Michigan State Football: Game by game predictions for 2015 season

Nov 15, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) runs past Maryland Terrapins defensive lineman Darius Kilgo (97) during the first quarter at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland had a chance to show that it was ready to step into the national college football spotlight last season by defeating Stanford in the Foster Farms Bowl, but the Terrapins fell short, 45-21, finishing their first season as members of the Big Ten with a 7-6 record.

Related: MSU Football: 5 most irreplaceable players for 2015

Michigan State traveled to College Park, Md., last season and put an absolute hurt on the Terrapins, 37-15, and I expect Maryland’s trip to East Lansing to be much of the same in 2015.

Senior quarterback, and first-year starter, Caleb Rowe will be taking over for dual-threat option-based QB C.J. Brown and the Maryland offense will have a much different look as Rowe is much more of a pocket presence.

However, Michigan State will have a decent day of finding the ball in the air and making the defensive backs look like All-Big Ten players — if they aren’t already. Rowe will struggle in windy East Lansing conditions and throw three picks as his offense falters.

Maryland’s defense will be on the field more often than not and that will be the worst case scenario come to life as the Terrapins will be gassed and prone to giving up big plays all day.

Another opportunity for Cook to pad his stats and remain in the Heisman conversation.

Prediction: Maryland 13, Michigan State 35 (10-0)

Next: Week 12: at Ohio State