Wake Forest @ Maryland preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2009 ) Maryland 32, Wake Forest 42

Maryland has rebounded from a 2-10 season in 2009 to the brink of bowl eligibility. A home win Saturday would make the Terrapins (5-2, 2-1 ACC) bowl eligible for the fourth time in the past five years.

Wake Forest (2-5, 1-3 ACC) is coming off a bye week following a 52-21 loss to Virginia Tech on Oct. 16, the Demon Deacons’ fifth straight defeat.

Last Saturday, Maryland opened up a 21-7 lead at halftime with the help of good field position and hung on to beat Boston College 24-21, snapping a 10-game road losing streak. The Terps, now tied for second in the ACC’s Atlantic Division, had to stop the Eagles twice on fourth down in the fourth quarter.

Maryland freshman quarterback Danny O'Brien, who has started the past four games, was 26 of 39 for 179 yards and three touchdowns against Boston College, earning ACC rookie of the week honors for the second time.

Safeties Antwine Perez and Kenny Tate anchor the Terps’ defense, which ranks 36th nationally in points allowed (20.6). Perez had two interceptions and a fumble recovery against Boston College and was named ACC defensive player of the week; he's second in the ACC in passes defended (1.29 per game). Tate leads ACC defensive backs in tackles (8.0 per game) and has forced a league-high four fumbles. Linebacker Alex Wujciak ranks second in the ACC with 10.6 tackles per game.

Maryland is plus-8 in turnover margin, and the Terps have cashed in 52 points off 15 opponents’ turnovers.

Junior Tony Logan has returned two punts for touchdowns (85 and 84 yards) and is averaging 23.2 yards per return, second in the nation.

The Demon Deacons have run the ball well but have two major problems: they can’t throw the ball or stop anyone. In their latest loss, freshman Josh Harris rushed for 241 yards, lifting his averages to a 71.7 yards a game and 6.8 a carry. With a constant rotation of running backs, Wake Forest ranks 23rd in the nation, averaging 206.6 yards a game. Maryland counters with a rushing defense that ranks fourth in the ACC (143.6 ypg).

Wake Forest ranks 112th in scoring defense (37.7 ppg) after Virginia Tech racked up 605 yards of offense against the Deacons. Defensive end Kyle Wilber is second in the ACC in tackles for loss (1.93 per game), but he is the lone bigtime playmaker on that side of the ball.

Wake Forest has tried numerous quarterbacks, finally settling on true freshman Tanner Price. In the last game, Price went 3 of 16 for 92 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. In six games, Price has thrown for six touchdowns and three interceptions while producing just 120.5 yards a game. Wake Forest ranks 108th nationally in passing (149.7 ypg).

Maryland leads the all-time series 41-16-1, but has lost three of the past four.