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| The Irish break out the green versus Maryland this weekend. |
Site: FedExField (82,000), Landover, Maryland.
Television: NBC.
Home Record: Maryland 2-5, Notre Dame 3-2.
Away Record: Maryland 0-2, Notre Dame 3-1.
Series Record: Notre Dame leads, 1-0.
Notre Dame, which is considered the home team here despite the close proximity to Maryland’s campus (6 miles), has won six of its last seven games, including two in a row, since dropping two straight to open the season.
Last weekend, the Fighting Irish knocked off Wake Forest on the road by a 24-17 final. Brian Kelly’s Irish are bowl eligible and picking up steam as it approaches the much anticipated regular season finale with Stanford.
Notre Dame won the only previous meeting with Maryland, shutting out the Terps in a 22-0 decision at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 2002.
Taking a look at last week’s clash with Virginia, Maryland managed to post 353 total yards, 241 of which came from the arm of QB Danny O’Brien. Unfortunately, he completed just 16 of his 36 pass attempts and was intercepted twice.
Maryland is averaging 22.8 ppg this season while racking up 379.1 total ypg. The Terps have scored 22 offensive touchdowns split evenly between the run and the pass. Davin Meggett is a player to watch, as he has run for 677 yards and three touchdowns. O’Brien has completed a modest 55.5 percent of his passes for 1,516 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions, numbers that certainly will not scare the Fighting Irish, or any team for that matter.
Defensively, the Terps are yielding 31.0 ppg and 447.2 total ypg. They have plenty of room for improvement against both the run and the pass, as they are permitting 4.9 rushing ypc and 12.1 yards per pass completion.
The Fighting Irish can move the ball and score points consistently, as evidenced by their 32.3 ppg and 428.3 total ypg. Sophomore QB Tommy Rees, who has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 2,096 yards and 17 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
The Notre Dame defense will be lead yet again by star linebacker Manti Te’o, who injured his ankle last time out and is listed as doubtful. A semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, Te’o has posted 87 total tackles, including 11 TFL. Notre Dame’s defense is permitting 20.9 ppg and 349.1 total ypg to opponents, and stopping the run has been an obvious strength, as foes are gaining a mere 3.9 yards per carry with just five rushing scores. There is room for improvement against the pass, as the Irish have permitted 15 aerial TDs with just six interceptions.
Against Wake Forest last week, Notre Dame managed to shut out the Demon Deacons in the second half and scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns to claim the win. Rees threw a pair of interceptions in the clash, but he also tossed a pair of TDs, and the Irish added a rushing score as well.
Notre Dame figures to get the job done this weekend, as the Irish are simply a more talented team than the Terps. Expect a big game from both Rees and standout senior WR Michael Floyd.
Notre Dame 48, Maryland 20
God Country Notre Dame 