Looking back at the limited history between Maryland (1-1) and Middle Tennessee (1-1) heading into Saturday’s game in College Park:
Series: Maryland leads series 2-1; the Terrapins won in 2000 and 2006, and the Blue Raiders won in 2008.
SEE RELATED:
Recent stars of the series: Lance Ball ran for two touchdowns in Maryland’s 24-10 victory at Byrd Stadium three years ago. Joe Craddock threw for 256 yards and two scores as Middle Tennessee pulled the upset last year in Murfreesboro.
Number worth noting, Part I: 3-0 —- Record for the home team in the series.
Number worth noting, Part II: 357 —- Passing yards for Maryland quarterback Calvin McCall in the 2000 game, a career-high. McCall, who would go on to join the Terps’ basketball team, never threw for more than 221 yards in any other game of a career that included 17 starts.
Number worth noting, Part III: 34:47 —- Average possession time for Middle Tennessee in the teams’ three meetings. The Blue Raiders held onto the ball for 39:49 in last year’s game in Murfreesboro, and “won” that statistic in their two losses in College Park as well.
Maryland vs. the Sun Belt: The Terps are facing a team from the Sun Belt for the fourth consecutive season. Maryland is 5-1 against current members of the league, all in the last 10 years. The Terps beat Middle Tennessee in 2000 and 2006, Troy in 2001 and Florida International in 2006 and 2007. And of course, they lost to Middle Tennessee in 2008.
Middle Tennessee vs. the ACC: The Blue Raiders are 3-8 against current members of the ACC, but last year’s defeat of Maryland was the program’s first against a present-day ACC school since 1932. The Blue Raiders swept two games from Miami in 1931 and 1932, but have lost twice to Clemson (2003 and 2009) and N.C. State (1989 and 2005) and once each to Florida State (1991) and Virginia (2007). And, of course, there’s the 1-2 record against Maryland.
—- Patrick Stevens
