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Maryland meets rare Pac-10 foe, faces Oregon State

Dec 28, 2007 - 11:22 AM Maryland (6-6) vs. Oregon St (8-4) 8:30 pm EST Emerald Bowl December 28

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Meeting a Pac-10 Conference team for just the fourth time in school history, Maryland takes on Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl on Friday.

The Terrapins have not faced a Pac-10 school since enduring a 21-10 loss to Washington in the 1982 Aloha Bowl. Maryland also played UCLA in 1954-55 for its only other games against a school from the Pac-10.

Despite losing four of their last six games in the regular season, the Terrapins managed to make it to a bowl for the fifth time in the last seven years under coach Ralph Friedgen.

Maryland has won its last three postseason games, including a 24-7 triumph over Purdue in the Champ Sports Bowl last December.

Friedgen relies on the running game led by Keon Lattimore (789 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Lance Bell (763 yards, 12 TDs).

However, the Terps will face a major test against the Beavers, who ranked second in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 74.9 yards per game. Oregon State gave up 313.0 yards per contest overall to rank 12th nationally.

Whereas the Terrapins struggled late in the season, the Beavers finished strongly, winning six of their final seven games. Their only loss during that span was a 24-3 setback at then-No. 13 Southern California on November 3.

Under coach Mike Riley, the Beavers are making their fifth bowl appearance in the last seven years. Like the Terps, the Beavers also have won their last three bowls.