Washington Post: Friedgen on the 22-Point Spread

By Eric Prisbell

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Maryland is getting as much respect in Las Vegas as it got at ACC media day, when members of the media predicted the Terrapins would finish second-to-last in the ACC’s Atlantic Division.  I have checked the spread on Saturday’s game a few times just for entertainment purposes and saw it range from 21 to 22 points. My thoughts? I think that may be a bit too much respect for California, which has some lingering issues at quarterback and wide receiver. I would not be surprised if the Golden Bears lead Maryland by three touchdowns at some point Saturday. But I would be surprised if the final margin is that large. Another reporter asked Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen about the spread the other day.

“Twenty-two?” Friedgen said. He then paused and raised his eyebrows. “Not much I can do about that, you know,” he said. “We have had other spreads in which we won, too. Still got to play it on the field.” Asked if it the large spread will anger his players, Friedgen said, “I hope it does.”  “We’re 22 point underdogs, I like it,” wide receiver Adrian Cannon said. “I want people to think about it. We’re young, but we have game experience. And there is talent. Our own expectations are the ACC championship and Orange Bowl. A lot of people have those goals, but we’re trying to do something about it.”