Maryland (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) looks for the upset when they face Michigan (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) on Saturday afternoon at 12pmET from The Big House in Ann Arbor in this Big 10 matchup.
The Wolverines are coming off an easy 59-0 win over UConn last week at home, while the Terps found a way to beat SMU at home 34-27 as a 2.5-point favorite.
Last season, Michigan (-16) crushed the Terps on the road 59-18.
When you look at the stats, Maryland should have lost to SMU on Saturday night. They gave up 369 passing yards and 151 rushing yards to go with a ridiculous 15 penalties for 141 yards. The penalties ranged from false starts to offensive holding, pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct. Several players were flagged for multiple penalties. They currently rank tied for 126th with 10.3 penalties per game.
“Sometimes they don’t act in character,” head coach Mike Locksley said to The Diamondback. “What do you do, kick them out of your house? You punish them.”
Home Run Hitter@RakimJarrett has eight career TDs, five are 40+ yards.#TBIA pic.twitter.com/MANiJESpqe
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) September 19, 2022
The positive was that the Terps found a way to win and that's by picking off Tanner Modecai twice and forcing a Mordecai fumble. Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa was solid with 221 yards passing and two TDs, but it was the running game led by redshirt freshman Roman Hemby's 151 yards and a TD that was the key to the win.
Maryland should be able to move the ball at times against Michigan, but the defense is the biggest concern. They are allowing 392 yards per game (89th) and they faced Charlotte and Buffalo in their first two games. They are also giving up 274 yards per game in the air to rank 108th in the nation. If they continue to struggle on the back end and commit multiple penalties, they will be in big trouble on Saturday.