Maryland @ Notre Dame preview

THE STORY: Notre Dame looks to win for the seventh time in eight games when it faces a struggling Maryland club at FedEx Field - home of the Washington Redskins - in Landover, Md. Though the game is being played only a few miles from the Terrapins' campus, the Fighting Irish are the host in what is their annual "off-site home game." Notre Dame narrowly defeated another ACC club last week when it topped Wake Forest on the road 24-17, while Maryland fell to Virginia for its fifth consecutive setback.

TV: NBC. LINE: Notre Dame -20.5.

ABOUT MARYLAND (2-7): The Terrapins have not defeated an FBS opponent since stunning Miami (Fla.) in their season opener. Defense has been a problem area - Maryland is allowing an average of 39 points over its last four games and ranks 116th nationally in run defense (233.1 yards) and 102nd in total defense (447.2). Running back Davin Meggett leads an inconsistent offense with 699 yards rushing. Sophomores Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown have split time at quarterback.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (6-3): The Fighting Irish became bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season with last week's comeback victory, which was largely because of a defense that allowed only 100 yards of offense in the second half. Running backs Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray have combined for 1,402 yards and 17 touchdowns, while wide receiver Michael Floyd has 68 receptions for 832 yards. Notre Dame ranks last nationally in punt returns (0.3 yards per return) and is near the bottom of the pack in turnover margin (minus-1.33).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Notre Dame won the only other meeting, 22-0 in the 2002 Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J.

2. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly has won two of his previous three matchups against Maryland coach Randy Edsall, with all three games coming while the coaches were at Cincinnati and Connecticut, respectively.

3. Since the start of 1997, Notre Dame is 21-22 in night games. The Irish are 2-2 in such contests this year, beating Purdue and Wake Forest while losing to Michigan and USC.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 37, Maryland 13 - Wood and Gray have been particularly effective in recent weeks for the Fighting Irish and the tandem should be able to feast on the Terrapins' woeful run defense.