Opponent: No. 15 Penn State (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten)
Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 24, 3:30 p.m.
Last matchup: Penn State 66, Maryland 3 — Nov. 25, 2017
Last week: Maryland lost to then-No. 9 Ohio State 52-51 (OT), Penn State beat Rutgers 20-7
Line: Penn State -13, per ESPN
TV: ABC — Mark Jones (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Molly McGrath (sideline)
Streaming: ABC Live Stream or WatchESPN
Radio: Maryland Sports Radio Network (105.7 FM Baltimore, 980 AM D.C.) — Johnny Holliday (play-by-play) and LaMont Jordan (analyst)
Student radio: WMUC Sports (88.1 FM College Park) — Connor Newcomb and Max Marcilla
What to watch for the Terps
The run game
In last week’s overtime thriller against Ohio State, the Terps racked up 339 rushing yards on 7.1 yards per carry. The run game has been a huge part of the Terps’ offense this year — their 2,688 yards on the ground account for 64 percent of their total offense. For Maryland’s offense to have a successful game, running backs Anthony McFarland, Javon Leake and Tayon Fleet-Davis will have to have a big day. Ty Johnson being healthy to play would help, too.
The pass defense
Despite leading the nation in interceptions with 18, the Maryland pass defense has struggled in recent weeks. Last week against Ohio State the Terps allowed more than 400 yards through the air, and in their last four games, the Terps have given up an average of 249 passing yards. With veteran Trace McSorley leading the Penn State offense, the Maryland pass defense is likely to be tested.
Penalties
The Terrapins have racked up 93 penalties on the year, the fourth-most of any team in the FBS. Last week, Maryland committed nine penalties, with six of them giving the Buckeyes first downs. To pull off the upset against No. 15 Penn State, Maryland will have to limit its turnovers and play more disciplined.
What to watch for the Nittany Lions
Pressure from the defensive line
After getting embarrassed by Michigan 42-7 three weeks ago, Penn State’s defense has responded with authority. In its last two games against Wisconsin and Rutgers, the unit had 18 total tackles for loss, with nine of them being sacks. Seeing as Ohio State got 11 tackles for loss and four sacks a week ago against Maryland, the Nittany Lions should bring a lot of pressure after Tyrrell Pigrome.
Read options
Penn State is blessed with not only having McSorley, a mobile quarterback, but also Miles Sanders, a running back with nearly 1,100 yards on the season. The two of them have combined for 1,754 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, so expect the Nittany Lions to use the read option early and often against the Maryland defense.
Third-down offense
The Penn State offense has been pretty bad on third downs this year: The team ranks 90th in the country with a 37.7 percent conversion rate. In the Nittany Lions’ three losses on the year — to Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan — they’re a whopping 8-for-42 (19 percent) on third downs; in their eight wins, they’re at 44.6 percent. If Penn State wants to avoid the upset this weekend against Maryland, it’ll need to keep its offense on the field.