After their ACC Championship hopes were dashed in a blow-out loss to Florida State, conventional wisdom says that the Maryland Terrapins have nothing to play for in this weekend's season finale at Chestnut Hill.

Consider this, however:

• Maryland has won six straight against ranked opponents over the past two seasons. While some of those teams weren't exactly world beaters, a seventh straight win over a ranked team is exactly the type of momentum that Maryland is looking for heading into the bowl season.

• Speaking of Bowls, the Terps need a win over Boston College to maintain their place in the ACC pecking order.

• Maryland, which played in the less than ideal Emerald Bowl last year, still has an outside shot of landing in the Sunshine State and the much more prestigious Gator Bowl with a win over the Eagles.

• Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen has extra incentive to keep his team focussed and motivated as his job sercurity is less than certain. Friedgen doesn't want to give the administration another excuse (like losing the final two games of the season) to fire him.

• With a win against the Eagles, Maryland would earn ACC Atlantic Division Co-Champion honors (though they would lose the tie-breaker to FSU). While not exactly premium trophy case material, it beats the alternative.

NEWS AND NOTES
• As expected, the coaching staff is spending extra time with Dominique Davis this week in preparation for his first career collegiate start on Saturday.


• Still no word on the indefinite suspension of Billy Bennett, but it is becoming more obvious that his short-lived career at BC may be over.

• Much like last week's broadcast, ABC and ESPN2 will be televising the BC-Maryland game to a national audience this Saturday at 3:30PM.

• Many of the BC students will be home and away from campus this Thanksgiving week. The big question is how many will return for this decisive season finale?


For more info on the BC-UMD game from the Terps' perspective, check out Turtle Waxing - a Maryland Terps Sports blog.