Penn State Football travels on the road to take on the Maryland Terrapins, in a potential trap game situation.
Penn State is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten, while Maryland is 5-3 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
The Nittany Lions beat Indiana last week 33-24, and Maryland lost a close game to Northwestern 33-27.
Offensively, the Terrapins are led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa; he has passed for 2,200 so far this season, with 19 touchdown passes and six interceptions. Tagovailoa likes to throw the ball to many different receivers.
Maryland has four receivers with 26 catches or more.
Jeshaun Jones leads them in receptions with 36 and yards with 496. Kaden Prather adds 30 catches for 426 yards. Tai Felton and tight end Corey Dyches both have 29 catches on the season.
Maryland is second in the Big Ten in passing yards per game with 280.5. Meanwhile, Penn State’s defense is fourth in the conference in pass defense; it will be interesting to see how this will play out.
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The Nittany Lions can slow down the Terrapins’ passing attack by putting pressure on the quarterback, and playing physically.
Maryland also rushes for 137.9 yards per game; Roman Hemby leads Maryland with 441 rushing yards. Colby McDonald and Antwain Littleton have both rushed for over 220 yards.
Hemby is also a factor in the passing game; he has 24 catches for 221 yards.
The good news is that Penn State has the third-best run defense in the country and the best run- defense in the conference. Manny Diaz‘s unit only gives up 74.3 yards per game. Penn State is physical up front and should be able to slow down the Maryland ground game.
Maryland puts up 32.6 points per game, and the Nittany Lions give up 11.5.
This will be a road test for the Penn State defense. Maryland likes to spread the ball around and get the ball into the hands of Hemby.
Adisa Issac, who leads the Nittany Lions in sacks with 5.5, must get after Tagovailoa. The Penn State Nittany Lions secondary must play well as a unit with Maryland getting the ball to multiple pass catchers.
MORE: What Penn State Must Fix vs. Maryland
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