Big Ten Power Rankings Week 8: Purdue and Maryland Rise, Northwestern Falls
Saturday Blitz Big Ten Power Rankings Week 8
This Big Ten thing is looking easy for the Maryland Terrapins. With a blowout win against Indiana and then what really was a blowout against Iowa, this team is now 5-2 on the year. And when you take into account its 2 losses, which are to Ohio State and what has turned out to be a very good West Virginia team,then it’s obvious this team deserves to be in the Big Ten elite category right now.
Despite playing three quarterbacks this year, facing injury issues at the position again, and dealing with issues on defense, Randy Edsall and the Terps aren’t missing a beat. Stefon Diggs hasn’t missed a beat after last season’s injury, and the running game is incredible. Defense is thin, but Will Likely had another interception last week, looking like the superstar he is. With CJ Brown healthy again this week, this looks like a team in good shape.
Road trips against Wisconsin and Penn State over the next two weeks will give us an idea of where this Maryland team stands and if it truly is among the Big Ten elite. We don’t expect the Terps to beat Michigan State, but between those two road games and a road game against Michigan before closing out the year at home against Rutgers, this team could make it to 9-3. They could also fall to 7-5 or 6-6.
An 8-win season is not unreasonable, though, for how good we believe the Terps truly are.