Remember those predictions from this morning?
A 3-for-5 effort isn’t bad. Isn’t great, but isn’t bad.
SEE RELATED:
Here’s a rundown of how things went right or wrong:
1. Da’Rel Scott runs for 100+ yards: INCORRECT
Scott rolled up 68 yards in 17 carries, and Maryland only managed 3.8 yards a carry. Scott had his chances, but this was much more about the Terps realizing their best bet on this night (if not the season) is to utilize quick tosses to the likes of Torrey Smith and Adrian Cannon.
2. Chris Turner throws his first TD pass of the season: CORRECT
Turner tossed the first TD pass for Maryland in a home opener since 2005, connecting with Cannon on a 27-yard strike in the fourth quarter to ultimately force overtime. The interception aside, Turner played pretty well —- and the Terps needed him to, given the slim margin,
3. Maryland will force its first turnover of the season: INCORRECT
After two weeks, the Terps’ turnover margin is -4, with two of the miscues coming in the return game. The defense will eventually have to do something to help out the Terps’ offense on the scoreboard, and losing Jamari McCollough and Nolan Carroll to injuries won’t help.
4. James Madison will amass more sacks than Maryland: CORRECT
By a whopping 1-0 margin. This was a little loaded, considering how many times a QB can be brought down behind the line on a run. But nonetheless, Drew Dudzik had a fair amount of time whenever he opted to remain in the pocket. Pass rush is still an issue for the Terps.
5. Someone’s scoring a special teams touchdown: CORRECT
Smith made the craziest of the predictions look very good when he brought a kickoff back 81 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. He now has 1,403 career kickoff return yards, just 117 shy of tying Keeta Covington‘s school record. If Maryland gives up another 35 points against Middle Tennessee —- it has done so now in four of the last five games —- Smith will probably own that mark this time next week.
—- Patrick Stevens
