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VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES -10 @ MARYLAND TERRAPINS
*Laying the POINTS here
(3) Virginia Tech (6-0) at Maryland (4-2) @ 7:45 PM EST.
GAME NOTES: With their sights set on upsetting their second top-25 foe this season, the Maryland Terrapins invite the third-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies to College Park this Thursday night, for an ACC showdown from Byrd Stadium. Ralph Friedgen's Terps have strung together three straight victories to move to 4-2 on the season and are coming off a bye, after disposing of the Temple Owls two weeks ago in Philadelphia, 38-7. Prior to that, Maryland defeated then 19th- ranked Virginia (45-33). The defending ACC champion Hokies are heading toward another conference crown with their strong start this season. They currently sit atop the Coastal Division standings with a 3-0 league ledger. They were also idle a week ago, after routing Marshall on October 8th, 41-14, to remain unbeaten on the year. Maryland holds a 15-12 edge in the all-time series with Virginia Tech, but Tech has won each of the last two matchups to close the gap. Last season, the Hokies routed the Terrapins in Blacksburg, 55-6.
There isn't much Virginia Tech hasn't been able to do on the offensive side of the ball this year. The team is averaging a healthy 39.3 points per game thus far, with the most success coming on the ground. The team is netting almost four yards per carry and 177.7 yards per game rushing. Tailbacks Cedric Humes and Mike Imoh have fueled the ground game, combining for seven of the team's 13 rushing scores to date. Despite the passing attack averaging a modest 187.2 yards per game, quarterback Marcus Vick is a dangerous duel threat in the backfield. When given an opportunity to throw the ball, Vick has been extremely efficient, completing 68.2 percent of his passes, for 1,043 yards, with 10 TDs and just two interceptions. Wideouts David Clowney (16 receptions, for 299 yards and three TDs) and Eddie Royal (13 catches, for 164 yards and one TD) provide adequate options downfield, but tight end Jeff King (15 catches, for 188 yards and four TDs) has been even more important to the Tech passing game.
While the Tech offense has had its way for the most part this season, it is due in large part to one of the nation's premier defenses. The Hokies currently lead the nation in scoring defense at 9.0 ppg, while allowing just 235.5 total yards per game (second nationally). The pass defense has been particularly stout at a meager 133.0 yards per outing (third nationally). This unit is chock-full of All-American caliber talent. Up front, rush end Darryl Tapp (four TFLs, three sacks) gets most of the attention from offensive lines, allowing sophomore end Chris Ellis (team-high 6.0 TFLs, team-high 3.5 sacks) to flourish. A talented trio of linebackers waits behind the line, with Vince Hall (team-high 49 tackles), James Anderson (44 tackles, two sacks) and Xavier Adibi (29 tackles, two INTs) all getting it done. Safety Aaron Rouse (23 tackles, two INTs) and All-American CB Jimmy Williams (20 tackles, one sack) highlight the play in the secondary.
The Terrapins have done a nice job offensively this season, as Friedgen has once again assembled a potent unit. The team is averaging almost 30 points per game (28.5) and getting it done with balance, churning out 158 yards on the ground and 256.2 yards per game through the air. The ground attack lacks a real workhorse, but their is plenty of talent in the backfield with tailbacks Lance Ball, Mario Merrills and Keon Lattimore, who have combined for over 750 yards and 10 TDs this season. Quarterback Sam Hollenbach has been efficient, completing 65.3 percent of his passes in 2005, for 1,513 yards and seven TDs. Vernon Davis and Danny Melendez lead all receivers with 24 catches each, combining for 751 yards and four TDs. Davis has three of those scores and is averaging an eye-popping 20.4 yards per catch.
The Maryland defense has been superb against the pass this season (146.7 ypg), but it has not done the same against the run, allowing a generous 169.7 yards per game. This is definitely an area of concern heading into this contest, as the Hokies like to run the ball. Forcing turnovers has also been a struggle for this unit, with a mere eight takeaways in the first six games, including just two INTs, both by safety Christian Varner. All-American candidate D'Qwell Jackson is far and away the top defender for the Terps from his middle linebacker position, leading the way with 72 total tackles (29 more than the next closest player). Defensive end Trey Covington and tackle Conrad Bolston have paced the team with three sacks apiece and have combined for seven TFLs.
The Terps are flying under the radar thus far but remain a dangerous team, especially on their own field. However, Frank Beamer's troops are well-coached and certainly will not be overlooking the Terps, even with a big showdown with Miami looming large in a couple of weeks.
Va Tech by a couple TD's
*Laying the POINTS here
(3) Virginia Tech (6-0) at Maryland (4-2) @ 7:45 PM EST.
GAME NOTES: With their sights set on upsetting their second top-25 foe this season, the Maryland Terrapins invite the third-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies to College Park this Thursday night, for an ACC showdown from Byrd Stadium. Ralph Friedgen's Terps have strung together three straight victories to move to 4-2 on the season and are coming off a bye, after disposing of the Temple Owls two weeks ago in Philadelphia, 38-7. Prior to that, Maryland defeated then 19th- ranked Virginia (45-33). The defending ACC champion Hokies are heading toward another conference crown with their strong start this season. They currently sit atop the Coastal Division standings with a 3-0 league ledger. They were also idle a week ago, after routing Marshall on October 8th, 41-14, to remain unbeaten on the year. Maryland holds a 15-12 edge in the all-time series with Virginia Tech, but Tech has won each of the last two matchups to close the gap. Last season, the Hokies routed the Terrapins in Blacksburg, 55-6.
There isn't much Virginia Tech hasn't been able to do on the offensive side of the ball this year. The team is averaging a healthy 39.3 points per game thus far, with the most success coming on the ground. The team is netting almost four yards per carry and 177.7 yards per game rushing. Tailbacks Cedric Humes and Mike Imoh have fueled the ground game, combining for seven of the team's 13 rushing scores to date. Despite the passing attack averaging a modest 187.2 yards per game, quarterback Marcus Vick is a dangerous duel threat in the backfield. When given an opportunity to throw the ball, Vick has been extremely efficient, completing 68.2 percent of his passes, for 1,043 yards, with 10 TDs and just two interceptions. Wideouts David Clowney (16 receptions, for 299 yards and three TDs) and Eddie Royal (13 catches, for 164 yards and one TD) provide adequate options downfield, but tight end Jeff King (15 catches, for 188 yards and four TDs) has been even more important to the Tech passing game.
While the Tech offense has had its way for the most part this season, it is due in large part to one of the nation's premier defenses. The Hokies currently lead the nation in scoring defense at 9.0 ppg, while allowing just 235.5 total yards per game (second nationally). The pass defense has been particularly stout at a meager 133.0 yards per outing (third nationally). This unit is chock-full of All-American caliber talent. Up front, rush end Darryl Tapp (four TFLs, three sacks) gets most of the attention from offensive lines, allowing sophomore end Chris Ellis (team-high 6.0 TFLs, team-high 3.5 sacks) to flourish. A talented trio of linebackers waits behind the line, with Vince Hall (team-high 49 tackles), James Anderson (44 tackles, two sacks) and Xavier Adibi (29 tackles, two INTs) all getting it done. Safety Aaron Rouse (23 tackles, two INTs) and All-American CB Jimmy Williams (20 tackles, one sack) highlight the play in the secondary.
The Terrapins have done a nice job offensively this season, as Friedgen has once again assembled a potent unit. The team is averaging almost 30 points per game (28.5) and getting it done with balance, churning out 158 yards on the ground and 256.2 yards per game through the air. The ground attack lacks a real workhorse, but their is plenty of talent in the backfield with tailbacks Lance Ball, Mario Merrills and Keon Lattimore, who have combined for over 750 yards and 10 TDs this season. Quarterback Sam Hollenbach has been efficient, completing 65.3 percent of his passes in 2005, for 1,513 yards and seven TDs. Vernon Davis and Danny Melendez lead all receivers with 24 catches each, combining for 751 yards and four TDs. Davis has three of those scores and is averaging an eye-popping 20.4 yards per catch.
The Maryland defense has been superb against the pass this season (146.7 ypg), but it has not done the same against the run, allowing a generous 169.7 yards per game. This is definitely an area of concern heading into this contest, as the Hokies like to run the ball. Forcing turnovers has also been a struggle for this unit, with a mere eight takeaways in the first six games, including just two INTs, both by safety Christian Varner. All-American candidate D'Qwell Jackson is far and away the top defender for the Terps from his middle linebacker position, leading the way with 72 total tackles (29 more than the next closest player). Defensive end Trey Covington and tackle Conrad Bolston have paced the team with three sacks apiece and have combined for seven TFLs.
The Terps are flying under the radar thus far but remain a dangerous team, especially on their own field. However, Frank Beamer's troops are well-coached and certainly will not be overlooking the Terps, even with a big showdown with Miami looming large in a couple of weeks.
Va Tech by a couple TD's