On Saturday, football returns to College Park. The Maryland Terrapins look to open the season strong with an out-of-conference win in its season opener against the Buffalo Bulls.
Maryland is a heavy favorite in its matchup against Buffalo, a team that ranked 2nd-to-last in the MAC last season with a 4-8 record overall. If the Terps open with a win, they will continue their non-conference opener win streak that started against Navy back in 2010.
What to look for from Maryland
Maryland looks to showcase a high-caliber offense primarily centered around the passing game.
QB Taulia Tagovailoa looks to build upon his record-breaking 2021 season, in which he threw for 3,860 yards and 26 touchdowns. With a versatile receiving corps consisting of Dontay Demus Jr., Rakim Jarrett and Jeshaun Jones, the passing game will be crucial for success. Under Coach Locksley, Maryland’s offense has scored over 30 points in six of their seven non-conference games, which brings hope for an offensive show-out.
What to look for from Buffalo
In years past, Buffalo has been known for its run-heavy offense. With an inexperienced Cole Synder as the new starting quarterback, expect to see a large volume of offensive production from the ground. Last season, the Bulls were fifth-best in rushing yards in the MAC, averaging 195 yards per game.
The most threatening aspect of Buffalo is its defense. Linebacker James Patterson set the bar high in 2021, finishing with 116 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Patterson also was ranked as the second-best defensive player in the MAC at the end of the season. Defensive tackle Daymond Williams (46 tackles) and safety Marcus Fuqua (59 tackles) also will be some of the Buffalo threats trying to shut down the high-powered Maryland offense.
“I really feel like they have a strong wide receiver core,” head coach Maurice Linguist said in regards to Maryland in a presser on Tuesday. “We know it’s going to be a challenge. We are putting together what we feel like is a really good plan to put our guys in a position to be successful.”
Prediction
Last season, Maryland had an easy 37-16 victory over MAC opponent Kent State. Kent State finished near the top of the MAC last season, while Buffalo finished near the bottom. Maryland is favored to win by 24 points and should have no problem doing so, given that its offense operates smoothly. While the Bulls may be able to put up a fight on defense, their reliance on the run game could ultimately be their downfall if they have issues connecting their new quarterback with WR Quian Williams.
How to watch
The game will air on the Big Ten Network at 12:00 PM EST and stream live on ESPN+.
