Thursday night viewing guide: wvu @ Maryland…

By: bourbonstreet |

Pretty interesting game here folks. Can the Terps actually test or even upset wvu at Home up in College Park? TCU has a fairly testy game as well visiting the AFA out in Colorado Springs…

Here are a couple of major facts you need to know to figure this Terrapin vs. ‘err game out:

  1. first of all, steve slaton hates Maryland’s guts for their alleged recruiting snub
  2. wvu has beaten 9 out of their last 9 unranked opponents as the visitor under rich rod since 2004. In the last 6 of those 9 games wvu has cruised to an average win of 25 points
  3. wvu is 94th in pass defense, so that part of their 3-3-5 Odd Stack set remains much maligned, but they have risen all the way to 16th in Sacks this year. They are 25th in turnover margin, and 28th in stopping the run
  4. wvu’s best defensive lineman (dykes) has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful for this game

Maryland Qb Jordan Steffy had a stellar 76% completion percentage, and Maryland is #1 in Time of Possession in all of D-1. That’s what Stiney, in one of his finer moments, did in back to back years to wvu (2004, 2005). He kept the wvu offense off the field, by keeping all runs and throws in bounds as best he could. Maryland looks to be able to do that, but rich rod will really crack his boys in practice this week after such a suspect showing in the first 30 minutes vs. Marshall last week. Maryland has about a 3 in 10 chance to win here, though that probably means playing a near perfect game, and at least a +2 turnover margin edge. Under Armor may have gotten it’s start up in Maryland with the Terps, but I just don’t see it. “click-clack”: wvu 30 Maryland 20.

TCU will likely struggle to beat AFA. Why? Because of a Texas sized hangover from last week. The fact that the top-2 TCU Rb’s are likely out of tonights contest, and the fact that AFA has a pretty decent defense playing at home. AFA 23 TCU 13.

Here is your weekly TV viewing guide, enjoy the college games on the first weekend set to actually feel like college football outside. You gotta respect the return of cool crisp pigskin mornings after good sleeping nights. You know I do. b-st.