West Virginia @ Maryland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2010 ) Maryland 17, West Virginia 31

THE STORY: The 18th-ranked Mountaineers face their first true test against the coach that beat them for a BCS berth last season. Ex-Connecticut coach Randy Edsall began his tenure at Maryland with a 32-24 home victory over undermanned Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 5. The Terrapins made more noise for their fashion statement -- debuting unique "Maryland Pride" uniforms and helmets -- and this week will sport an all-black combination.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: Maryland -2.

ABOUT MARYLAND (1-0, 1-0 ACC): The Terrapins dominated Miami statistically, but still trailed with four minutes to play. Maryland reached the Miami 11-yard line six times and scored just one touchdown. The Terrapins' 499 yards were their most since compiling 524 against North Carolina in November 2005, and sophomore Danny O'Brien's 348 passing yards eclipsed all but one of last year's games (417 vs. North Carolina State). The Terps forced four turnovers -- including Cameron Chism's 54-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final seconds -- and committed just four penalties.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (2-0, 0-0 Big East): First-year coach Dana Holgorsen brought a lauded offensive pedigree, though the Mountaineers haven't shown it for a full 60 minutes. Their opening 34-13 triumph over Marshall was halted with 14:36 left in the fourth quarter due to weather. Last Saturday they actually trailed FCS opponent Norfolk State at halftime before outscoring the Spartans 45-0 in the second half of a 55-12 victory. Junior quarterback Geno Smith went 12-for-16 in the second half against Norfolk after an 8-for-18 first half and finished with 371 yards and four touchdowns. Holgorsen's defense has not allowed a touchdown -- it's yielded six field goals and a Marshall punt return for a score.

EXTRA POINTS

1. West Virginia has won the last five meetings, which followed a stretch of Maryland taking four out of five, including a 41-7 rout in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day 2004.

2. Smith threw four TD passes almost exactly a year ago in WVU's 31-17 romp, in which it led 28-0. O'Brien did not play, but made his first college start the following game and has kept the starting job since.

3. Edsall's not the only Maryland coach familiar with the Mountaineers -- defensive line coach Greg Gattuso spent the past six seasons at rival Pitt.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 33, Maryland 20 -- With last year's exception (an OT loss at UConn), the Mountaineers have clobbered Edsall's teams.