Maryland @ Clemson preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2011 ) Clemson 56, Maryland 45

Clemson continues its pursuit of the ACC Atlantic Division title when it hosts Maryland on Saturday. The No. 8 Tigers are one-half game behind No. 6 Florida State after the Seminoles' 28-22 victory over Virginia Tech on Thursday. Since Clemson lost to Florida State 49-37, though, the Tigers must finish ahead of the Seminoles to reach the ACC title game, but could still receive a bid to a BCS bowl if they win out. Clemson isn't expected to have much trouble with the Terrapins, who have lost four quarterbacks to season-ending injuries. However, the schedule gets much tougher for the Tigers, who finish with North Carolina State and No. 11 South Carolina.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Clemson -31

ABOUT MARYLAND (4-5, 2-3 ACC): The Terrapins started freshman linebacker Shawn Petty at quarterback in their 33-13 loss to Georgia Tech last week. Petty did as well as could be expected - 9-of-18 for 115 yards with two touchdowns and one interception -- but was 1-of-6 for one yard in the first half when the Yellow Jackets took a 20-0 lead. Maryland also used freshman running back Wes Brown in the Wild Crab offense - its version of the Wildcat, but could not muster any serious momentum. Maryland's injury epidemic jumped over to the defensive side of the ball when senior linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield tore his ACL against Georgia Tech, ending his season. Hartsfield led the Terrapins with 78 tackles.

ABOUT CLEMSON (8-1, 5-1): With quarterback Tajh Boyd matching a school record with five touchdown passes in each of his last two games, the Tigers' passing attack is nearly unstoppable. Boyd, who set a school record with 428 yards in Clemson's 42-13 over Wake Forest on Oct. 25, followed that with 379 yards in the Tigers' 56-20 rout of Duke last week and leads the ACC with 25 touchdown passes. Junior DeAndre Hopkins had three touchdown catches last week and set the school record with 22 for his career. Clemson is seventh in the nation at 42.7 points per game. Running back Andre Ellington, second in the ACC with 780 rushing yards, is questionable after injuring his hamstring against Duke.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Clemson had 713 yards against Duke and recorded at least 300 rushing and receiving for the second time in school history. The Tigers had 487 yards on 43 plays in the first half.

2. Hopkins needs 82 receiving yards to surpass Aaron Kelly's school-record 2,733 set in 2008.

3. Clemson leads the series 32-26-2, including a 56-45 victory last season when Boyd passed for four touchdowns, three to Sammy Watkins.

PREDICTION: Clemson 48, Maryland 14