The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are fighting through a tough stretch that has left a once-promising season still short of the postseason. The Maryland Terrapins are struggling in its first season under a new head coach. These programs will both look to right the ship this Saturday when they face off in Winston-Salem in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash.

The Terrapins would love to play spoiler, while Wake would like to continue recent home success against the Terps to finally qualify for a bowl game.

Maryland has won 41 of the 59 all-time meetings against Wake, including 21 of 29 at Wake Forest. Wake, however, has won the last two games at home. Maryland won last year’s meeting, 62-14, in College Park. The last Maryland win at Wake was in 2005 (22-12).

With Wake Forest hosting Maryland this Saturday, the college football odds show the Demon Deacons as 10.5-point favorites, and the combined total has been placed at 56 points.

Maryland

The Terrapins are having a rough year, as they lost their sixth straight game last week, a 45-21 verdict to Notre Dame. Maryland is 0-2 on the road this year, losing the games by a combined score of 62-32, and they will end this season with consecutive road games.

The Terps rank just 94th nationally in scoring offense (23 points per game) while compiling 378 yards per game (217 passing, 161 rushing). Danny O’Brien has completed 56 percent of his passes, for 1,648 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The offensive line has surrendered 13 sacks. Quintin McCree (35 receptions), Kevin Dorsey (34) and Kerry Boykins (32) lead the receiving corps with a combined 1,261 yards and three TDs. Davin Meggett leads the ground game with 714 rushing yards and three TDs, and 4.9 yards-per-carry average.

The Terrapins defense ranks 96th in scoring defense (32 points per game) and surrenders  453 yards per contest (231 rushing, 222 passing) while compiling 19 sacks and forcing 23 turnovers—with three returned for touchdowns (Cameron Chism via two interceptions; Joe Vellano, one fumble).

Eric Franklin paces this unit with 92 total tackles, one blocked kick and one fumble recovery. Lorne Goree has 3.5 sacks to go with 49 tackles, a forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception. Chism and Dexter McGougle each have three picks, Darin Drakeford has three forced fumbles, while Chism and Vellano each have two fumble recoveries.

Maryland has had three kicks blocked this year (two field goals, one punt).

Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons looked good at 4-1, but have lost four of five since, including losing a fourth-quarter lead last week at Clemson to fall 31-28.

The team is still a win shy of being bowl-eligible and has this weekend's home game along with next week’s against Vanderbilt. Wake is 3-2 at home, losing the last two (38-17 to Virginia Tech, 24-17 to Notre Dame).

Wake ranks 58th nationally in scoring offense (28 ppg), while posting 365 yards per game (256 passing, 109 rushing). Tanner Price has completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,326 yards and 16 TDs with six interceptions. The offensive line has allowed 25 sacks.

Price’s top targets are Chris Givens with 62 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight TDs, and Michael Campanaro with 50 grabs for 580 yards and two scores. Brandon Pendergrass and Josh Harris anchor the running game with a combined 983 yards and 10 scores, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

The Deacons defense is 69th in the nation in points allowed (28 ppg), while surrendering 389 yards per game (246 passing, 143 rushing) and posting 10 sacks and forcing 16 turnovers.

Cyhl Quarles leads the unit with 79 tackles (24 more than the next highest total) with one fumble recovery. Kyle Wilber has 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, Josh Bush has six interceptions and Mike Olson has two fumble recoveries.

The Deacons have blocked three kicks this year (two punts, one field goal). Campanaro averages 12 yards per punt return and has a return for a touchdown.