***Join us in the Turtle Power live chat starting at 3:30 p.m.***
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Despite being eliminated from the ACC Atlantic Division race last Saturday, the Maryland Terrapins (7-4, 4-3 ACC) have a spoiler role in mind as well as improving their postseason bowl status as they host North Carolina State (8-3, 5-2 ACC) in the regular season finale at 3:30 p.m.
It remains to be seen how significant a victory would be in terms of an improved bowl destination, but the Terps can ruin the Wolfpack’s ACC title game hopes with a win, which would vault Florida State to a meeting with Virginia Tech next Saturday in Charlotte. Of course, with former athletic director Debbie Yow now holding the same position at NC State, this one has extra incentive for Ralph Friedgen and the Terrapins.
The contest pits star quarterback Russell Wilson against Maryland’s freshman Danny O’Brien in a battle of two talented quarterbacks, albeit in some windy conditions at Byrd Stadium.
If recent history tells us anything, we can expect this one to be a close one. Nine of the last 10 contests between Maryland and NC State (seven of them won by the Terps) have been decided by 10 points or fewer. The lone blowout victory was a 37-0 victory by the Terps in 2007.
As we do for every Terps game, the Turtle Power live chat will be open all afternoon as Maryland tries to crack the eight-win plateau and finish the regular season on a positive note. Glenn Clark and I will be chiming in throughout the day from the press box at Byrd Stadium. As always, follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the latest updates and analysis from College Park!
