The Maryland Terrapins’ football team is still searching for that elusive sixth win of the season, and their road takes them to Michigan in East Lansing to face the 8-1 Michigan State Spartans, a team ranked 7th in the entire NCAA.
Maryland (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) was tied late in the game with Penn State a week ago that slipped away on a Pick-6 late in the fourth quarter. That seems to be the Terps problem in their recent history of closing out strong. The Big Ten is certainly a challenge in the conference as you have to get by Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, and Michigan at the very least, and Maryland just is not there yet. Sure, they shocked Penn State last year for the rare upset win, and do they have it in them to beat a top team today?
For the Spartans, they showed last week that the holes in their defense could be exploited and it led to their first loss of the season. They gave up 400 yards through the air in their last two games as their pass defense and secondary got torched. This gives Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa a chance today to follow what Purdue did to Michigan State last week. The Spartans (8-1, 5-1) lead the head-to-head games against the Terps 9-2 in their brief history with Michigan State taking five of the six games since Maryland joined the Big Ten.
Maryland should score their points on offense, so the question is whether the Terps’ defense can limit the Spartans’ biggest weapon, Heisman hopeful Kenneth Walker III. On the ground, Walker has rushed for more than 100 yards in six games and over 200 in two of those. He has averaged at least five yards per carry, and he can also catch passes out of the backfield. The scouts are there today to watch him, and Maryland faces a tough task in trying to contain him, which is the key to this game.
The Terps must win at least six games to be bowl eligible, and Michigan State stands in their way.
Maryland at Michigan State
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Spread: Michigan -13
