Maryland @ Boston College preview
Alumni Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2009 ) Boston College 19, Maryland 17
Both Maryland and Boston College are coming off losses and working under a sense of urgency heading into Saturday's ACC matchup.
Last year's contest ended in a 19-17 Boston College victory, and with both offenses struggling early this season, there could be a similar slugfest Saturday.
The Terps are gunning for their first road win since 2008, attempting to take advantage of a vulnerable Eagles team that lost a heartbreaking contest to ranked conference foe Florida State last week.
For Maryland (4-2, 1-1 ACC) to do so, however, it will mean tightening up in all aspects of the program following a discouraging 31-7 loss at Clemson last week.
Redshirt freshman Danny O'Brien (the team has juggled between him and junior Jamarr Robinson all season) posted 302 passing yards against the Tigers, more than Clemson's total offense. However, he also threw three picks and was sacked three times.
The Terps’ special teams were also miserable, giving up an 87-yard kickoff return and a 41-yard punt return for touchdowns.
Maryland will face a Boston College (2-4, 0-3) team that has struggled to put up points, averaging 18.8 points per game.
Partly due to switching to freshman quarterback Chase Rettig during the Notre Dame game earlier this season, the team has struggled in the air, averaging just 192 yards in the passing game. Rettig is still learning on the field, going 9 of 24 against Florida State last week.
The Eagles were on the brink of an upset victory in that game, but their aforementioned weak offense was unable to take advantage of four Seminole turnovers while the defense gave up a 42-yard touchdown run off a reverse for the final 24-19 loss. It was BC's third ACC loss on the season.
Despite the offensive woes, the Eagles do rank first in the conference and 10th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 90.3 yards per game, and third in the ACC in total defense with 329 yards per game.
Boston College is also tied for second in the conference in turnover margin (plus-5) and leads the league with 18 total turnovers.
Sophomore wide receiver Clyde Lee, who had been one of the team's top producers earlier this season, missed the last two games with a leg injury and is questionable for this contest for the Eagles.
BC holds a 5-2 lead in the all-time series, including a 2-1 advantage at home.