Outlook and predictions for the Big Ten East Division
By Griffin Hill
DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 26: Levern Jacobs
Maryland
2016: 5th in BIG Ten East
2017 Prediction: Terrapins drop down a notch to 6th place.
The Maryland Terrapins are going to struggle. The schedule this year shows no love for Maryland and apparently neither does Vegas, projecting the Terrapins to win just 3 games.
Maryland opens up their season with everything but an easy start against Texas. The Longhorns are a top 25 team and the Terrapins are going to have their hands full.
A year ago Maryland displayed a receiving core that proved they can score, but the running game didn’t keep up.
I don’t believe Maryland can out score more than half of their opponents this season. The Terrapin defense gave up 30 points or more five times in 2016, and were blown out by every top team in the BIG Ten.
If D.J. Durkin’s team wants to make it to a bowl game this year the defense is going to have to give the offense something they can rely on. That isn’t a far-fetched goal, but anything more would be a stretch.