Maryland football will look to pick up a third consecutive bowl win when they kick off the season against Towson. Expectations for the program continue to grow as head coach Mike Locksley now prepares for year five with the program and with quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa back under center, Maryland will look to top the eight-win 2022 season.
Fall camp is roughly one month away and DraftKings has set Maryland’s win total for next seven at seven while FanDuel has their win total set at 7.5, but The Action Network has a more bullish outlook on the Terps’ season after releasing point spread projections for every team’s regular season games. TAN predicts Maryland to be a favorite in ten of its 12 games this season, including a slight favorite against Penn State.
The Action Network’s projected spreads
Week One: Maryland (-43.8) vs. Towson
Week Two: Maryland (-41.9) vs. Charlotte
Week Three: Maryland (-13) vs. Virginia
Week Four: Maryland (-14.5) @ Michigan State
Week Five: Maryland (-22.6) vs. Indiana
Week Six: Maryland @ Ohio State (+13.2)
Week Seven: Maryland (-5) vs. Illinois
Week Nine: Maryland (-13.1) @s Northwestern
Week Ten: Maryland (-0.3) vs. Penn State
Week 11: Maryland (-6.9) @ Nebraska
Week 12: Maryland vs. Michigan (-11.4)
Week 13: Maryland (-17) @ Rutgers
Despite losing six key contributors on offense and a pair of starting corners to the NFL, Maryland reloaded through the transfer portal to replenish the roster. Wide receivers Tyrese Chambers and Kaden Prather complement a room that returns Jeshaun Jones, Tai Felton, Octavian Smith and Shaleak Knotts while the entire running back room returns to give Taulia Tagovailoa several options at his disposal for his fourth season with the program. Maryland also dipped into the portal for three new starters as offensive line coach Brian Braswell works with his new-look unit in fall camp. Meanwhile, former Cincinnati cornerback Jaquan Sheppard starts opposite of Tarheeb Still with Beau Brade and Dante Trader back to give Maryland confidence in the secondary. Jaishawn Barham leads an inside linebacker room that features Ruben Hyppolite, Fa’Najae Gotay and Caleb Wheatland to give the Terps’ confidence in the front seven, but TAN’s projections give Maryland validation in hopes of reaching its third consecutive bowl game.
“We’re able to evaluate the new guys as well as some of the younger players that weren’t able to contribute as much a year ago and, whether it’s early enrollees or transfers, I thought we got better,” head coach Mike Locksley said following the spring game. “We have some work to do obviously this summer as we start preparation for our season opener against my alma mater, the Towson Tigers but I expect the guys and the culture within that locker room to put the necessary work in for us to be ready come September 2nd.”
The biggest question for Maryland heading into the season will be the offensive line with Corey Bullock, one of two Terps newcomers listed among the highest-graded returners at their position, a big piece of the equation. Former Frostburg lineman Gottlieb Ayedze starts opposite of DJ Glaze to take over at the tackle spots with former LSU lineman Marcus Dumervil factoring into the rotation, while former Elon center Michael Purcell joined the program to give the unit an experienced center.
“This summer’s going to be huge for us,” Locksley added. “We’re still in the process, as this portal window closes, of trying to maybe add a couple of bodies and hopefully to give us what we need to be able to start preparation. But I like the way the O-line is shaping up. Coach Braswell, Louis Swaba, one of our assistant analysts, they’ve done a really good job with the group in getting the new guys caught up to speed, but still some work to do.”
Related Links
2023 Maryland football position overview: running backs
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