Maryland gets a chance at revenge on Thursday night when the unranked Terrapins (2-0) host No. 4 West Virginia (2-0) on ESPN at 7:45 p.m. WVU is a 16.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com.
Last season, the Mountaineers, behind star quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton, ran out to a 28-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 45-27 rout of Maryland.
"I'm hoping it's had an effect on our players. I'll tell you this: It's had an effect on me. I'm working as hard as I've ever worked to have our kids ready to play in this game," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said.
Something will have to give in this game, as West Virginia's ground game, again led by Heisman Trophy candidates White and Slaton, but which includes freshman Noel Devine this season, is second in the nation in averaging 339.0 yards in wins against Western Michigan Broncos and Marshall Thundering Herd. Slaton is averaging 6.4 yards per carry, with White at 8.2. The freshman Devine is at 10.0 yards per carry.
The Terps top the Atlantic Coast Conference in total defense (175 yards per game) and rank
"What they are doing is, they are controlling the game," WVU coach Rich Rodriguez said. "I think their last two opponents had the football for less than 60 plays. They are getting a lot of three-and-outs. Their offense is staying on the field, and it's hard to score when you don't have the ball."
On offense for Maryland, QB Jordan Steffy hasn't thrown a TD pass yet (although he is completing more than 75 percent of his passes), and he'll go against a Mountaineers' pass defense that ranks No. 94 in the country, allowing 255.5 yards per game. The Terps' best offensive player so far has been running back Keon Lattimore, who is averaging 108.5 yards rushing and has scored five TDs. However, the WVU defense is holding opponents to only 76.5 rushing yards per game and 2.4 per carry.
Maryland players don't expect a repeat of 2006.
"That definitely isn't going to happen this time around," receiver Danny Oquendo said. "We have a lot more experience."
Information from other news sources was used in this report.
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second in pass defense (128.5 ypg) and scoring defense (12 points per game), and are 15th in the country in run defense (allowing 46.5 yards per game), but they've faced weak opponents in Villanova and Florida International.
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