Can WVU Redeem Themselves Against Maryland?

WVU's match up with Maryland last year was embarrassing, to say the least. WVU had a 7 game win streak against Maryland going into that game, and got clobbered 37-0. The only thing more embarrassing than that loss, WVU's overall season last year.

The WVU/Maryland rivalry has been around for decades. I have to admit, I've never been a big fan. I often made the argument that WVU needed to strengthen it's schedule, and that Maryland held us back. I have since backed off on that stance. My new position has nothing to do with Maryland, although it does help that they joined the Big 10. It is mainly because  WVU now plays in the Big 12, and now has a much tougher schedule.

The WVU/Maryland Rivalry is a one sided rivalry. Here is an excerpt from a blog post I wrote entitled Rivalries in 2010:

One Sided Rivalries: These are rivalries that are only honored by teams and fans on the losing side. This is what we had with Penn St. until 1984. You get fired up to finally beat the team that pounds you 90% of the time. Or 100% of the time in the case of Penn St. at that time. The perception of a rivalry is viewed solely by the losing side. The winning side usually views the losing side as target practice. There are thousands of these rivalries in sports. WVU currently has this sort of rivalry with Maryland and Rutgers. They will pull an upset on us every once in a while. But most of the time, we dominate them. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the current Cleveland Browns are in this situation in the NFL

I stand by those words. The rivalry with Maryland is one sided. The Terps hate the Mountaineers, and the Mountaineers mostly roll their eyes at the Terps. The two teams that will meet on Saturday are the same two who met last year, not much has changed. Maryland has a strong QB in C.J. Brown. He is mobile and has a strong arm. They also have a good receiving corps with Diggs and Long, and a strong defense. WVU is also the same team, except for one aspect, attitude. WVU is confident and strong this year. The great game they played against Alabama lit a fire in them. And I think that fire is going to burn Maryland. The defining factor will be WVU QB Clint Trickett, who did not play in the Maryland game last year. WVU is 10th in the FBS in passing yards per game at 360 yards. The offense is clicking and the defense is 100% stronger. It will all be too much for Maryland this year.

WVU is hungry and wants to be ranked again. My prediction, they send Maryland down in flames!!