Maryland Bowl Projections: Week Of November 24

Nov 22, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback C.J. Brown (16) is pressured by Michigan Wolverines defensive end Mario Ojemudia (53) in the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

With bowl season getting closer with each week, we’ll take a look at where some of the major sites have Maryland playing this postseason. It’s a very wide range of teams that the Terrapins could be facing. Take a look below.

Jerry Palm (CBSSports): Maryland vs. Auburn (TaxSlayer Bowl)

SBNation: Maryland vs. Ole Miss (Outback Bowl)

Phil Steele: Maryland vs. USC (Foster Farms Bowl)

Sporting News: Maryland vs. Arizona State (National University Holiday Bowl)

The first projection is definitely a very intriguing one for the Terps. A potential matchup with Auburn would be huge for Maryland on a national level. The Tigers are fresh off a National Championship game appearance, but have losses against Georgia, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M this season. Defending a quarterback like Nick Marshall would be a great test for a battle-tested Maryland defense. The impact that this type of game could have on recruiting is huge. When battling for the services of many of the top DMV talent, the Terps are battling with the top SEC teams such as Auburn, Alabama, and Florida. If Maryland is able to hang with the Tigers, that could do wonders for the program.

Ole Miss is another team that could be facing the Terps come bowl seaso and the Outback Bowl would be a phenomenal outcome for Maryland. Much like Auburn, Ole Miss was one of the top four teams once upon a time, and are definitely one of the top teams in the ultra competitive SEC. Once again, the Terps would have to do battle against a very talented quarterback, this time Bo Wallace. Wallace has thrown for 2,789 yards and 22 touchdowns for the Rebels, and is a huge reason for their success. He throws a crisp, clean ball that would definitely keep the Maryland defensive backs on their toes. Along the same lines as Auburn, a win or closely-contested loss would be a huge boost for the program in terms of recruiting and overall appeal.

While the physical SEC could be looming, a few Pac 12 squads could also be on the horizon.

One particular intriguing matchup is one against Arizona State. The Sun Devils currently sit at the top of the South Division of the Pac 12. Arizona State only has two losses on the year and those were to UCLA and a minor slip-up against Oregon State. On the other hand, this is a team that completely dominated Notre Dame and forced Irish signal caller Everett Golson into four interceptions. This a team that can put points on the board in hurry with Taylor Kelly under center. A game with the Sun Devils would likely have to be a shootout in order for Maryland to have success.

USC is a team that has popped up quite frequently in bowl projections when it comes to Maryland. For the Trojans, it’s all about Cody Kessler. The junior quarterback is one of the best in the nation. The Bakersfield native has tossed 30 touchdowns and only been picked off four times. Aside from Boston College, USC has lost to Arizona State, UCLA, and Utah, which are three of the better teams in the Pac 12. The Trojans would probably be the easist of these four opponents, but still pose a significant challenge for the Terps.