Maryland Terrapins 2023 College Football Preview
July 25, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 8-5
ATS – 7-6
Hey, now.
That’s BACK-TO-BACK JACKS for the Terrapins as they’ve put together two solid seasons in a row amongst the GIANT PINES in the Big Ten East. They went 7-5 during the regular season and four of those losses were completely understandable (Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, Wisconsin). Maryland also gave the Wolverines all they could handle in a hard-fought 34-27 loss at the Big House. Win #8 came in the Mayo Bowl when they slithered past NC State by a score of 16-12.
Maryland Terrapins 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
BABY TUA is back for one more season in College Park and he’s one of the best QBs in the conference (52-26 career TD to INT). The top-two WRs are back in the mix and they’ve also added a few interesting bodies thru the portal including former FIU Panther Tyrese Chambers who had a monster 2021 season (1,074, 9 TD) and a decent 2022 campaign (544, 4 TD). We love the RB room as everyone is retained including feature back Roman Hemby (989, 10 TD, 5.3). The biggest concern on the entire squad is probably an inexperienced offensive line that only brings back one starter, and recall that the Terps allowed an unseemly 43 sacks LY (last Big Ten). If the BIG FELLAS don’t stink, this has the chance to be a pretty good offense.
DEFENSE
Maryland did a respectable job on defense LY (#8 Big Ten scoring defense, #9 total defense) and RAISE YOUR HAND if you knew that the Terps allowed a mere 23 PPG in 2002 <crickets>. That’s what we thought. The DL is the only real problem area as they need to introduce FOUR new starters. Coach Locksley may be high on the group but he could sell buckets of sand to tourists in the middle of a desert. They’ve brought in a few talented players over the offseason so we’ll see how it goes. The majority of the starters return to the back seven including leading tackler safety Beau Brade and it’s great to add stud CB Ja’Quan Sheppard from Cincinnati. This looks like an average Big Ten defense that’ll be good vs the turds, and not-so-good vs the best teams in the conference. It would be a yuuuge help if they could find a way to get more pressure on the QB (24 sacks, #9 Big Ten LY).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Colton Spangler is one of the best punters in the Big Ten (45.1, 41.1 LY) but they’ll need to find a new PK. Nothing stands out at PR or KR at the moment.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Maryland is gonna get off to another hot start, just like they did last year for MEGALOCKS SEASON WIN TOTAL CLUB members #CHA-CHING. It’s very possible that they roll into Columbus at 5-0 (or at least 4-1) and they’ve got more winnable games in the 2nd half of the season. The ultra-corrupt politicians in Baltimore, MD must have called in and threatened the schedule-maker’s office ** because the Terps miss Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and CORN from the West in crossover action.
** fact check: likely, but no solid proof yet
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing overly-spooky is noted.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 25
Over 7.5 -110
Under 7.5 -110
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
We liked the ‘5.5’ a LOT better last season. They’ve won 15 games over the L2Y (8,7) so that looks like the right number. They’re good enough to go ‘over’ but we don’t see much room for error at that market price.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
CHOO CHOO. All aboard the FADE TRAIN. HC Mike Locksley has a sub-.500 ATS mark with the Terps and he’s been GHASTLY in the role of road dog (5-10, 33%) and in conference action (14-24, 37%).
CRABCAKES AND FOOTBALL! That’s what Maryland does.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
We’re hoping for better, but this season has the look of 2022 all over again. They were a solid Big Ten squad last year but not good enough to crack into the top-tier of the division. That’s not an insult because Maryland is in DEEP playing in the same group as Michigan, Ohio St, and Penn St. They’ve got an excellent QB and a buttery-soft schedule so we’ll call for seven or eight wins and another bowl appearance. Go Terps!