Brian Toal was talking about Maryland the other day and pointed out what everybody else already knows.

"They learned how to win the close ones - that's what good teams do," Toal said. "They win the close games."

You probably know all this by now, but the Terps have won five straight - by a total of 13 points. They won at Virginia, 28-26, at home against NC State, 26-20, at home against Florida State, 27-24, at No. 19 Clemson, 13-12, and at home against Miami, 14-13.

BC is 1-2 against those five teams (the Eagles don't face Virginia and still have Miami next week) - the Eagles beating Clemson and FSU by a total of six points and losing the NC State.

Which brings me to a point. Both of these Atlantic Division contenders, who are a combined 16-4 coming into this game, have won close games. They have also suffered three close losses in their four defeats - Maryland drubbed at then-No. 5 West Virginia, 45-24, and losing by four at No. 18 Georgia Tech.

Both have had their escapes - we told you about the Maryland winning streak and this is a team that beat Florida International, 14-10.

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