports from Maryland’s practice say that Tagovailoa was a full participant, along with OL Jaelyn Duncan, LB Ruben Hyppolite II, and DB Jakorian Bennett.

[BSLRoseKatz]

This could obviously backfire but I'd assume you can beat Northwestern with your backup and have Taulia as rested as possible for going to Wisconsin 

[Mike B]

Maryland needs to win and play well in doing it against NW.  Getting to 6-2 makes them bowl eligible and hopefully sets them up for a respectable finish as the schedule toughens.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Maryland needs to win and play well in doing it against NW.  Getting to 6-2 makes them bowl eligible and hopefully sets them up for a respectable finish as the schedule toughens.

If Maryland wins this game, it'll be the first time since 2010 that they've become bowl eligible before the month of November.