While many are calling this a �trap� game and comparing the contest to
the West Virginia game in 2003, I would more closely compare this game to the
Georgia Tech game last year. The West Virginia game was truly a �trap� game
because the Mountaineers had not shown they could play to Tech�s level (with
the exception of their inspired play against Miami) and came into the game
struggling at 2-4. Maryland has certainly shown more potential and, at 4-2, the
Terps are much less likely to be overlooked by the Hokies.

The Maryland game is pivotal in the same manner that Georgia Tech was last
year. In last year�s Thursday night road game, the Yellow Jackets were 4-2 and
looking for bigger things with an upset of the Hokies. I would not be surprised
to see the Maryland game this year be similar to the Thursday night game last
year against the Rambling Wreck, with a similar result.

Maryland comes into the game with a three-game winning streak, having
defeated a pesky Wake Forest squad on the road, Virginia in an offensive
shoot-out, and Temple in a snoozer. The Terps two losses were hard-fought close
games in which Maryland gave up big plays in the fourth quarter to Clemson and
West Virginia. The good news for Hokie fans is that Virginia Tech�s style of
play more closely resembles these two opponents in that both play a physical
style of play and try to control the line-of-scrimmage. Maryland appeared to
wear down in both of these games, and the Virginia Tech game plan will
undoubtedly be similar in establishing dominance in the trenches and wearing
down the Terps.

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