Maryland Football: 2015 season predictions

Oct 12, 2013; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins defensive back William Likely (4) tackles Virginia Cavaliers tailback Taquan Mizell (4) following a run at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

What will Maryland’s regular season record be?

Chris Bengel: This is a very tricky question because there are a good amount of uncertainties surrounding Maryland. How will the new 4-3 defense look under new defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski? We really don’t know, but I’m confident in the talent on the offensive side of the ball. The expectation was that Caleb Rowe would be the starting quarterback when the Terps hosted Richmond. However, Perry Hills really came in ready to compete and took the job. Honestly, Hills has more valuable experience than Rowe when it comes to running a team. Hills did a solid job as a true freshman when he was forced into the role and we didn’t get a chance to see what he could do over the course of a full season. He has the accuracy to get the job done and while he doesn’t have a great arm, he makes the necessary plays to keep drives alive. I’ve been a Randy Edsall believer for a long time and still am. The Terps will finish with a 7-5 mark and will go to their third consecutive bowl game.

Ryan Garland: Expect Maryland to take a slight step back this season. Perry Hills is more than capable of winning games for the Terps, as he showed as a true freshman in 2012. However, due to the overall inexperience on offense, as well as a defense that can make big plays but will also give them up, the Terps will likely finish no better than 6-6. Getting that sixth win may be difficult, as the Terps again will not beat the Wisconsins and Michigan States of the Big Ten, and some of the teams they defeated last year may be improved in 2015 such as Indiana and Michigan. If the Terps can play up to their potential against Iowa, Penn State, and Rutgers, the Terps can sneak into the postseason. However, I think the uncertainties on offense will prevent this team from getting that all-important sixth win during this transitional year for Maryland. Final regular season record: 5-7.