Maryland at Penn State Open Game Thread

[Crimson's Ghost]

Maryland comes to Beaver Stadium for a noon ESPN2 start.

Maryland is 5-3 coming off a miserable game to Wisconsin with a 52-7 loss. The Terps played WVU tough early in the year, but haven't done a whole lot since.

Penn State is looking to snap a 3 game losing streak, they showed up big time last week in perhaps their best performance of the year. The defense for PSU has been great all year, the offense has been up and down.

Penn State lost a few more players to injuries, and they are really skating by with some thin numbers here for the next 5 games. For that reason, I think this one might be close, but I'll take PSU.

Lions 21 Terps 13

[DragonsDoExist]

I think the offense build off the 4th quarter and puts together it's first compete game in quite some time. Defense will be business as usual.

PSU 31
Turtles 17

[abpk2903]

Maryland is the smallest team in the conference on the defensive front and Dieffenbach is looking very likely to return this week. 3 weeks ago I thought winning this game was a long shot and the forecast has me nervous (mix of rain and snow which would make PSU run more).

PSU 16 MD 3

[Crimson's Ghost]

The best player on the field Saturday will be Stefon Diggs, but if it's a snowy, muddy game I don't know if they will be able to get him the ball much. He only had one catch last week, and that's how 52-7 games happen. I would imagine they will go out of their way to get him the ball early and often on Saturday.

[El-Moldo]

The spread offense may work to marylands benefit on a wet field. The receivers know where they are going on each play, the defenders don't.

[abpk2903]

Diggs is a stud but due to defenses keying on him, Leake and Ross have received more of an opportunity. CJ Brown has been beat up the past few weeks (and honestly the majority of his career). If Penn State can get him out of his game, their chances greatly increase. Keiser being out will be tested much more this week than with the Barrett and the Buckeyes.

[Stater32]

Two teams, with one bad thing in common. Offensive line!
Luckily for Penn State, Maryland has the smallest front 7 in the Big Ten and is coming off of an awful performance against Wisconsin giving up close to 350 rushing yards and 52 points. Unfortunately for Maryland, Penn State is coming of a great performance against an Ohio State team that did what they wanted vs. Maryland in a 52-24 romping. I give Penn State Oline the edge in this one. I believe for the first time since Umass, PSU rushes for 100+ with Lynch having a good day. With Miles Dieffenbach on schedule to return this week, Penn State builds on that 4th quarter and OT offensive who came to life. Give me PSU 27-10

[PLDragons24]

Penn States line took a big step forward last week. Ohio St. Has a pretty solid defense and PSU was able to run the ball and pass protect much better than in past weeks.

[El-Moldo]

How DID that PSU O-line look last week? Against OSU, Penn State had 16 NET yards rushing for the game. They averaged .5 yards per carry. They gave up 5 sacks for -35 yards. PSU had to punt 8 times. That's a big step forward?

[PLDragons24]

Sadly yes that was a big step forward. Hack's -30 yards rushing kinda hurts the stats a little but at times they moved the ball and at others they couldn't gain a foot. Which is better than never moving the ball. I fully expected PSU to put up less than a touchdown. I was also pleased that Lynch was able to average 3 yards per carry which is also better than what I was expecting.