Ok…I know SBN is not what you would call "the pinnacle of journalistic integrity" but it is fun to look at anyway. Hurray for opinion pieces. And yes, I know it is basketball season but my Terps are pretty bad and have to work hard to make the NIT and pretty much have to win the ACC tourney to get to the real tourney. Here is the link if you want a full break down.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...igan-state

It has Michigan State at 1, Ohio State 2, Michigan 3. At 4 we have a tie between Indiana and Maryland. At 6 is Penn State and drawing up the rear in 7th is Rutgers.

The top 2 seem pretty obvious to me. I believe (MSU people correct me if I am wrong) but they don't lose a bunch from the D right? OSU is OSU and will reload with Urban. Michigan…will this be Hoke's year? From some of the rumblings over the interwebs, it better be.

Now we get to the more eye raising parts in my opinion. Y'all will have to tell me about Indiana. I just don't get them. High powered offense with no D? The plan is to outscore everyone? Then Maryland…the schedule looks to be more difficult this year. Will the injury god's FINALLY give the Terps a reprieve? They better do well again in the OCC portion of the schedule if they want to have any chance of going bowling. Ok, having PSU at 6 is just mind blowing to me. I know they lost BOB to the NFL. They now have Franklin in charge. How does he do his first year in happy valley. Do the commits just start flooding in like many Terps fans fear??? How are the sanctions effecting them since they have been reduced. And Rutgers…like Maryland, a step up in competition. How do they handle it? Will Flood survive the year?

That does everybody think?

Quote:On defense, the Scarlet Knights say goodbye to a bevy of players, especially in the secondary.

Rutgers might possibly end up last in the division, but based on this quote, its obvious that the writer has absolutely no clue what he's talking about and didn't do any research. The Knights lost a bevy of players LAST YEAR. This year, our defense was nothing but underclassmen and juniors.

I believe Dantonio is one of the best coaches in the country and they deserve to be toward that said. That said, I think they still need more on average to go right over Ohio State and Michigan and I could also see a drop off.

Michigan I think will finally turn the corner next year. Hoke's classes are upper classman now and I think things will be in place.

OSU for it's part better fix the D or it's going to struggle. Under Tressel, defense was our strength. I hope that can go balance out better.

Indiana has been better lately, but better for Indiana is relative. I could see them in the middle of the pack in standings, but that is their high point I think.

Penn State is a huge question mark, but I think they'll be OK. Their potential of collapse is there due to smaller number of players and new coaching, but the sanctions were reduced and their recruiting is still good. I think they'll still be top 4 more likely than not.

Rutgers, having watched their recruiting collapse and end of the season collapse I feel might be in some trouble next season. They actually could have done pretty well with the right circumstances, but I don't think they are getting them. Maybe pull off an unexpected victory over someone they shouldn't.

Maryland, My Maryland...honestly I'm not sure I've seen enough even to make an uneducated guess. I do remember seeing that injury list though and they probably won't have it that bad next year.

Rutgers is going to be very bad next year. Like 2000 bad. I can easily see us at 2 wins next year and not better than 5 wins.

It looks like the way for an under-recruited high school player in the NE to get the attention of the Big Ten powerhouse programs is to make a verbal commitment to Rutgers. It's a shame how Rutgers recruiting class got picked apart like a turkey the week after Thanksgiving. Flood is in trouble.

Rutgers is toast next year, in my opinion. It's not just because they lost recruits (that will hurt them in another 2-3 season for sure), but they have significant issues under center, a suspect run game, a new OC and DC, and even though the defense has no where to go but up, I can't imagine a return to the dominant Rutgers defense we are used to seeing.

It's hard to see what there is to look forward to next season. I'm reconsidering whether I will get season tickets because if it. I don't want to drive from Maryland to NJ week after week to watch what I saw last season.

I honestly see Rutgers as a 2-9 team, with wins over Howard and a squeaker by Tulane. The fans may be in full revolt if/when RU loses to Navy. I don't think Flood makes it through the year.

Well, seems like most of this has been touched upon. In terms of Indiana, it isn't as if they don't want a good defense but they are building the program and had to start somewhere. I think it is smart to start with the offense. It gives something for fans to get excited about. Fans get more excited about offense then defense on average. Eventually they will be able to start building up the defense if they can continue to build upon what they have already done.

You cannot sleepwalk past Indiana, not anymore.

Rutgers and Maryland home attendance should definitely improve. Will be interesting to see how many opposing fans travel to these sites for games. I think the local B 10 alumni associations in NYC, DC & Baltimore are going to turn out big when their respective programs come to these areas for football and hoops

(01-31-2014 02:09 AM)Policiious Wrote:  Rutgers and Maryland home attendance should definitely improve. Will be interesting to see how many opposing fans travel to these sites for games. I think the local B 10 alumni associations in NYC, DC & Baltimore are going to turn out big when their respective programs come to these areas for football and hoops

This will happen. More of our own fan coming to see new teams and everyone expects opposing teams fans to show as well.

For football next year the Terps host Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa and Rutgers. The first two will be sell outs. Iowa, we don't have much history and aren't very close. Will their fans travel? Will ours show up with crappy season we will likely have (yes our fan base is fickle). As for Rutgers, the trip is not far for them and I really think/hope this could develop into a decent rivalry (trophy game??? sure lets make something up!)

Terps will travel to: Indiana, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan. Here it gets a little more interesting. We are not really known as a traveling fan base. There will certainly be a contingent at Penn State. How can you not want to travel to the Big House and I have heard fantastic things about Camp Randall. Will we actually do it? I don't know. So Indiana…not a historical power house and a place I personally don't know much about. I'm not sure how well we will travel here. I hope we will but we will see.

(01-31-2014 12:39 PM)Terps_N_Phoenix Wrote:  

(01-31-2014 02:09 AM)Policiious Wrote:  Rutgers and Maryland home attendance should definitely improve. Will be interesting to see how many opposing fans travel to these sites for games. I think the local B 10 alumni associations in NYC, DC & Baltimore are going to turn out big when their respective programs come to these areas for football and hoops

This will happen. More of our own fan coming to see new teams and everyone expects opposing teams fans to show as well.

For football next year the Terps host Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa and Rutgers. The first two will be sell outs. Iowa, we don't have much history and aren't very close. Will their fans travel? Will ours show up with crappy season we will likely have (yes our fan base is fickle). As for Rutgers, the trip is not far for them and I really think/hope this could develop into a decent rivalry (trophy game??? sure lets make something up!)

Terps will travel to: Indiana, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan. Here it gets a little more interesting. We are not really known as a traveling fan base. There will certainly be a contingent at Penn State. How can you not want to travel to the Big House and I have heard fantastic things about Camp Randall. Will we actually do it? I don't know. So Indiana…not a historical power house and a place I personally don't know much about. I'm not sure how well we will travel here. I hope we will but we will see.

We usually travel pretty well especially to places in the region like College Park. The fact that its Thanksgiving weekend may hold us back some though.