TOWSON, Md. - So much for preseason predictions.

The showdown this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. features No. 14 Towson (6-2, 4-1) at  No. 7 Maine (7-1, 5-0) at Alfond Stadium. In late July at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, the coaches and media relations personnel decided to choose William & Mary to win the CAA  with Maine to finish ninth and Towson to finish in last place (11th).

The Tigers and Black Bears are playing for the 10th team in a series that dates back to 1979. Last year, Maine defeated the Tigers, 28-18, at Unitas Stadium. Towson had more total yards (304 to 248) and more first downs (21 to 14), but also had more turnovers (2 to 1) in an ugly game as both teams combined for 22 penalties. Maine scored on a 35-yard interception return late in the fourth quarter and on a safety with 1:20 left.

This year, the Black Bears are incredibly opportunistic. That's one of the reasons why Maine leads the CAA. They have turned the over just nine times (four picks, five fumbles)  while forcing 16 turnovers (+7 ratio).

This season, Maine opened with a home win over Bryant, 28-13. If there was a game that proved how good this Maine team might be this season, it took place in a 35-29 road loss at FBS opponent Pittsburgh on Sept. 10. The fact that the Black Bears were outgained by just 10 yards and sacked Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri seven times had to give the Black Bears confidence going into conference play.

Before conference play began, Maine downed Albany on the road, 31-15, on Sept. 17. After a bye, Maine defeated Delaware at home, 31-17, came back to upset James Madison on the road in overtime, 25-24, edged Rhode Island at home, 27-21, earned a 23-22 win on the road at Richmond and last week, took apart Villanova on the road, 41-25, in a snowstorm.

Maine has an explosive offense that averages 29.4 points per game while allowing 21.5 points per game. The Black Bears average 130 yards per game rushing and 250.4 yards per game in the air. The defense allows 3.6 yards per carry (141.2 yards per game) and 195.8 yards per game in the air.

Maine's offensive success starts at the quarterback spot where senior Warren Smith (6-1, 205) has put together an All-Conference type of season, passing for 2,003 yards with 14 TDs and just four interceptions while completing 66.2% of his passes. The Iona transfer is also the second on the team in rushing with 167 yards and three rushing TDs.

When the Black Bears want to pound the football on the ground, they hand it to senior Pushaun Brown (5-10, 210), who leads the team with 723 yards, eight TDs and averages 4.9 yards per carry.

At receiver, Smith's favorite target is junior Maurice McDonald (6-0, 180), who has 53 receptions for 542 yards (10.2 yards per carry) and five TDs. Derek Session (6-1, 225) is a Baltimore native (Dunbar H.S.) who provides a big target with 27 catches for 336 yards, a 12.4 average. He was named to the All-CAA third team last season.

The deep threat is redshirt freshman Arthur Williams (6-0, 175), who has 15 catches for 250 yards and one TD.

The Black Bears also have an outstanding tight end in sophomore Justin Perillo (6-4, 250), who has 33 catches for 342 yards and three scores.

The offensive line is anchored by junior Chris Howley (6-3, 295), who was a third-team All-CAA performer last season. Last year, the Black Bears allowed just 12 sacks all season and this year, they've allowed just 13 sacks.

Defensively, the Black Bears have a made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks by recording 22 sacks on the season. Sophomore Michael Cole (6-2, 250) leads the way with six sacks, 27 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and two blocked kicks. 

Junior DE Douglas Alston (6-3, 225) mans the other end spot and has recorded 19 tackles with 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two QB hurries and one blocked kick.

On the interior, senior Raibonne Charles (6-0, 250) plugs the middle at nose guard. While he may not be the biggest nose guard, Charles is very explosive, leading all linemen with 37 tackles, adding 3.5 TFLs and two sacks. Senior Kevin Phanor (6-1, 280) adds 37 tackles and two sacks.

At linebacker, senior Vinson Givans (6-0, 225) is second on the team with 56 tackles, adding four TFLs, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

Junior Troy Russell (6-3, 220) is fourth on the team with 46 tackles, adding two pass breakups and one blocked kick. Sophomore Shawn Bodtmann (5-11, 215) rounds out the LB group with 25 tackles and one pass breakup.

The secondary is anchored by two senior safeties who are having tremendous seasons. Trevor Coston (5-10, 210) is tied for the lead in the CAA with five interceptions and is third on the team with 56 tackles while contributing seven pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Jerron McMillan (5-11, 215) leads the Black Bears with 62 tackles, adding 6.5 TFLs, two sacks, one picks and one forced fumble.
 
Sophomore Kendall James (6-0, 175) and junior Darlos James (5-10, 175) man the cornerback spots. Kendall James had 30 tackles with two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Darlos James is second on the team with three picks and has 28 tackles.

On special teams, Maine is dangerous on punt returns with Coston, who is averaging 10.9 yards per return, including one touchdown. As a team, the Black Bears have blocked six kicks this season. Roosevelt Boone averages 17.4 yards per kick return.

Place kicker Brian Harvey has converted three of four field goals, including a 34-yard field goal. Punter Jordan Waxman averages 35.5 yards per punt, including a 55-yard punt, and has placed 17 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

Kick-off is set for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and will be televised on CSN+ (Comcast Sports Net Plus). Spiro Morekas and Ron Meehan will call the action on radio on WNST-AM 1570.