Tuesday October 31, 2006

Maryland Preview; Clemson Basketball; Col. Ben Skardon

Maryland Preview
Yesterday I received a couple of e-mails concerned over the 16 point spread for this weekend?s Maryland game. I sat down last night and starting looking at the game and tried to find a reason why the Tigers should not be favored by 16 points and I can?t come up with a reason.

I know they Terps just beat Florida State but that is not a big deal this year. It?s not like that was an impressive win either as the Seminoles had 458 yards of total offense against a poor Maryland defense. The Terps had only 223 yards of total offense.

I know they are 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the ACC but this is not a great Maryland squad. In fact, I don?t think this is a dangerous team. Before you get too concerned, consider:

*Maryland is seventh in the league in total offense averaging 298 yards per contest. Clemson leads the league with a 422 YPG mark.

*The Terps are fourth in the league running the ball but still average 100 yards less per game than the Tigers.

*Clemson has not been lighting it up through the air but the Tigers are fifth in the ACC in passing and Maryland is 11th.

*The Terps average 24.1 points per game, which is sixth in the ACC, and trail the league leading Tigers by over two touchdowns per game.

*The Tigers have a better pass efficiency rating.

*Maryland is 11th in the league in total defense giving up 120 more yards per game than the second best defense in the ACC (Clemson).

*The Terps are also 11th in the league against the run yielding 169 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers are fourth in the ACC with a 88.9 mark.

*Clemson is second in the ACC against the pass and the Terps are 6th.

*The Tigers have the second best scoring defense in the ACC and Maryland is back in 10th giving up 22 points per contest.

*If special teams are a concern they should not be. The Terps are not special in any category.

*In fact, in the 31 statistical categories listed on the ACC?s website, Clemson is better than Maryland in 25.

*Maryland has been outgained in total yardage in every game they have played this year except their season opener against William and Mary. Florida International is winless on the season and they outgained Maryland in a 14-10 Terp win.

I know stats are for losers and stats only tell part of the story so lets look at past performances and see how the Terps are 6-2 and 3-1 in the ACC.

Three of Maryland?s wins came against William & Mary (27-14), Middle Tennessee State (24-10) and Florida International 14-10. Their ACC wins include a two-point win at Virginia, a six point win over NC State and a three point win over FSU.

The Terps two losses were a four-point loss at Georgia Tech and a 45-24 loss at West Virginia.

From a personnel standpoint, the strength of this team is its offensive line. Stephon Heyer (6-6, 320, SR) and Jared Gaither (6-9, 350, SO) are among the finest tackles in the country. Quarterback Sam Hollenbach has been steady but has not been asked to do a lot through the air. The receivers are solid but not spectacular and are lead by freshman Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Defensively, they are average in talent level but their big news here is long-time defensive coordinator Gary Blackney retired in the off-season and was replaced by former South Carolina defensive coordinator Chris Cosh.

I know it is fall break and many students will opt to not come to the game but it is still Death Valley and it will still be rockin?.

Maryland plays close games and finds ways to win but this game will not be close and they will not find a way to win. In fact I think Clemson covers the spread of 16.

Basketball Exhibition
Oliver Purnell unveils his fourth Clemson basketball team tonight in an exhibition against a team from Lithuania at 7:30 in Littlejohn Coliseum. The Tigers return four starters from last year?s team that went 19-13. I will be there tonight and plan on writing a piece in Wednesday?s blog about the contest.

Wednesday?s Radio Guest-Ben Skardon
Wednesday, November 1 at 3:05 PM Col. Ben Skardon will join me in studio on my radio show ?The Overdrive? on WCCP-FM 104.9. The show can also be heard on the internet at www.wccpfm.com. Next Saturday?s home game against NC State is Military Appreciation Day at Clemson and WCCP is helping to promote this wonderful event. This year the focus will be on the Vietnam veterans.

Skardon will be in studio with us to help promote the event and tell a few stories from his days as a decorated World War II hero. Col. Skardon (Class of 1938) survived the Bataan Death March and was a prisoner of war in Japan. His story is one of the most amazing I have ever heard and I will be honored to have him in studio Wednesday. Please do not miss it.

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