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| SJS College Football Extravaganza |
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| Boughter's Bluster | ||
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Back in their shellsMaryland's fast 5-2 start has quickly dissolved into a murky 5-5 situation, with the Terps needing a win at home vs. Virginia this weekend to qualify for a bowl. Given that NC State (6-5) can finish no better than 7-5, you can expect the Terps to gain at least the ACC 5th place slot, the Oahu Bowl, with a win. Despite the beating they took Saturday at the hands of #1 FSU, the Terps are at least in position to salvage the season this weekend.Why have the wheels come off the Terrapin (station) wagon? It seemed like they were a top 25 caliber team at 5-2, given that the losses came to top ten ranked Ga. Tech and tough Clemson. When the Terps blasted hapless North Carolina 45-7 on national TV October 23rd, it seemed like they had the tools to give every team remaining on their schedule a fight. 7-4, or possibly even 8-3, looked like a good bet for the final record, with games vs. mediocre Duke, NC State and Virginia left to play. Instead, what happened is that Maryland was upset on homecoming by Duke, got blasted in back-back weeks by NC State and FSU, and now that Virginia is playing better and Terps QB Calvin McCall is out for the season, UMd seems a good bet to go to 5-6. The truth is that the wheels have not really come off, it's just that Maryland took advantage of a very weak schedule to start the season on a high note. This team has gotten better - they have obviously improved each year under coach Ron Vanderlinden, and 5-6 is a solid mark for a team that was picked to finish near the bottom of the ACC. The offense, under frosh QB Calvin McCall and underrated tailback LaMont Jordan, was near terrific for a lot of the season, piling up yards and points in many of their games. Consider that the Terps are ranked #2 in the ACC in rushing offense, and #5 in both total and scoring offense, and you can appreciate how much they've improved since last year, when they were a bottom feeder in all offensive categories. The defense put in a decent performance too, considering their youth and inexperience. Hey, it has to be exciting for Maryland fans just to be in bowl contention* after how pitiful this team was for much of the decade (* not intended to insult those Maryland fans who remember the national championship in '53, or who remember a team that regularly contended for ACC titles in the 70's and 80's). Next year the schedule gets harder, but the team is more experienced. They should chase a bowl bid again. BCS mess updateFour teams are alive: FSU, Va. Tech, UF & Nebraska. FSU plays for the title if they beat UF. If they lose, they need two of the other three to lose. Va. Tech probably (see below) plays for the title if they win out. UF is in if they beat FSU, and beat 'Bama in the SECC. Nebraska has to win out, beat Texas in the Big 12 championship, and have either Va. Tech lose, or UF beats FSU but loses to Bama. Apparently there's some chance that Nebraska could pass Va. Tech if both teams win out and FSU wins. The gameIn my season prediction for FSU I predicted a 10-1 regular season with a loss in the Swamp. Although the 'Noles looked good in their last game, and UF has struggled, I don't have a compelling reason to change my forecast. Three reasons why UF spoils FSU's undefeated season: 1. Their defense is super; they will stop FSU's anemic ground game and pressure Weinke, an immobile QB. 2. Their newly-emphasized running game will grind it out against an FSU defense that gave up 160+ yards to single running backs (LaMont Jordan, Thomas Jones) in each of the last two games. 3. Two losses in the Swamp in one year? A statistical improbability. This is the reverse of the 1996 game, when FSU used defense, the running game, and home field advantage to beat a much better Gator team. So call it: John's line: UF 23, FSU 17 |
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