Maryland @ Michigan preview
Michigan Stadium
For all its struggles and all the calls for Brady Hoke's job, Michigan can become bowl-eligible this week with a win over visiting Maryland on Saturday. The Wolverines have struggled at times this season, but a winning record is still within their reach. The Terrapins - in their first year in the Big Ten - already have the required six wins for a bowl game, but they'd certainly like to make their first trip to the Big House for a conference game a memorable one.
Michigan has won three of its last four outings in large part to its defense, which has given up 32 points in the victories. When the Terrapins have been successful, their defense has been solid, and when it hasn't been, they've struggled. Maryland has allowed an average of 47 points in its three conference losses to Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Michigan -5
ABOUT MARYLAND (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten): It's coming to the point that even if he doesn't want to make a switch at quarterback, Maryland coach Randy Edsall has at least opened the door to the possibility. With starter C.J. Brown struggling with nine interceptions against 11 touchdowns and averaging fewer than 200 passing yards, Edsall has to at least consider a switch to wake up an anemic offense. “If a situation would call for that, then you have to be able to make that decision,” Edsall told reporters. “And when you make those decisions, you've got to say, 'OK, can the person that you're going to put in come in and do a better job than the guy that you're taking out?'”
ABOUT MICHIGAN (5-5, 3-3): The Wolverines will be without defensive end Frank Clark for the rest of the season after he was kicked off the team Monday after being arrested and jailed on suspicion of domestic violence over the weekend. Although Clark was the team's best pass rusher, the team is confident that junior Mario Ojemudia and sophomore Taco Charlton can fill the void. “The next man has to step up, as a defense as a whole, that's how we have to look at it,” cornerback Ray Taylor told mlive.com. “The next man has to play just as hard as Frank did and just as good as Frank.”
EXTRA POINTS
1. Maryland will be without freshman WR Juwann Winfree, who was suspended for two games for a violation of the student-athletic code of conduct. The Terrapins are also likely to be without top receiver Stefon Diggs, who has a lacerated kidney.
2. Michigan has recorded a first-half shutout in each of its last two games.
3. The Terrapins and Wolverines have squared off three previous times - all in Ann Arbor - with Michigan coming out on top each time.
PREDICTION: Michigan 28, Maryland 20