Terps Getting Some Love

From College Football News' online ACC Preview, full conference preview available here.
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ACC Atlantic Predicted Order of Finish

1. Maryland

Predicted record: 8-4 (Conf. record: 6-2)
Best Offensive Player: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Soph.
Best Defensive Player: LB Erin Henderson, Jr.
Offense: It's all there for the Terps to be steady, explosive and very, very productive as long as everyone plays as well as they should. This will be one of the four best offenses in the league as long as injuries don't strike up front. The line is full of veterans and should be a rock, but there's no depth. The receiving corps might be the fastest in the ACC and Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore form a tremendous 1-2 rushing punch. It's all there for a big season, but that's what everyone said last year and the Terps were merely average.
Defense: The defense didn't exactly work last season, but it didn't seem to matter. No one stopped the run, the secondary was average, there weren't enough takeaways, and the 3-4 that was supposed to generate a serious pass rush wasn't even close. The Terps still won nine games helped by the defense coming through when it absolutely had to. This year's group won't be so fortunate and has to be better. The defensive line should be improved with end Jeremy Navarre and tackle Dre Moore good enough to hope for All-ACC honors. Erin Henderson leads an athletic linebacking corps that needs experience, but should be good in time. The secondary is a concern, especially the corners. They're hoping Isaiah Gardner will become a shut-down defender after returning from a shoulder injury.
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MY REACTION: The Terps are thus predicted to make it to the ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville, whereupon it is projected that they would lose to the Hokies. I think any Terp fan would be thrilled with that kind of season. However, between B.C. (great QB), Clemson and F$U (Bowdens are never easy), NC State (great new coach), and Wake (returning just about everybody), the ACC Atlantic is essentially totally up in the air.