Last Updated on November 10, 2009 8:06 pm by drew
V.Tech-Maryland
College Park,
The lack of a true home-field advantage isn’t the only thing hampering the Terrapins this weekend.
The No. 20 Hokies look to hand
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made Virginia Tech -17 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Saturday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 57% of bets for this game have been placed on Virginia Tech -17 (View College Football bet percentages).
This contest could feature the biggest crowd of the year because of the large alumni base for Virginia Tech (6-3, 3-2) in the
Those fans that show up this time can expect to see Jamarr Robinson make his first career start for
"I think it’s his MCL," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "We’re not sure yet how severe it is. He possibly could be done for a couple weeks, just depends on how severe it is."
Robinson completed 5 of 11 passes for 27 yards and also ran nine times for a team-high 38 yards. Friedgen has not ruled out the possibility of playing freshman Danny O’Brien, who would otherwise redshirt.
In any case, an inexperienced quarterback will be going up against a Virginia Tech defense that ranks eighth nationally by allowing 163.1 passing yards per game.
Friedgen is good friends with Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, with both serving as graduate assistants at
Beamer is 3-0 against Friedgen as Virginia Tech has won the last four meetings. The Hokies’ 23-13 victory last November was keyed by Darren Evans’ school-record 253 yards rushing, but Evans is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Virginia Tech avoided a third straight loss last Thursday with a 16-3 win over
"It’s been a tough couple of weeks here," Beamer said. "I use the word, ‘relentless,’ and that’s exactly how I described this football team. They were relentness. They just kept coming back and coming back and fighting their way through it."
Williams has six 100-yard games to set a freshman school record, and he’s averaging 123.2 yards to rank ninth in the nation. He had a late fumble the game before that led to a 20-17 loss to
"I think the only person that was going to be able to overcome what happened last week was myself," Williams said. "I realized that it happens to everybody, nobody can be perfect."
Defensive back Rashard Carmichael had an interception for the second straight game, and Virginia Tech limited
"We played together and put the pieces together,"
That defense won’t have to worry about Turner, who threw for 240 yards and a touchdown in last year’s meeting. The loss of Turner comes at a difficult time for Friedgen, who is headed for his second losing season in three years.
"It’s a tough loss," Friedgen said. "I’m very proud of our guys though. They didn’t quit and gave everything they had. They’re scrapping out there now. But we couldn’t get a break."
Posted: 11/10/09 8:06PM ET