Maryland Terrapins - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

Ralph Friedgen is the Maryland Terrapin coach, but he also seems to be something of an illusionist. How else do you explain ranking 88th in total offense, 84th in total defense, 96th vs. the run, and getting outgained by almost 50 YPG and still winning nine games? Friedgen is one of the great unsung coaches in college football, taking over in 2001 for a program that had suffered through five straight losing seasons. But they went 31-8 in their first three years under Friedgen and won a couple of bowl games. However, Maryland had gone just 10-12, and 6-10 in the ACC in 2004-2005, so last year's 9-4 campaign was certainly timely.

The Terrapins lived dangerously last year. After a 3-2 start, they won five straight games (none by more than six and two by a single point). And their first three wins of the season came at the expense of powers like William & Mary, Middle Tennessee State and Florida International. Late-season losses to Boston College and Wake Forest brought Maryland back to reality and knocked them out of the ACC race. But they managed to beat Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl. This season, they return seven starters on offense, including senior RB Lance Ball and sophomore WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, and six on defense. But they'll have to replace two-year starting QB Sam Hollenbach and several members of defensive front seven.

The schedule is favorable; Maryland visits Wake Forest, Rutgers and Florida State, but gets West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Clemson and Boston College at home. Maryland might not be blessed with an inordinate number of returning starters this season, and they aren't the most talented team in the league. But Friedgen has done a good job of wringing almost everything from his players and he may have a trick or two up his sleeve in 2007.

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