Let me get this straight....
you're betting on a VIRGINIA running game, that has accomplished the following when facing a good rush defense in those four games:
Date Team Score Rushing
9/6/2003 @ S CAROLINA 7-31 L 38-116
10/11/2003 @ CLEMSON 27-30 L 22-53
10/18/2003 FLORIDA ST 14-19 L 9--5
11/1/2003 @ NC STATE 37-51 L 23-50
You'll notice I included NC ST which isn't great defensively, but happened to be the last game they played. Granted, they threw the ball alot in that game but still, when you rush it over 20 times, you HAVE to get more than 50 yards out of it.
You'll also notice that 3 of these games were on the road, as is tonite's contest vs Maryland. Maryland is a dominant team at home, going 16-1 over last three years, are 5-0 this year and yes, probably chomping at the bit to get at VIRGINIA for all the beatings they've put on them in the past. This is however a HOME TEAM dominated series, and MARYLAND is a great home team. Look at these numbers:
Offense Home Games
Rushing Passing Total
PPG Half FD TOP ATT-YDS YPR CMP-ATT PCT YDS PYA ATT-YDS
41.6 27.2 24.2 32:32 45-212 (4.7) 16-28 57.6% 265 (9.5) 73-476
The last two years, the home team has been up at HT by at least 13 pts yielding only a TD to the road dog. In last years game, the TERRAPINS had 3 TO's to VIRGINIA's zero and were clearly outplayed. However the year before, Maryland dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing 55 times for 243 yards while holding VIRG to 64 yards on 25 carries. Again, VIRG was down by 17 at HT and forced to throw to get back into the game, but tell me how that doesn't happen again tonite??
MARYLAND is 6-3 and needing to win out to secure a Major Bowl and what better place to start than with VIRGINIA who embarrassed the TERRAPINS last year 48-13 in VIRGINIA as 10.5 pt underdogs. That was a huge blow to last year's team who were riding an 8 game winning streak to a possible BCS game.
If the weather is a factor, it will favor the better rushing team, which is clearly MARYLAND. VIRGINIA relies more on the passing attack, and if the wind is gusting up to 40 as predicted, well, the TERRAPINS will literally roll over the CAVALIERS.
