COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - Maryland and Clemson enter Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference football matchup in almost exactly the same situation. <br>
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Both have been uneven so far. Clemson (3-1, 1-0 ACC) opened the season by falling flat in a 30-0 loss to 11th-ranked Georgia. But the Tigers also scored an impressive 39-3 victory at Georgia Tech on Sept. 20, and handled a pair of non-conference opponents Furman (28-17) and Middle Tennessee State (37-14). <br>
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If anything, Maryland has been even more up-and-down. <br>
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The Terrapins (3-2, 0-1 ACC) opened the season with losses to Northern Illinois (now 17th-ranked) and then-No. 11 Florida State. Since then, Maryland has won three straight over lesser foes The Citadel, West Virginia and Eastern Michigan. <br>
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Maryland and Clemson each have seven conference games left and are trying to build steam as the college football season nears its halfway point. <br>
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``Being 4-2 with momentum is a lot better than being 3-3 and starting all over again,'' said Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen. <br>
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His players seem to realize what's at stake as well. Maryland lost two of its first three last season, but pulled together to win 10 of its last 11, including a Peach Bowl victory over Tennessee. Friedgen is hoping to see the same scenario play out this season. <br>
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Last weekend, the Terrapins played an uninspired first half at Eastern Michigan last week and led only 16-13 early in the second half, before turning it on to win 37-13 before a crowd of less than 20,000 in Yypsilanti, Mich. <br>
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On Saturday, the Terrapins will be playing in front of their third straight home crowd of more than 50,000 a first for the program with a chance to continue their turnaround after those first two losses. <br>
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``This week will be a lot different,'' said Maryland cornerback Domonique Foxworth. ``I don't think well have any (motivational) problems like last week.'' <br>
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In Clemson, Maryland faces an opponent that is almost a mirror image statistically. <br>
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Maryland is fourth in the ACC in total offense; Clemson is fifth. The Terrapins are second in total defense, while Clemson is third. In passing offense, Clemson is fourth and Maryland is fifth. In scoring defense, Maryland is second (14th in the country) and Clemson is third (21st in the country). <br>
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The biggest difference between the two teams is how they move the ball. <br>
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Unlike in years past, Clemson is more dangerous through the air. Sophomore quarterback Charlie Whitehurst is 10th nationally in passing efficiency with a 153.6 rating and a 67.7 completion percentage. He has thrown for an average of 299 yards over his last three games. <br>
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Whitehurst and the receiving trio of Airese Curry, Kevin Youngblood and Derrick Hamilton (a combined 17 catches per game) will test a Maryland secondary that is ranked seventh nationally (141.2 yards per game) in pass defense. <br>
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``In certain areas, I'm concerned about how we match up against them,'' said Friedgen. <br>
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Maryland, meanwhile, will rely on the run. <br>
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The Terps lead the ACC in rushing, thanks to the work of sophomore Josh Allen (329 yards, .4.9 average) and senior Bruce Perry (148 yards, 4.6 average). Allen will start at tailback. <br>
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Perry, who has been bothered by a lingering ankle injury, will play. Maryland kick returner/wide receiver Steve Suter will also play Saturday despite a minor knee injury.
