Maryland vs. Iowa preview: Breaking down the numbers

Maryland meets the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday in the first-ever matchup of the two programs.  The Terps have had a week off to get healthy, and will be playing in front of their first Big Ten homecoming crowd.  Without further ado, let's take a look at how the two teams match up.

Maryland Offense vs. Iowa Defense (all statistics are per game)

Iowa features a strong defense, lead by Quinton Alston.  The senior linebacker leads the team with 43 tackles, 3 tackles for loss (TFL), and 1 sack.  Defensive linemen Drew Ott, Carl Davis, and Louis Trinca-Pasat anchor a veteran defensive front (2 seniors and 1 junior).  The defensive line is effective in getting to the backfield, notching 17.5 TFL and 8 sacks on the year.  Trinca-Pasat is ranks second on the team in tackles, TFL, and sacks.

Maryland's offense appears to be at something of a cross roads at the quarterback position.  C.J. Brown has started every game this season, but Caleb Rowe played the second half of the last two games (one due to injury, one due to performance).  Iowa's defense is disciplined and effective and presents a formidable challenge.

Maryland Defense vs. Iowa Offense

Iowa's offense is refreshingly pro-style, and presents a different challenge from the spread style offenses the Terps have faced recently.  If you haven't read Alex Kirshner's excellent breakdown of Iowa's offense, go read it now.  Iowa will line up with a large offensive line, a solid stable of running backs and large tight ends.  The Hawkeyes will run right at the Terps and challenge Maryland's porous run defense from the first snap.  This game will look like a traditional Big Ten slugfest when Iowa has the ball.

Maryland's defense has had an up and down season.  The Terps rank 13^th in the Big Ten in total defense and 11^th in scoring defense.  Iowa's offense is by no means a barn burner, ranking 11^th in scoring offense and 9^th in total offense.  Luckily Maryland has had a week off to get healthy and prepare for the physical matchup coming on Saturday.

Special Teams

If this game turns into a battle of field goals, the Terps will be sitting pretty.  Brad Craddock is having a season for the record books and might be the best kicker in college football.  Curiously, Iowa's Marshall Koehn's only misses have come between 30 and 39 yards (all against Ball State).  Below thirty, and beyond 40, Koehn is 6-6.

Maryland has a decided edge in the kick and punt return category thanks to Stefon Diggs and Will Likely.  Iowa has the edge on penalties, averaging 2 fewer penalties and nearly 24 fewer penalty yards per game.

Conclusion

Thus far, Maryland has beaten teams they should beat and lost to two quality programs.  The combined record of teams Maryland has beaten is 11-14 (the only team with a winning record is FCS James Madison).  Ohio State and West Virginia are a combined 9-3 thus far this season.  Iowa is a tough, well coached opponent who will not beat themselves.  Maryland needs to play disciplined football on Saturday to emerge victorious in front of the homecoming crowd.  I think Maryland will make just a few too many mistakes against Iowa: Terps 17, Iowa 24.

Sources: umterps.com; hawkeyesports.com