Maryland @ North Carolina State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 20, 2012 ) North Carolina State 20, Maryland 18

Maryland visits North Carolina State on Saturday in an ACC matchup that will conclude their respective regular seasons. Both teams have struggled down the stretch with Maryland losing four of its last five and the Wolfpack dropping seven in a row. Having lost three of the last four meetings, the Terrapins will look to take down their ACC rivals in the 70th meeting of the series.

After starting 3-1, the Wolfpack have faltered under first-year head coach Dave Doeren and the 0-7 conference record is the worst in program history. Brandon Mitchell has been limited this season due to injury, but the North Carolina State quarterback had his best game of the season against East Carolina last week, throwing for 312 yards and four touchdowns. Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown has amassed 400 yards rushing while throwing for another 1,786 on the season and he'll look take advantage of a North Carolina State defense that has allowed 590 yards rushing in its last two games.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network, ESPN3. LINE: Maryland -2.5

ABOUT MARYLAND (6-5, 2-5 ACC): The Terrapins got off to a hot start in the first half the season, winning five of their first six games. The trouble started when Maryland began conference play, which included a 63-0 loss to then-No. 8 Florida State. The two wins Maryland holds in the ACC have come by three points or less.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (3-8, 0-7): During the Wolfpack's seven-game losing streak, opponents have averaged slightly fewer than 33 points a game. North Carolina State holds a slim 33-32-4 advantage in the series with Maryland, but the Terrapins are threatening to even the score. The Wolfpack's last victory came in late September over Central Michigan, during which Doeren's team scored the first 38 points, and they've averaged 18.3 since then.

EXTRA POINTS

1. North Carolina State has won the last two meetings in the series.

2. Maryland and North Carolina State have played each other every season since 1956.

3. The Terrapins are 15-18-1 at North Carolina State.

PREDICTION: Maryland 28, North Carolina State 13