Realistically, going into Saturday’s game against Michigan State, Maryland football had two chances left this season to pick up its sixth victory and secure bowl eligibility.
The Terps, however, played maybe their worst offensive game of the season on Saturday, losing to the Spartans 24-3 and falling to 5-4 on the season. Matt Canada’s team heads to Indiana this Saturday, Nov. 10 to take on the Hoosiers in what could be the most important game of the season for the Terrapins. Maryland opens as 3.5-point underdogs, and with Ohio State and Penn State looming at the end of the season, the Terps final chance for bowl eligibility may be in Bloomington.
Despite the fact that Maryland will most likely be underdogs in its final three games, some major outlets still think the Terps will get to a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Here are their projections.
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field (Dec. 26 at 5:15 p.m. in Detroit, Michigan) vs. Ohio
This would send the Terps back to the Quick Lane Bowl where they played in 2016 — a 36-30 loss to Boston College. However, this time they would be facing the Ohio Bobcats, a team that picked up its sixth win with a 59-14 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday. The Bobcats are now 6-3 and 4-1 in the MAC on the season, but their final three games are tough, and losses could drop them into a lesser bowl game among those with MAC tie-ins.
Sports Illustrated: Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field (Dec. 26 at 5:15 p.m. in Detroit, Michigan) vs. Georgia Tech
Sports Illustrated’s Eric Single also thinks the Terps will head back to Ford Field, but he has them taking on a former ACC foe. The Yellow Jackets are currently 5-4 and 3-3 in the ACC after taking down lowly North Carolina 38-28 on Saturday. The Jackets have Miami, Virginia and Georgia left on the schedule, so finding that sixth win could be tough for Georgia Tech, but if the team does get to six victories, it could have it first matchup with Maryland since a 33-13 win in College Park back in 2012.
Sporting News: New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium (Dec. 27 at 5:15 p.m. in New York City) vs. Georgia Tech
Bill Bender of Sporting News also has the Terps taking on Georgia Tech, but he has them heading up to Yankee Stadium for the game. Either way, it would be interesting to see Maryland’s defense try to defend the triple option.
CBS Sports: Redbox Bowl at Levi’s Stadium (Dec. 31 at 3:00 p.m. in San Francisco, California) vs. Oregon
Of all the projections we have seen for Maryland this season, this has been the best bowl game, but also the toughest matchup. Oregon was ranked in the top-25 for a good chunk of the season, and even though they are not ranked at the moment, the Ducks are 6-3 and 3-3 in the Pac-12. If this were the matchup, it would also be the Terps second trip to San Francisco in the last five years. Maryland played in this bowl game in 2014 and lost to Stanford 45-21 back when it was known as the Foster Farms Bowl.
College Football News: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Cotton Bowl Stadium (Dec. 26 at 1:30 p.m. in Dallas, Texas) vs. North Texas
A game against North Texas would maybe be the most interesting for Maryland, as the Mean Green are now 7-2 on the season and should finish 10-2 with their schedule looking pretty weak down the stretch. North Texas has had a great season, and a matchup with the team in its home state could be trouble for the Terps.
Action Network: Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field (Dec. 26 at 5:15 p.m. in Detroit, Michigan) vs. Pitt
After big wins over Syracuse, Duke and Virginia in the last four weeks, Pitt is now 5-4 and poised to make a bowl game. But now, the Panthers actually have a pretty clear path to the ACC Championship game, and if they can get there, they would probably be playing in a more prestigious bowl game than the one in Detroit. But if Pitt does falter down the stretch, the Panthers would be a beatable opponent for the Terrapins.
