WASHINGTON — I’ve often titled September the “Show Me Month” of college football (October being “Moving Month”, November being “Closing Month” and December being “There are WAY too many Bowl Games Month”). While seasons can end before fall technically arrives (see: Michigan, South Carolina, Texas) the first few games are more about possibilities than limitations. Part of it is the new-season smell, part of it is the semi-cupcake schedule (credit the SEC and Pac-12 for holding conference games between ranked teams early), part of it is we want to see the best in our team — at least until they’re under .500 with a trip to the conference leader coming up.
Maryland meets West Virginia
The Terps have shown us that they can win games pretty (dominating James Madison) as well as ugly (6 turnovers against South Florida). While the offense continues to find itself, the defense has been the early rock, allowing just 3.0 yards per carry, 4.3 yards per pass, and a 33% third down conversion rate. They’ll face a Mountaineer team that didn’t blink against Alabama, guided by a quarterback who’s named to be a gunslinging signal caller — Clint Trickett. The Florida State transfer completes 75% of his passes for 320 yards a game and didn’t even play against the Terps in last year’s 37-0 disaster. Can CJ Brown shake off two less than ideal efforts in a potential shootout with a guy named Clint?
Terps come up short, 34-31.
#17 Virginia Tech vs East Carolina
The Pirates have been problematic recently for the Hokies: a five-point margin last year, a seven-point victory for VT in 2011, and people in Blacksburg are still smarting from the 27-22 loss to ECU in 2008. September staggers (like going to double overtime with Marshall last year) are also never too far away from the conversation at Lane Stadium. Pirates quarterback Shane Carden’s averaging over 300 yards per game. Can the defense contain the first prolific passer they’ll face this year? VT sacked him eight times in last year’s win. They also were held to 53 yards on 34 carries that afternoon. I’d like to see more out of the running game that picked up steam late against William & Mary but was bottled up by Ohio State.
Hokies hang on, 29-20.
Virginia vs #21 Louisville
Maryland’s ACC replacement comes to Charlottesville looking not unlike their predecessor. Red and black in the uniforms, a mascot that tries to appear more threatening than it actually is, and alphabetically Louisville falls right between Georgia Tech and Miami, like the Terps did. But that might be where the similarities end. The Cardinals come to Scott Stadium fresh off scoring 97 points over their first two games, including a 31-13 “Welcome to the ACC” mauling of Miami. UVA Coach Mike London plans to use both quarterbacks Greyson Lambert and Matt Johns depending on his game plan, specific down/distance situations, and Magic 8-Ball answers. One hopes he doesn’t get a run of “Ask again later,” “Cannot predict now,” and “Concentrate and ask again.”
Cavaliers can’t keep pace, 37-14.
Navy at Texas State
Upon further review, this is not North Texas (the team that routed SMU 43-6 and set the resignation of June Jones in motion), thus making seven hours of exhausting research moot. The Bobcats did beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 65-0, which means almost as much as Arkansas-Pine Bluff beating Concordia (Ala.) 31-0 the following week. Keenan Reynolds health is far more important, and the junior QB’s been cleared after an MRI on his knee.
Midshipmen make it happen, 35-17.
Howard handles Morehouse, Georgetown over Marist, James Madison gets by St. Francis, Towson defeats Delaware State, William & Mary wails on Norfolk State, Richmond rips Hampton, Old Dominion defeats Eastern Michigan.
Last Week: 8-2. Overall: 16-4.
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