Miami @ Maryland preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 6, 2010 ) Maryland 20, Miami 26

THE STORY: Miami will be without six starters and two reserves when it opens at Maryland on Monday. Quarterback Jacory Harris, linebacker Sean Spence, wideout Travis Benjamin and five others were suspended by the NCAA from one to six games for receiving impermissible benefits from former booster/convicted felon Nevin Shapiro. The investigation has overshadowed the Miami coaching debut of Al Golden, formerly of Temple, and the Maryland coaching debut of Randy Edsall, formerly of UConn. With the senior Harris ineligible, dual-threat sophomore Stephen Morris will start at quarterback. Morris, who runs a 4.6 forty, nearly beat out Harris in camp.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Maryland -4

ABOUT MARYLAND (2010: 9-4, 5-3 ACC): Edsall has a ton of offensive talent to work with, led by QB Danny O’Brien (2,438 yards, 22 TDs, 8 INTs), and RBs Davin Meggett (720 yards) and D.J. Adams (11 TDs). The Terps ranked second in the ACC in scoring last season (32.2 points) and should be near the top again. LB Kenny Tate leads seven returning starters on defense.

ABOUT MIAMI (2010: 7-6, 5-3 ACC): Harris and Morris split first-string reps during camp. Morris played extensively at the end of last season, throwing for 1,240 yards in six games with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. Due to the suspensions, Golden is listing eight true freshmen and five redshirt freshmen on his two-deep depth chart.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Edsall finished 8-5 or better in his last four seasons at UConn.

2. Miami's suspended players are not allowed to travel to the game but can continue practicing with the team.

3. Miami won last year’s meeting 26-20 in Coral Gables, Fla., on a last-minute TD throw from Morris.

PREDICTION: Maryland 24, Miami 20 – Edsall inherited a mature team from Ralph Friedgen and it’s been a smooth transition, unlike in Miami.