Virginia Tech may be down to its third quarterback and lost two straight, but No. 23 Maryland’s chances of reaching the ACC Championship requires winning in Blacksburg, Va. tonight.
Good luck with that.
Lane Stadium is the toughest venue in the ACC. A southern version of Giants Stadium where 66,233 welcome the Hokies back for only the second time since Sept. 13. Clemson thinks Death Valley is tough. Miami was once unbeatable at home. They’re nothing compared to the passion on Thursday nights in Lane before a national audience where Virginia Tech is 14-3 during ESPN’s midweek game.
“There’s a lot of really tough places to play in the ACC on the road and this is one of them,” Terrapins coach Ralph Friedgen said.
No, this is really the only major home advantage in the conference. Maryland learned it harshly in 2004 when playing on a Thursday night at Lane. Virginia Tech led 41-3 at halftime en route to a 55-6 thumping.
Maryland (6-2, 3-1 ACC) sits atop the Atlantic Division with four games remaining. It has already earned a postseason trip. The Terps could reach their first major bowl since taking the 2001 conference title in Friedgen’s debut by sweeping Virginia Tech, North Carolina (6-2), Florida State (6-2) and Boston College (5-3) before the conference championship. It’s doable given Maryland has already beaten three ranked opponents this season.
But, the Terps tend to blow big chances. They’ve lost to the two worst teams on their schedule at Middle Tennessee State and Virginia. Maryland now seeks to beat a vulnerable Virginia Tech team (5-3) for the first time since 1990. Hokies coach Frank Beamer yesterday said he won’t know whether quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor or Sean Glennon can play with sprained ankles until warmups. Virginia Tech has the ACC’s worst offense and a middling defense.
“We control our own destiny,” Friedgen said. “Everybody is playing everybody else these last four games so there’s a lot that could happen. We probably have the most parity in any league in the country bar none.”
VT also has a chance for a late-season run with three home games against Maryland, Duke (4-4) and Virginia (5-4) while traveling to Miami (6-3). But, the Hokies must beat Maryland for any ACC title hopes.
“Big game for both of us,” Beamer said. “There’s a lot of teams with a chance and that’s good for the league.”
It certainly makes for must-see TV.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
