For once, a North Carolina-Maryland game is a big deal without a basketball.
The roundball rivals play a meaningful football game for the first time since 2001 at Byrd Stadium on Saturday. No. 17 North Carolina (7-2) and Maryland (6-3) both need to win to remain in their respective division races with two games remaining.
It feels weird to see North Carolina among the ACC contenders. Coach Butch Davis has worked another miracle in Chapel Hill to draw interest for Tennessee’s opening. The Tar Heels spent most of the decade trying to outlast Duke at the bottom of the ACC before now winning their most games in seven years. Ironically, even Duke is 4-5 in a conference that has more balance than a circus aerial act.
“I’ve been associated with this league for 40 years,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “I don’t it’s ever been like this. The parity in the league is like no other in the country from top to bottom. How do you explain we get beat by Virginia 31-0, we beat Wake Forest 26-0 and Wake Forest beats Virginia? There’s eight or nine teams that still have a chance to win the ACC Championship.”
Maryland seeks a nationally-leading fourth victory over a ranked team and sixth straight since 2007. The Terrapins have been erratic, though. It’s 5-0 at home, but every time Maryland gained momentum another bad road loss derailed the Terps first potential league title since Friedgen’s 2001 debut.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl officials must have spit bones watching Maryland’s meltdown to Virginia Tech, which is now the Atlanta bowl’s new favorite. Late-season losses are costlier than early-season debacles to Middle Tennessee State and Virginia.
Yet, Maryland still has a BCS Bowl chance by sweeping consecutive home games against North Carolina and No. 20 Florida State (7-2) before ending the season at Boston College (6-3). That’s pretty amazing for a team plagued by defensive gaffes from the ACC’s second worst unit.
“If we win three games we’re going to Tampa [for the ACC Championship.] Maybe two of three,” Friedgen said. “Every game we win here, we’re ensured of a better bowl. We may not even go to a bowl with the number of teams that’s qualified. It gets back to the same old thing — we have to focus on this game coming up.”
Otherwise, a six-win season sends Maryland against Navy in the District’s new EagleBank bowl.
Ouch.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
