Maryland Football: Can Terps finally get back to a bowl game?

Schedule/predictions

While Maryland football could improve next season, the schedule isn’t easy, and getting to six wins is going to be difficult, especially with a challenging opener against West Virginia.

Here’s a look at each game with predictions for the Terps in 2021.

• Game 1: vs West Virginia (L): This should be a fun opener and actually think it will be a competitive game. But West Virginia is a solid team and Leddie Brown will have a field day.
• Game 2: vs Howard (W): this will be a confidence-building win for the Terps and the offense will build some momentum.
• Game 3: at Illinois (L): Illinois isn’t going to easy to beat this season especially with Bret Bielema at the helm. This will be another close loss for Maryland.
• Game 4: vs Kent State (W): Maryland has enough talent to win this one going away.
• Game 5: vs Iowa (L): Iowa is a tough, physical team. Kirk Ferentz and company have a legit shot of winning the West Division and will take this by double-digits.
• Game 6: at Ohio State (L): Ohio State should be dominant on offense in 2021 and in Columbus, it’s hard to see the Terps keeping this one close.
• Game 7: at Minnesota (L): With fans back in the stands, Minnesota will have its home-field advantage back and that will be enough to win a shootout.
• Game 8: vs Indiana (W): The Terps always find a way to win at least one game a year it seems like they shouldn’t and this year, the victim is Indiana.
• Game 9: vs Penn State (L): Maryland comes into this game with momentum and it’s a battle, but Penn State is just the more talented team.
• Game 10: at Michigan State (W): In a battle of teams trying to get a bowl berth, Tagovailoa will lead the Terps to another mild upset with a stellar day.
• Game 11: vs Michigan (L): Michigan has dominated this matchup in recent years. Maryland will make this one close but the Wolverines will win in the end.
• Game 12: at Rutgers (L): With a bowl game off the table, Rutgers will be the more inspired team on Senior day and the Terps will end their season with two straight losses.

Record: 4-8 overall, 2-7 Big Ten

There will be plenty of battles between the bottom 3-4 teams in the Big Ten East for bowl berths and in my eyes, the Terps really need a win that first week over West Virginia to make it happen.

This could be a team that improves according to the eye test but doesn’t show significant improvement in the win column, which would put Mike Locksley in a precarious position.