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Maryland Football: Terps Can’t Get Caught Sleeping On Richmond

By Brandon Austin

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Nov 22, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback C.J. Brown (16) hands off to running back Brandon Ross (45) against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

As the countdown continues, we are now just three days away from Maryland’s 2015-16 season opener against the Richmond Spiders. I’ve already broken down everything you need to know about Saturday’s match-up, but what hasn’t been mentioned is the potential of it being a “trap game” of sorts. On second thought, maybe this isn’t a trap game, considering how awful everyone is projecting the Terps to be this year. Whatever the case may be, a team playing in a power conference is not supposed to lose to an FCS team. Maryland better come to play.

Richmond finished last season with a 9-5 record and reached the second round of the FCS Playoffs. The Spiders play in the Colonial Athletic Association, which happens to be one of the tougher conferences in Division I-AA, also featuring the likes of Towson, Villanova and New Hampshire. It’s not the Big Ten, but they’re no slouches either. For goodness sake, Appalachian State shocked Michigan. So why can’t a talented Richmond team give a sub-par Terps’ team a run for their money?

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The Spiders have a handful of players who possess the ability to change the trajectory of this game’s outcome. Seth Fisher is a talented running back and Maryland definitely has some holes in their front seven, so this could be an opportunity to exploit some weaknesses in the defense. Richmond also boasts one of the better wide receiver tandems in the CAA in Reggie Diggs and Brian Brown. The two combined for over 2,000 yards last season and should provide a decent challenge for a much improved Terps secondary.

Maryland’s offense absolutely has to make up for whatever the defense allows to Richmond’s offense. The Spiders’ defense isn’t bad, but Maryland has too much talent, albeit unproven talent,  on that side of the ball to not produce.

Of course Maryland is favored to win. No surprise there, but that doesn’t mean they should approach this game with that in mind. Pundits, including myself to a degree, have already written this season off for the Terps. This team should have a bone to pick and come out playing with a chip on their shoulder.

By no means should Maryland be on their high horse for defeating Richmond, but it would give them at least some confidence for the rest of the season. Drop this game and that’ll be all she wrote.

If the Terps play their game on Saturday, they will come out with a victory. Wait, what is their game? I guess we’ll see.

Next: Maryland Kicks off Season vs. Richmond

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