Editor's note: Christian Alexander (5-2) is cashing Thursday winners at a 71 percent clip. Don't miss out on tonight's GUARANTEED PLAY (pay if it wins only!) or sign up for his Thursday Power Pack!
#3 Virginia Tech (6-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast) at Maryland (4-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast)
Thursday, October 20 at 7:30 PM
TV: ESPN
Surface: Natural Grass (Byrd Stadium)
Line: Virginia Tech -10
Not that I’m complaining, but let’s be honest. So far this season Thursday night games have been fairly exciting but have definitely lacked any type of national championship implications. If you’ve been a fan of Thursday night football for a couple of seasons then you know this is really nothing new.
That’s what makes this Thursday so refreshing. See, there are currently seven undefeated teams in Division I-A and you can be sure that every one of those programs has their eye on a BCS Bowl – preferably the Jan. 4 Rose Bowl that will decide the National Championship. Those seven are: Southern California, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Texas Tech, UCLA and the team that we get to watch Thursday night: the Hokies of Virginia Tech.
Coach Frank Beamer and his club currently sit at #3 in the nation and according to the recently released BCS poll, they are fairly far back of #2 Texas and #1 Southern Cal. But while the Hokies will surely be praying for the Longhorns or Trojans to slip up one of these Saturdays, they also know they must take care of their business and that business takes them to College Park, Maryland this week.
You can’t blame the Terrapins if they have had this game circled on their calendar for a while. After all, when Maryland visited Virginia Tech last season the Terps were treated to a true woodshed beating. The final tally that day in Blacksburg was 55-6 with the home team Hokies scoring five defensive touchdowns and one on special teams.
That’s pretty appropriate considering Coach Beamer has built a reputation around big plays from his defense and special teams. That formula has continued to pay dividends this season as Virginia Tech has scored on a fumble recovery, four interceptions for touchdowns and scored on a blocked field goal. In total, the Hokies have forced six fumbles and made eight interceptions.
Combine that with the fact that Virginia Tech has only two turnovers this season and you’ll begin to see a large part of the secret to the Hokie success. Of course, Beamer does also have the luxury of some stud athletes at his disposal…that never hurts.
The big name is, of course, “little” Vick – otherwise known as Marcus. The junior is doing his best to live up to his brothers legendary status in Blacksburg and so far this season has thrown for 1,043 yards and rushed for another 134.
Vick will likely be without Cedric Humes Thursday night as the running back broke his right forearm in a 41-14 victory over Marshall on Oct. 8. That’s significant considering that Humes is the Hokies' leading rusher with 325 yards and five touchdowns.
However, conveniently for Beamer, senior running back Mike Imoh is ready to return to action after missing the Marshall game with a sprained ankle. Imoh was the leading rusher for Virginia Tech last season and has a ton of big game experience.
The Terps will counter with an offense that can only be described as a pleasant surprise after a dismal performance in 2004. Maryland has flexed those offensive muscles in the last two games, racking up more than 1,000 yards combined total offense in wins over Virginia and Temple.
QB Sam Hollenbach might be the biggest surprise of all as the junior leads the ACC in total offense (264.3) and is third in pass efficiency. Combine that with a two-headed rushing attack from Lance Ball and Mario Merrills that has averaged 210 yards on the ground in its last three games and you’ll see why the Hokies will have their hands full on Thursday night.
Something will have to give here as that Maryland offense will face a Virginia Tech defense that is first in the country in scoring defense (9.0 points) and is only surrendering 236 yards a game.
Christian Alexander's Thursday night season record:
Christian was able to shake off his two-game Thursday night losing streak last week as the underdog Clemson Tigers (+5) took N.C. State out to the woodshed in a 31-10 beating of the Wolfpack. Alexander is now 5-2 on Thursday nights in 2005.
Week 1: Eastern Michigan (+12) -- WIN
Week 2: Oklahoma State (-13.5) -- WIN
Week 3: Texas Christian (+4) -- WIN
Week 4: Air Force (+7.5) -- WIN
Week 5: Air Force (+4.5) -- LOSS
Week 6: Georgia Tech (-4) -- LOSS
Week 7: Clemson (+5) -- WIN
Week 8: Virginia Tech at Maryland -- RESULT PENDING
