Following a bye week, Maryland football (5-2, 2-2) returns to action this week when they hit the road to take on Northwestern (3-4, 1-3) on Saturday afternoon.
The Terps will look to end their two-game slide with a chance at securing bowl eligibility in week nine. With one win until the Terps officially eclipse the six-win mark, we take a look at where Maryland stands heading into the week:
Action Network: Quick Lane Bowl vs. Miami (OH)
Athlon Sports: Music City Bowl vs. Missouri
CBS Sports: Music City Bowl vs. Missouri
ESPN (Kyle Bonagura & Mark Schlabach): Music City Bowl vs. Tennessee
Saturday Tradition: Las Vegas Bowl vs. UCLA
247Sports: Music City Bowl vs. Florida
For reference, the Big Ten bowl tie-ins are:
-Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 23 at 7:30 in Las Vegas
-Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26 at 2 PM in Detroit
-Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Dec. 26 at 9 PM in Phoenix
-Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 28 at 2:15 PM in New York City
-Gator Bowl, Dec. 29 at noon in Jacksonville
-Orange Bowl, Dec. 30 at 4 PM in Miami
-Citrus Bowl, Jan. 2 at 1 PM in Orlando
While reps from the Citrus Bowl have been in attendance for multiple Maryland home games this season, Maryland remains a popular selection in the Music City Bowl, set for Dec. 30 in Nashville. Tennessee is coming off a road loss against Alabama, while Missouri handled South Carolina at home. While Florida was also on a bye like Maryland, UCLA is coming off a blowout win at Stanford. Miami (OH) is coming off a home loss against Toledo, their second loss of the season.
Tennessee and Missouri remain frequent opponents projected in Maryland’s projected bowl matchups, while the Terps haven’t faced the Gators since the 2001 Orange Bowl. Still, for Maryland to make the postseason a reality, the Terps will look to pick up its second road win this weekend against the Wildcats.
“Obviously we got a bye week looking at us this week, get some guys healthy back out there, guys that we need while also taking a look at all the things we do offensively, defensively, special teams quality control it and get this thing back on track and back in rhythm,” head coach Mike Locksley said following the loss vs. Illinois. This thing starts and ends with me as the leader. I’ve got to have our team prepared to go play. We don’t make excuses.”
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