Maryland Terrapins 2009 NCAA Football Predictions ACC Atlantic Division: Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen’s  is one the best in the ACC but he will have a tough time competing for the division title having lost nearly half of his lettermen. The Maryland Terrapins were in the hunt to win the Atlantic Division last season before a late collapse cause them to finish 3rd. The problems this season seem to lie in the trenches with both lines looking very suspect. Maryland Terrapins 2009 NCAA Football Predictions to win the 2010 BCS Championship is at 150-1 odds at Sportsbook.com.

The Terps offense has the potential to be explosive with playmakers at the skill positions. The key will be for a vastly inexperienced O-Line to jell quickly with only 2 returning starters. Last season the Terps ranked 3rd in the ACC in total yards and should come close to that mark despite losing stud WR Darrius Heyward-Bey. The wideouts are stacked with talent and the running game will feature 1st team ACC RB Da’Rel Scott.  Sophmore WR Torrey Smith has the potential to be 1st team ACC in 09’.  Big-armed QB Chris Turner has had bouts of inconsistency but is a top-40 quarterback in the nation.

The Terps 3-4 defense remains the real question mark with only 4 starters returning on defense.  Maryland always seems to produce NFL caliber LB’s under Friedgen and this year’s leading contender is 6’3” 255 Lbs.  MLB Alex Wujiak. OLB Adrian Moten is also a disruptive force that recorded 5.5 sacks in 07’ as a freshmen. The D-line is very green with only a combined 10 starts among them. DE\LB Jared Harrell is an athletic specimen at 6’5” 265 Lbs. that could make some noise. The secondary is not spectacular but they do have experience and should finish in the middle of the pack in pass-defense. Special teams has a game-changing weapon in KR Torrey Smith.

Maryland is a well-coached team with a nice offense in place, but their are too inexperienced to compete with the big dogs of the ACC. Look for Maryland to finish somewhere in the 5-6 to 6-5 range in 09’.