With an interesting under-the-radar team returning after a decent first year in the Big Ten, Maryland kicks things off against a dangerous Richmond team that came up with a nice 9-5 playoff season, but was bounced in a blowout to Coastal Carolina. With Bowling Green and South Florida up next, the Terps are looking at 3-0 before dealing with West Virginia, but this might be the toughest test of the three.

Below is the Maryland vs. Richmond preview and full game preview. 

Maryland vs. Richmond Prediction & Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 5
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Network: ESPNU

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Why You Need To Care

Can Maryland get hot early on? The Terps were supposed to be challenged a bit by James Madison to start last season, and instead they won 52-7 as part of a nice 4-1 start. This year’s team has some rebuilding and reloading to do, but Richmond is just dangerous enough to make this a game if the Terps aren’t sharp right away.

Richmond starts out the season ranked 18th in the FCS polls with dangerous receiving weapons and with enough left over from last year’s playoff team to make a deeper run this time around. There’s a new quarterback, and more of a pass rush has to be found, but this is probably going to be a shootout – the Spiders are equipped for it.

Why Richmond Will Win

The receiving combination of Reggie Diggs and Brian Brown is among the best in the FBS. Diggs caught 85 passes for 1,157 yards and seven touchdowns last season, while Brown added 79 grabs for 1,089 yards and four scores. The Spiders might not have Michael Strauss throwing the ball anymore, but the passing game that cranked out over 300 yards per game and made the high-powered offense go should keep on working.

Why Maryland Will Win

Okay, okay, it doesn’t work this way, especially considering it’s a brand new season, but Maryland beat James Madison last year 52-7, and James Madison ripped through Richmond 55-20. The Terps were able to win seven games last season with no running game and a sporadic offense, while the defense failed to come up with any sort of stop over the final two games against Rutgers and Stanford. With the change in defensive styles to the 4-3, there should be some improvement.

Player Who Matters

It’s Caleb Rowe’s time to shine as the starting Maryland quarterback, or is it Oklahoma State transfer Daxx Garman? Try neither one. It was assumed it was going to be Rowe after coming back from knee problems, and Garman came in to be the main man in the mix, but Hills outplayed them both in fall camp. A baller, he has the all-around skills to make the Terp offense move, and if he can’t, there are two ready-to-roll options waiting in the wings.

What’s Going To Happen?

Richmond won’t be able to throw against the strong Terp secondary led by CB William Likely and S Sean Davis. The Maryland offense will roll in its opener without too much of a problem.

Maryland vs. Richmond Score Prediction

It’s that time. The Maryland vs. Richmond prediction is …

Final Score: Maryland 40, Richmond 17

Must See Rating: 5: True Detective, Season 1 – 1: True Detective, Season 2 … 2