After taking the last two nights off, we have a good rivalry game on tonight. West Virginia goes to take on the Maryland Terrapins. With backfield combo of Steve Slaton and Patrick White, both of whom are legit Heisman Trophy contenders, you would think that would be the easy play.
West Virginia isn’t a defensive power – going back to last season, the Mountaineers have given up at least 23 points to eight straight opponents. That means they likely have to score at least 40 points on Thursday night in a hostile Byrd Stadium.
Maryland’s defensive unit is embarrassed about last year’s loss at West Virginia. The entire unit is using last year’s debacle in Morgantown as motivation this year and the coaching staff is helping, posting pictures of Slaton and White and articles gushing about the WVU run game over every defender’s locker. Maryland has a pair of mountains in the middle of its defensive line in Dre Moore and Carlos Feliciano, both intent on shutting down the gaps West Virginia exploited last year.
The Terps lead the nation in time of possession in 2007 and the defense has been on the field a total of 48 minutes this year compared to 65 in the first two games last year. Maryland boasts one of the ACC’s best receiving corps, and possibly the conference’s deepest. Head coach Ralph Friedgen is also likely to use more of the playbook against his first big opponent of the season, finally letting Jordan Steffy make plays when points are needed instead of relying on the run.
Maryland has a pair of mountains in the middle of its defensive line in Dre Moore and Carlos Feliciano, both intent on shutting down the gaps West Virginia exploited last year.
TODAYS PHATLINE
WVU vs MARYLAND +17
