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Tradition Crystal Ball: Predicting every Maryland football game in 2024
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Editor’s note: Saturday Tradition’s annual Crystal Ball series continues with Iowa. We’ll go in alphabetical order through the 18-team B1G.
Previously: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa
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Welcome to another edition of Tradition’s 2024 Crystal Ball series! Throughout the series, we are predicting every game on the Big Ten schedule, including the addition of league newcomers Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.
Today, we will dive into Maryland with Mike Locksley entering his 6th season since returning to the program. Locksley has finally unlocked success with the Terrapins, delivering 3 consecutive bowl victories and a 16-10 overall record the past 2 seasons.
Now, the challenge is replacing key faces, including program record-holder Taulia Tagovailoa at quarterback. It cannot be overlooked that Maryland’s 3 best seasons under Locksley coincided with Tagovailoa’s success, and finding the right QB successor will be paramount.
Before Tagovailoa’s arrived, Locksley’s head coaching career was defined by a disastrous stint at New Mexico and interim appearance as Maryland’s head coach. Has Locksley truly unlocked the formula to stability for the Terrapins, or is he destined to regress without Tagovailoa under center? I believe we will soon find out.
In terms of the preseason numbers, FanDuel has set Maryland’s win total at 6.5. Fans can track the latest and best odds with Tradition’s Maryland sports betting apps.
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Now, let’s get to the Crystal Ball:
Game-by-game predictions
Week 1: vs. UConn (W)
UConn was among the worst programs in FBS last season. For a Maryland team breaking in a new starting QB, it’s the perfect tune-up game before getting a B1G game in Week 2. Beyond the outright result, fans should watch the offense closely because any hiccups could be a glaring warning sign for the games to come.
Week 2: vs. Michigan State (W)
Jonathan Smith has a chance to do good things at MSU, but he’s starting a rebuild pretty much from scratch this season. If the Terrapins were on the road, I might feel differently, but an early-season matchup leans in favor of host Maryland. Locksley needs to win this to show Maryland is not all the way back to square 1 without Tagovailoa.
Week 3: at Virginia (W)
If Tony Elliott doesn’t find any momentum this fall (he has a 6-16 mark leading Virginia), he could be looking for a new job. We’ll see how that shakes out, but I don’t expect the Cavs to seriously threaten the Terps in nonconference play. Fans can enjoy one more win against a former ACC rival with Maryland holding a 45-32-2 all-time series lead.
Week 4: vs. Villanova (W)
This game isn’t on the hardwood, otherwise I might feel differently. Instead of being a key nonconference game in basketball, Maryland’s matchup against Villanova on the gridiron should be smooth sailing before resuming B1G play. Getting to a bowl game in 2024 will not be easy, so going 3-0 in nonconference play is a priority for the Terps.
Week 5: at Indiana (W)
Indiana is the 2nd game Maryland gets against a B1G opponent adjusting to life with a new head coach. Curt Cignetti faces the added task of taking over the team with the worst performance in the conference a season ago. Any improvement in Year 1 will be marginal, but don’t expect the Hoosiers to grab this one.
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: vs. Northwestern (W)
David Braun’s program was one of the major stories of college football last season, turning in a bowl game after replacing Pat Fitzgerald as the interim. Now the permanent head coach, Braun is likely to get his first taste of rough waters with a new QB and a tough schedule. A win here also moves Maryland to 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in B1G play.
Week 8: vs. USC (L)
This game against Lincoln Riley and USC could turn into a high-scoring affair. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trojans feel desperate at this point in the season based on some projected early-season struggles. On the flip side, I could see Maryland trying to rest on some early-season success and caught a bit off guard here.
Week 9: at Minnesota (L)
Maryland is 4-3 all-time against Minnesota, but Locksley is 0-2 in trips to Minneapolis. Minnesota’s offense could be a work in progress early on, but I think the Gophers will be fairly balanced by the time Week 9 rolls around. It will be tough for the Terps on the road.
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: at Oregon (L)
Maryland fortunately gets a bye before traveling to Eugene to face Oregon in the first-ever meeting for the two teams. Unfortunately for the Terps, Dan Lanning’s squad is scary talented and possesses plenty of depth. Brace yourselves, this one could get ugly.
Week 12: vs. Rutgers (L)
Maryland dominated the series with Rutgers while Tagovailoa was under center, winning 3 straight from 2021-23 and scoring 37+ points every time. I expect the tables to turn this fall, and the Scarlet Knights could be the B1G’s biggest surprise by the end of the season.
Week 13: vs. Iowa (L)
Inexperienced QBs vs. an Iowa defense? This could be a matchup nightmare. Maryland will get some experience at the position before we get to Week 13, but it’s equally true whoever starts at QB will not face a defense comparable to the Hawkeyes until then. Even at home, this will be a long day for the Terps.
Week 14: at Penn State (L)
Penn State is 43-3-1 all-time against the Terps. The most recent victory for Maryland came in the COVID season, and Penn State has responded with 3 consecutive blowouts since. By the final game of the season, the Terrapins will be bruised up but thankful to be bowling.
2024 Projection: 6-6 (3-6)
I’m not sure if Maryland has an enemy in the scheduling office or if this is just the way of life in the new B1G. Either way, Maryland’s November schedule could be among the toughest in the country with road trips vs. Oregon and Penn State, and I have all 4 November opponents well above the .500 mark this year.
In the end, Maryland can squeak out another bowl game with a strong start to the season, and in a year of regrouping a bit, that’s an accomplishment to hang your hat on.
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Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.