clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Maryland vs. USF Game Preview

The first big test for USF in 2014 is at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow.

By Collin Sherwin
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Who: Maryland (1-0, 0-0 Big 10) vs. USF (1-0, 0-0 AAC)

What: A huge game for the Bulls, a scheduling misclick for the Terrapins.

Where: Raymond James Stadium

When: 3:30 p.m. (sorry Panhellenic Council)

Why: Because FOOTBALL!

Spread: Maryland opened -11, up to -13.5, and -14 in some places. Also 88% of the betting action has come in on Maryland according to scoresandodds.com. A LOT of money is on the Terps.

Injuries: Maryland will be missing Tavion Jacobs, who was lost for the season with a meniscus injury in the Terps win over James Madison last week. Linebacker Cole Farrand, who was used sparingly vs. JMU, is expected to start on Saturday.

For the Bulls, Thor Jozwiak is out with a shoulder injury as well as turf toe. Andre Davis is day-to-day with a bruised sternum. Mike McFarland has been cleared to play following his knee injury.

Reconnaissance Blogging:

Voodoo Five talking with Testudo Times (SBNation's Maryland blog).

Testudo Times on Maryland with Voodoo Five.

Storylines:

* For Maryland, they've made no secret they're interested in stopping Marlon Mack and the running game.

"I feel like if we can stop the run, then we'll be pretty good," Terps nose tackle Darius Kilgo said. "Our main focus is playing the run, being able to stop the run and making them one-dimensional as a team and then putting pressure on the quarterback."

Hey Mike White... they just called you out.

Both teams had QB's struggle in Week 1. Mike White was 9-26 for 181 yards with an INT, and Maryland's sixth-year senior C.J. Brown was 11-24 for 111 yards against the Dukes. The team that makes the least mistakes and can establish enough of a run game to allow for the passing game to see some single coverage will probably be successful.

* Nightmare fuel:

* Tomorrow is Bid Day for sorority recruitment so there won't be active sorority girls, but still expect a strong student crowd in the North End Zone. Last week's game against Western Carolina drew just over 21,000 in actual turnstile count despite a 75 minute lighting delay before the game. Showers and thunderstorms are expected for tomorrow too... can USF get 30,000+ in the door for their first-ever B1G opponent in Ray Jay?

* Marlon Mack will be the focus. Despite what some hacky bloggers have been saying, it's unlikely he rushes for 275 yards tomorrow. But how close can he get? What kind of performance can he and his offensive line get against a tougher opponent? A big day tomorrow might bode well for the rest of the season.

* The Bulls secondary was strong against the Catamounts, but will see much more talent in the Terrapins tomorrow. Maryland is dinged up and having players serve suspensions at that position... can USF continue to cover effectively? And how will the adjustments and "more tools" given to the defense by Chuck Bresnahan this week help cover the passes to the flat that seemed to give them trouble last week?

What say you, Bulls fans? Will we see the first big upset of the Willie Taggart Era tomorrow?