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Syracuse Football: Week 2 Maryland Terrapins crystal ball predictions

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 27: Anthony McFarland #5 of the Maryland Terrapins runs past Del'Shawn Phillips #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 27: Anthony McFarland #5 of the Maryland Terrapins runs past Del'Shawn Phillips #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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Ryan Lee, Contributor (1-0)

Syracuse is on the road again with a date with the Maryland Terrapins. A Power 5, and one time ACC rival will give Syracuse a major test before they return home. Syracuse is 1-0 on the season after defeating Liberty in Week 1 but confidence is slightly down.

In Week 1 the Orange struggled offensively through the air as quarterback Tommy DeVito struggled to get on the same page as his receivers, seeming to be throwing in locations that his receivers didn’t expect to be. This is also with the potential loss of starting center Sam Heckle that caused a reshuffling of the offensive line in the first half against Liberty.

With both Heckle joining McKinley Williams presumably on the shelf for Week 2, SU will be missing two important interior lineman on both sides of the ball. However, the defense seemed to be more capable to overcome injury after pitching a shutout against the Flames. The pass rush was impressive with eight sacks in their first win of the season; including a pair from one of Williams’ replacements Josh Black.

The Syracuse defense also suffocated Liberty’s offense with an astounding -4 rushing total “given up.” They ranked 28 in the country in Week 1 total defense yard given up, but their struggling offense will face the defense who had the best week in the Terrapins who allowed only 68 yards in their own shutout of the FCS Howard Bison 79-0.

Former Virginia Tech quarterback Josh Jackson was impressive in his Maryland debut completing 15 of 24 passes with four touchdowns. Howard couldn’t contain Maryland runners either allowing 317 rushing yard on 48 attempts, a 6.6 yards per carry average.

Syracuse’s offense will not be as easy to pick apart as Howard’s as their rushing attack still secured three rushing touchdowns 192 yards on a 4.4 average in 44(!!!) attempts, even with the shuffling of the line. Moe Neal, Abdul Adams, and Jarveon Howard will be one of the most talented backfields the Terrapins will see this season.

The same however goes for Cuse. They cannot expect to shutout a legitimate Big Ten school. They will need the defense to play at their potential and hold them down as much as possible and I can see them actually holding them down to under 20 points. Jackson has never been immune to turnovers with 10 interceptions in 17 career games but will really add and additional element with his rushing ability.

Maryland’s rushing attack will lead them if they are to beat the Orange but I expect the best Syracuse defense of the century to step up and the offense to do enough to win 24-17 to avenge a 2014 loss.

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