Maryland has a long and rich history, not only in its culture but in sports. The teams operating out of Maryland have long been seen as top-notch teams in their respective league, bringing national attention to the state. They have numerous championships, whether it is the Baltimore Orioles winning the World Series in baseball, the Baltimore Ravens winning the Super Bowl, or the Maryland Terrapins winning the NCAA national championship.
With the upcoming season for some teams or the ongoing season for others, they all are vying to bring the championship to their state again. Still, the latest gambling news isn’t positive when it comes to listing Maryland’s finest as outright favorites.
Below, we will examine some of the top headlines surrounding Maryland-based teams.
Top Maryland Sports Teams
Baltimore Ravens: Will the defense suffer setbacks in the new season?
The Baltimore Raven’s defense in the prior season was considered one of the best in the league. Ranking high in various categories from points allowed per game or total takeaways. When teams played against, they knew they had to be on guard for the defense.
However, during this offseason, they lost several key defensive players, such as Jadeveon Clowney and linebacker Patrick Queen who joined the rival Steelers.
In addition, they lost their defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, along with a few other defensive coaches.
They were able to boost their defense through the draft and free agency and hire a new defensive coordinator. However, without the coaches who created the schemes they implemented in games and some of the top players who executed them, questions remain as to whether they will be able to produce the same results as last year.
Baltimore Orioles: Can they expand upon last year’s success?
After winning the AL East division last year, the Baltimore Orioles have come into this season expecting to expand on that success this year.
However, there are looming questions concerning the health of their pitching staff and whether their bats can keep pace with last year’s success.
Two of their top pitchers, Tyler Wells and John Means, are out for the season with injuries. These injuries put more stress on their minor leagues to produce quality pitchers, and the current starting and bullpen pitchers are being asked to pick up the slack.
Then, the attention switches to the bats. Currently, they are doing well, leading the league in home runs. However, with the season barely halfway finished, there is still a lot of baseball to go, and it is a requirement for them to continue at their current pace.
While last year’s success was cheered on, the outlook from many sites recommended by gamblingnews.com suggests it could be more of a one-off than a trend for the future.
Maryland Mens College Football Team: Who will be the starting quarterback?
In a league where quarterbacks are increasingly transferring or defecting to the NFL. The question facing many NCAA football teams is who will start at quarterback, and the Maryland Terrapins are amongst that bunch.
Tauglio Tagovailoa was their quarterback for the past three years, bringing them to three consecutive bowl games and putting up incredible numbers. But now that he has left the program, the question is who will replace him.
Bille Edwards Jr. has played for the Terrapins, most notably in the prior season’s Music City Bowl. But while he has proven to be a reliable quarterback when asked to lead the team, he is facing stiff competition in this year’s offseason.
Players such as NC State transfer MJ Morris, Cameron Edge, Champ Long, and Jayden Sauray are all vying for the top spot. Head coach Mike Locksley has not ruled out anyone, making this offseason and the corresponding practice even more intriguing to see who can take the top spot and hopefully lead the Terrapins to continued success.
Maryland Mens College Basketball Team: Can the new additions help improve the team?
The Maryland men’s basketball team had a disappointing end to their season, losing in the second round of the Big Ten tournament and missing the NCAA tournament. But they hope this upcoming season will get them back on track.
Several new players, including former Belmont player Ja’Kobi Gillespie, have transferred to the team, and five-star recruit Derik Queen chose to spend his college years with the Terrapins.
With these latest additions, returning coach Kevin Williard is hoping they can help propel his team deeper into the Big Ten Tournament and secure a bid in the NCAA tournament.
Conclusion
Stories surround every sport, and Maryland teams are no different. Each team has its challenges and questions that need answers. However, each team has proven in the last few seasons that it has the potential to be a championship team. The Baltimore Ravens and Maryland Terpenes are going into the offseason and looking to build off that momentum. The Baltimore Orioles are looking to demonstrate that they can replicate the success of the prior season. Being in the national spotlight is never easy, but Maryland teams are well-equipped for the pressure.
