Maryland Terrapins at #8 West Virginia Mountaineers.
Saturday, September 22, 2012, 12:00 pm Eastern, TV: FX
Mountaineer Field – Morgantown, West Virginia
Opening Line: West Virginia -27
Current Line: West Virginia -27
Opening Total: 62 1/2
Current Total: 62
Opening Money Line: WVU -7000 / Maryland +3000
Current Money Line: WVU -5600 / Maryland +2650
In a series that dates back to 1919, the Maryland Terrapins and West Virginia Mountaineers meet for the 49th time Saturday in Morgantown. The Mountaineers lead the series 25-21-2, including 13-9-1 at home. West Virginia has won 6 straight in the series, including 37-31 last year in College Park. The Terrapins beat the Mountaineers in the 2003 Gator Bowl, the last win in the series for Maryland.
Maryland is coached by Randy Edsall. The Terrapins are 2-1 this season with a 7-6 home win over William & Mary, a 36-27 win at Temple, and a 24-21 home loss to Connecticut last week. Maryland is averaging 258.3 total yards per game, including 148 passing yards and 110.3 rushing yards per game. The Terrapins are ranked #102 or lower in all three categories. On defense, Maryland is giving up 227.3 total yards per game, including 124.3 passing yards and 103 rushing yards. The Terps are in the top 10 nationally in total and passing defense. Maryland is outscoring opponents 21.3-19 this season. The Terrapins are 1-2 ATS and the total is 2-0 this season.
Maryland was a 2.5 point underdog at home last week against UConn, and the total was 38. The game was significant because Edsall was coaching against his former team for the first time. The Huskies took a 17-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Maryland pulled to within 17-14, but UConn expanded their lead to 24-14. The Terps scored again to make it 24-21 with 4:39 left. The kicked off to the Huskies. UConn punted the ball away with 1:10 left. The Terrapins got to the Husky 39 before turning it over on downs. UConn ran out the clock to preserve the win.
Maryland had 205 total yards, including 109 passing yards. Quarterback Perry Hills completed 10 of passes for 109 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, along with a rushing touchdown. The Terps only had 16 first downs for the whole game. They had 5 penalties and 2 turnovers. UConn had 223 yards including 153 rushing yards, and 10 first downs. The Huskies had 4 penalties and a turnover.
Hills is 37 for 69 passing (53.6%) for 444 yards with 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, along with 38 carries for 44 yards and 2 touchdowns. The freshman took over when projected starter C.J. Brown tore his ACL in practice just before the season started. Running back Wes Brown has 21 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. Justus Pickett has 36 catches, 116 yards and 2 touchdowns. Marcus Leak has 9 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Stefon Diggs has 9 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown.
West Virginia is coached by Dana Holgorsen. The Mountaineers are 2-0 with blowout wins at home against Marshall 69-34 and last week in Landover, MD against James Madison 42-12. West Virginia is averaging 612 yards per game, including 386 passing yards and 226 rushing yards. The Mountaineers are #3 in total offense and #2 in passing nationally. WVU is giving up 422.5 yards per game on defense including 262.5 passing yards and 160 rushing yards. The mountaineers are outscoring teams 55.5-23 this season. West Virginia is 1-1 ATS and the total is 1-0 this season.
Last week, West Virginia was a 35 point favorite against James Madison, and there was no total. The Mountaineers scored 28 points before James Madison kicked a field goal late in the second quarter. The Dukes added a safety in the 3rd quarter. West Virginia then scored 14 straight to make it 42-5 early in the fourth. James Madison scored a late touchdown to make it 42-12 and get inside the 35 point spread.
West Virginia had 569 total yards including 448 passing yards. Quarterback Geno Smith completed 34 of 39 passes for 411 yards with 5 touchdowns and no interceptions. Receiver Stedman Bailey had 13 catches for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tavon Austin had 11 catches 113 yards and a touchdown. The Mountaineers held the Dukes to 300 total yards including 112 passing yards. James Madison had the only turnover of the game along with 7 penalties.
Through two games, Smith has completed 66 of 75 passes (88%) for 734 yards with 9 touchdowns and no interceptions, along with 10 carries, 83 yards and a rushing touchdown. He has established himself as a Heisman contender early in the season. Running back Shawne Alston has 30 carries for 185 yards with 3 touchdowns. Andrew Buie has 13 carries for 11 yards and a touchdown, along with 9 catches for 121 yards. Running back Dustin Garrison is out indefinitely after tearing his ACL and MCL before the Orange Bowl last January. Bailey has 22 catches, 277 yards and 5 touchdowns. Austin has 21 catches, 166 yards and 2 touchdowns along with 4 carries for 80 yards.
Maryland is 6-1 ATS after gaining less than 275 total yards, 14-5 after rushing for less than 100 yards, 5-2-1 after allowing less than 275 total yards, 1-4 in road games against teams with winning home records, against teams with winning records, in September, and in road games, 1-5 in non-conference games, 1-6 after failing to cover, 2-12 overall, and 0-9 after a straight up loss.
West Virginia is 5-0 ATS after failing to cover, 12-5 against teams with winning records, 6-13 against ACC teams, 5-11-1 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, and 2-9 in home games against teams with winning road records. The Mountaineers are 5-0 ATS recently against the Terrapins, and 4 of those 5 meetings went over the total.
Maryland has been really good on defense so far especially against the pass. However, they haven’t faced an offense as explosive as West Virginia yet either. If the Terps can’t slow down the West Virginia offense, I don’t think Maryland has the fire power to keep up with them. The Mountaineers roll.
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