Maryland ended its four-game slide this weekend, proving to be the lone revenue program to pull out a win, after a last-second 24-yard field goal lifted the Terps to a 13-10 win against Nebraska.
Maryland has now clinched bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season, marking the first time in program history since 2006-08. So where do the Terps land in the latest bowl projections heading into week 12? We take a look.
Action Network: Las Vegas Bowl vs. Arizona
Athlon Sports: Music City Bowl vs. Auburn
CBS Sports: Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. West Virginia
ESPN: Liberty Bowl vs. West Virginia (Sclabach), ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Auburn (Bonagura)
Saturday Tradition: Pinstripe Bowl vs. Georgia Tech
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
Maryland and Auburn haven’t squared off since 1983 when the Tigers took down the Bobby Ross-led Terps in a 35-23 loss in Auburn. Auburn moved to 6-4 following a 48-10 beatdown at Arkansas on Saturday with a cupcake matchup set this weekend ahead of the Alabama showdown. Maryland and Arizona have never squared off, though current assistant Kevin Sumlin served as the ‘Cats head coach for three seasons beginning in 2018.
A potential Maryland vs. Georgia Tech matchup would serve as another postseason ACC reunion for head coach Mike Locksley after already taking down Virginia Tech and NC State. The Yellow Jackets hold a 15-6 lead in the all-time series and have won five of the last six matchups. Head coach Brent Key is looking to guide Georgia Tech to his first bowl appearance in his second season with the program as they look to rebound against Syracuse following a 42-21 loss vs. Clemson over the weekend.
Of course, Maryland vs. West Virginia would serve as part two of the Neal Brown-Mike Locksley duel after the Terps defeated the Mountaineers in a 30-24 win in College Park to open the 2021 season.
Before getting ahead of possible bowl opponents, Maryland will now shift its attention to a potential seventh win, and they’ll face an uphill climb to do so this weekend.
Maryland has opened as a 20.5-point underdog vs. second-ranked Michigan on Saturday, which is set for a noon kickoff on FOX as part of the FOX Big Noon Kickoff Show with La Plata Beach the host to this weekend’s TV set.
“Our quarterback did a tremendous job of that last drive, of putting us in position to go win it. I can’t give enough credit to our defense. They created a bunch of turnovers. They kept playing with their back against the wall and when we needed them to get us the ball back, they got us the ball back. So credit to our defense, coach [Brian] Williams and his staff for having those guys ready to play. And now, because of that, we have an opportunity to shift our attention to a great opportunity back at home next week at The Shell against Michigan. Our specialists showed up today, Jack Howes knocking in the winning field goal, hit an earlier field goal, and then Brenden Segovia coming in for our injured punter, placing two of them inside the ten. It’s exactly what we talk about when we say next man up and gotta give credit to the specialists for executing what we needed to execute.”
Maryland, who nearly defeated the Wolverines in Ann Arbor last year, will look for its first win against Michigan since 2014 under Randy Edsall.
Related Links
Young Terps: football clinches bowl eligibility, basketball slides in Asheville
Maryland sleepwalks through Asheville, fall to UAB, 66-63
Specialists, run game loom large in Maryland’s win vs. Nebraska
Everything Mike Locksley said after Maryland’s 13-10 win vs. Nebraska
