Week 6: Maryland at Virginia

Maryland already has come up short in one “trap game” this season. This week provides the Terrapins an opportunity to show whether they learned from that mistake. Maryland, which lost at Middle Tennessee State 24-14 on Sept. 6, heads south to play a Virginia team that is among the worst Football Bowl Subdivision squads in the country.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 31-3 loss at Duke that snapped the Blue Devils’ 25-game losing streak in ACC play. They are without their starting quarterback — Peter Lalich was dismissed from the team and has since transferred to Oregon State — and might have to play the Terrapins without tailback Cedric Peerman (leg).

Sophomore Marc Verica has taken over for Virginia at quarterback, and he threw four interceptions last week against the Blue Devils in the second start of his career. The Cavaliers finished that game with six turnovers, including five in the second half, as a 3-3 tie at halftime became a blowout. Out of 119 FBS teams, Virginia ranks last in scoring (9.0 points per game), 118th in total offense (251.3 yards per game) 117th in rushing (66.0 ypg), 116th in passing efficiency (82.63) and 113th in turnover margin (minus-1.75 per game).

All of that futility should worry the Terrapins, who rallied from a 17-6 deficit on the road last week to defeat ACC favorite Clemson 20-17. Maryland has played of the level of its competition this season — Ralph Friedgen’s team beat ranked foes California and Clemson but lost to Middle Tennessee State and struggled to edge Delaware — so the worst team in the ACC has a chance to bring out the worst in the Terrapins.

But if the Terps can avoid self-destructing, they should find themselves 5-1 at the halfway point of their season. Given Virginia’s offensive ineptitude, the Terrapins shouldn’t have to score many points to win. Maryland’s balanced offense — tailback Da’Rel Scott leads the ACC in rushing (111.5 ypg), and wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (20.8 yards per reception, 31.0 yards per rush) is a threat for big plays — should be up to the task.

Notes/Things to Watch:

Maryland leads the all-time series 41-29-2, including 20-17 in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers have won 12 of the last 16 meetings, but the Terrapins have won four of the last seven.

Friedgen must find a way to keep his players focused on this game. The Terrapins have an open date after their trip to Virginia, and their next opponent is Wake Forest in a game that will play a large role in determining who wins the Atlantic Division.

Virginia is better in the secondary now that sophomore cornerback Ras-I Dowling is healthy. Dowling, who started for the first time last week at Duke, finished the game with a career-high eight tackles and two interceptions.

Verica (41 of 72 for 352 yards, five interceptions) has put up numbers eerily similar to those that Lalich (39 of 74 for 359 yards, three interceptions) produced before he was dismissed from the team, and that’s not good for the Cavaliers. Virginia has no touchdown passes and nine interceptions this season.

Key Player (Terrapins) — Chris Turner, QB

After throwing three interceptions against Middle Tennessee State, Turner has not been intercepted in two of the last three games. As long as he keeps the ball out of the hands of Virginia’s defensive players, the Cavaliers shouldn’t be able to outscore the Terrapins.

Key Player (Cavaliers) — Kevin Ogletree, WR

Ogletree, who is tied for second in the ACC in receptions (5.5 per game), has been the lone bright spot for Virginia’s offense so far. Now the Cavaliers need their top receiving threat to find his way to the end zone.

Maryland by 13