Terps Football, Ravens, and NFL Predictions

I'm going to start with the bad news, get that out of the way, and then talk about the NFL. The Maryland Terrapins opened up their college football season horribly on Saturday with a 52-13 loss on national television to the California Golden Bears, whom the Terps upset last season. This was the second worst loss the Terps have taken since Ralph Friedgen took over, and I watched every minute of it. This year people have been down on the Terps football team, predicting a 6-6 season overall, or perhaps worse, but I decided to give them a 7-5 record, because they seem to always somewhat exceed expectations.
However, watching Saturday night's game shows that this team is as unexperienced as advertised. The defense looked horrible, with Best and Riley killing us, and the offense was rough, with six sacks allowed by this young offensive line. The only bright spot was Da'Rel Scott who had 13 carries for 90 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown run when it no longer mattered. What a rough start. Unless the Terps step it up in ACC play, this is going to be a rough season, which includes games against Virginia Tech and Florida State amongst the up-in-the-air ACC. Let's hope that the three straight home games against James Madison, Middle Tennessee State, and Rutgers are all wins. Then we can worry about the ACC schedule.
Now to the Ravens, who looked great in the preseason, granted it was the preseason (the Lions went 4-0 in the preseason last year, and we all know what happened after that), but Flacco didn't show any signs of a sophomore slump, and the running back situation looks good. The defense, despite losing starters such as Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard, looked very good throughout the entire preseason. Tavares Gooden looks ready to step up alongside Ray Lewis at the linebacker position, and Terrell Suggs had a nice drive in the fourth game, getting three tackles and one sack. Now, Sunday is nearly upon us, and the NFL season is finally going to begin. My prediction for the Ravens is 11-5 again, but still behind the Steelers at 12-4 again. The Ravens will get a wild card spot. I predict the Ravens will get through to the AFC championship game yet again, but lose yet again. This time they will lose to the New England Patriots, not the Steelers. Of course, I hope my prediction is wrong, and that the Ravens go all the way, but this is just my prediction for now. Let's go Ravens!
Here are my predictions for the way things are going to play out in the NFL this year:

AFC North: Winner- Pittsburgh Steelers Wild Card- Baltimore Ravens
AFC East: Winner- New England Patriots Wild Card- None
AFC South: Winner- Indianapolis Colts Wild Card- Tennessee Titans
AFC West: Winner- San Diego Chargers Wild Card- None

NFC North: Winner- Green Bay Packers Wild Card- Minnesota Vikings
NFC East: Winner- Philadelphia Eagles Wild Card- New York Giants
NFC South: Winner- New Orleans Saints Wild Card- None
NFC West: Winner- Seattle Seahawks Wild Card- None

AFC Champion: New England Patriots NFC Champion: Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl Champion: The New England Patriots. I know, I hate myself, too, but it's better than the Steelers or Colts, right?

P.S. Did anyone notice that as of Monday, September 7, the Baltimore Orioles were only five games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for fourth place? If the Orioles don't have a complete fallout at the end here, fourth place is a possibility this year. Of course, as I write this, we're losing 10-0 to the Boston Red Sox.