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Virginia Football vs. Maryland Game Preview, Score Prediction

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Virginia Football vs. Maryland Game Preview, Score Prediction


For the first time since 2012, the border rivalry between Virginia and Maryland returns to Scott Stadium for a Saturday night primetime showdown. The Cavaliers are looking to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2019, but they’ll have to avenge last season’s 28-point loss to the Terrapins in College Park.

As these two old ACC foes get set to renew their rivalry once again, read on for a full preview of Virginia vs. Maryland with everything you need to know, including game details and notes, an opponent scouting report, what to watch for, and a score prediction.

Who: Virginia Cavaliers (2-0, 1-0 ACC) vs. Maryland Terrapins (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

When: Saturday, September 14th at 8pm ET

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Where: Scott Stadium (61,500) in Charlottesville, Virginia

How to watch: ACC Network

How to listen: SiriusXM 119 or 193, SXM App 955 | Virginia Sports Radio Network

All-time series: Maryland leads 45-32-2

Last meeting: Maryland defeated Virginia 42-14 on September 15th, 2023 in College Park.

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Read Virginia’s injury report for the Maryland game here: Virginia Football Injury Report: Updates on Kam Robinson, McKale Boley

See below for UVA’s week 3 depth chart for the Maryland game.

Virginia football depth chart for week 3 vs. Maryland.

Virginia football depth chart for week 3 vs. Maryland. / Virginia Athletics

2023: 8-5, 4-5 Big Ten
2024: 1-1, 0-1 Big Ten

It remains to be seen how Maryland will fare in the post-Taulia Tagovailoa era. The Terrapins never quite reached the heights they had aspired to under Tagovailoa, who went 23-18 as Maryland’s starting quarterback, but they were at least .500 in all four seasons with him under center and Tagovailoa ended his career as the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader with 11,256 passing yards.

Now, the Maryland offense is in the hands of redshirt junior Billy Edwards Jr., a native of Springfield, Virginia who began his career at Wake Forest before transferring to Maryland in 2022. Though he waited in the wings behind Tagovailoa, Edwards has a significant amount of playing experience, having played in 17 games and logging three starts, including Maryland’s victory over Auburn in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. Edwards was named the MVP of that bowl game, throwing for 126 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 50 more yards and another score.

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Edwards and the Maryland offense got off to a strong start in 2024, hanging 70 points on what is probably a bad UConn team. But that bubble of momentum might have burst last week as the Terps struggled and suffered a 27-24 home loss to Michigan State at home. Maryland intercepted the opposing quarterback twice and recovered a fumble, but still got carved up for 484 yards of total offense, including 363 yards through the air. All three of Michigan State’s touchdowns were passing scores, perhaps indicating some vulnerabilities in the Maryland secondary.

Edwards completed 26 of his 34 passing attempts (76.5%) for 253 yards and two touchdowns and threw one pick. The bulk of those passes went to Tai Felton, who had 11 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. Look for the UVA secondary to key in on Felton in the passing game to avoid a repeat of last week, when Wake receiver Donavon Greene went for 11 catches, 166 yards, and a touchdown.

Maryland didn’t have much a ground game against Michigan State, just 86 total rush yards on 31 attempts (less than three yards per carry). So, like Virginia, the Terps might be pass heavy in their playcalling. If that’s the case, this game could come down to which team can best limit the opponent’s passing game. Was Virginia’s breakthrough from a pass rush standpoint against Wake Forest (six sacks) the real deal and can the Cavaliers replicate that effort against Maryland? Getting to and disrupting Billy Edwards Jr. might be the biggest key to the game for Virginia.

On the other side of the ball, Maryland’s defensive leader is senior linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, a preseason Second-Team All-Big Ten selection who had nine tackles against Michigan State, an interception against UConn, and five solo tackles against Virginia last season.

Maryland is giving up nearly 300 passing yards per game (292.5), but opposing quarterbacks are completing just 53.5% of their passes. The Terrapins have just three sacks through the first two games (two came against Michigan State), but they’ve also recorded four interceptions, including two by defensive back Glendon Miller.

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Colandrea’s decision-making and ball security
Last season against Maryland, Anthony Colandrea threw three interceptions on consecutive possessions and the Terrapins scored touchdowns following each of those picks to turn what was a one-score game into a 28-point blowout. The Wake Forest game was the opposite. Though Colandrea threw two interceptions, only one of which was his fault, and he bounced back from that bad one and orchestrated two clutch touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to lead UVA’s comeback. This game is a big opportunity for Colandrea to prove how much he has matured in his decision-making. Doing so against the Terrapins, who have four interceptions this season, but have otherwise had vulnerabilities in their pass defense, will be pivotal.

An encore for Virginia’s pass rush
This was one of our keys to last week’s game and the Cavaliers responded with six sacks, five of which came from non-defensive linemen. That was a major breakthrough for a Virginia defense that had only one sack in week 1 against Richmond and only 11 sacks in the entire 2023 season. It was also a significant positive in what was otherwise a subpar performance for the UVA defense. With two games of evidence, there should be two potent passing offenses on display on Saturday night at Scott Stadium. Can the Cavaliers get a leg up in this game by putting pressure on Billy Edwards Jr. and forcing him to make a few mistakes?

Two elite pass catchers
This game features two exceptional wide receivers in Virginia’s Malachi Fields and Maryland’s Tai Felton. Entering this season, Fields had yet to record a 100-yard receiving game. He’s reached the century mark in each of the first two games of the 2024 campaign, including an 11-catch, 148-yard game in the win at Wake Forest. Felton has been even better, entering week 2 as the nation’s leader in receiving with 330 yards to go along with three touchdowns. Of course, there are other playmakers on both teams’ offenses, but Fields and Felton are game-changers. If either team can successfully contain the opposing team’s WR1, that could be the difference.

This game is a massive opportunity for Virginia to prove the program is turning a corner. The Cavaliers are seeking their first 3-0 start since 2019 and doing so against an old rival who beat them down last season would make it even more special. This game could very well come down to the wire, but as the Hoos showed last week, they’re comfortable and confident in their ability to finish close games. Virginia makes a statement in front of a big home crowd at Scott Stadium and beats Maryland to remain undefeated.

Score prediction: Virginia 34, Maryland 28

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Stat Comparison: How Virginia Stacks Up Against Maryland on Paper

A Test From the Terps: What to Expect From Maryland on Saturday at Virginia

Virginia Football: Players to Watch in UVA’s Matchup Against Maryland

UVA Football: Anthony Colandrea Shows Poise Through First Two Games

Virginia Football Injury Report: Updates on Kam Robinson, McKale Boley

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Jyilek Harrington, West Virginia State linebacker, shot and killed at apartment

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Jyilek Harrington, West Virginia State linebacker, shot and killed at apartment


A linebacker at Division II West Virginia State was fatally shot during what the university said Thursday is being investigated by police as a home invasion.

The body of Jyilek Zyiare Harrington, 21, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was found inside an apartment Wednesday night in Charleston, police Lt. Tony Hazelett said in a statement.

Hazelett said several gunshots were fired during a disturbance in a hallway and inside the apartment. The statement said Harrington had multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they had no information on a possible suspect.

West Virginia State said counselors were available to students and faculty on campus.

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“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jyilek’s family as they mourn the loss of this incredible young man,” West Virginia State President Ericke S. Cage said in a letter to students and faculty.

Harrington, a senior, had eight total tackles, including a sack, in a 27-24 win at Barton College last week.

“Jyilek truly embodied what it means to be a student-athlete and was a leader not only on campus but in the community,” West Virginia State Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Nate Burton said. “Jyilek was a young man that, during Christmas, would create a GoFundMe to help less fortunate families.”

Burton said donations to a fund established by the athletic department in Harrington’s memory will be distributed to an organization in Charlotte to continue his charity work.

West Virginia State’s home opener against Carson-Newman, originally scheduled for Thursday night, has been rescheduled to Friday, and a private vigil involving both teams was set for Thursday night. Harrington previously attended Carson-Newman, where he made seven tackles in six games last season. He began his college career at Division II Erskine College.

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Before Friday’s game, there will be a moment of silence in honor of Harrington. 

“Carson-Newman joins West Virginia State in mourning the untimely passing of former student-athlete Jyilek Harrington,” Carson-Newman Vice President of Athletics Matt Pope said in a statement. “The Harrington family and the Yellow Jackets’ campus community is in our prayers. News like this is sad to hear anytime, but today it feels worse with two teams who knew him coming together to play.”



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Virginia carnival worker catches flying phone dropped from upside-down ride

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Virginia carnival worker catches flying phone dropped from upside-down ride


A carnival attendee in Virginia, captured the moment a carnival worker made an amazing save when he caught a phone dropped from an upside-down ride recently.

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Sierra Robertson, who captured the video, told Storyful her son’s friend dropped her phone while on a ride at a carnival in Culpeper, Virginia, in August.

“Good catch!” someone can be heard yelling in the video, after the worker saves the phone from hitting the ground.

“We were so thankful he was able to catch it and nobody got hurt,” Robertson told Storyful.

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Maryland vs. Virginia Best bets: Odds, game preview, expert predictions, player news, and stats

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Maryland vs. Virginia Best bets: Odds, game preview, expert predictions, player news, and stats


Head Coach Mike Locksley and the Maryland Terrapins are riding a three-year bowl streak. They opened the season with a smackdown of hapless UCONN 50-7 before losing a 27-24 heartbreaker to Michigan State on a 37-yard field goal as time expired last weekend. The Terps struggled to generate movement up front, rushing for just 2.8 YPC as Maryland was outgained 493 yards-to-339 by the Spartans. The game wouldn’t have been nearly as close without MSU throwing three interceptions or committing 10 penalties for 100 yards.

Despite entering the fourth quarter at a 30-17 deficit, Virginia QB Anthony Colandrea rallied the offense late and scored a go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run with 2:07 left in regulation to defeat Wake Forest last week. Third-year HC Tony Elliott finally has his preferred recruits in place and is ready to compete in the wide-open ACC, but the Cavaliers lost badly to Maryland by a score of 42-14 last season, so they’ll be looking for revenge at home in Week 3.

Listen to the Bet the Edge podcast as hosts Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick provide listeners with sharp actionable insight, market analysis and statistical data to help bettors gain more information before placing their wagers. So, whether you’re targeting spreads and totals, looking for value in futures markets or circling player props, give their podcast a listen to give you that extra edge.

Game details and how to watch Maryland vs. Virginia live

o Date: Saturday, September 14th, 2024
o Time: 8:00 PM EST
o Site: Scott Stadium
o City: Charlottesville, VA
o TV/Streaming: ACC Network

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Listen to the B1G Talk podcast with Todd Blackledge and Noah Eagle for the most compelling storylines across all of college football, with the biggest teams on the rise and the latest rankings!

Game Odds for Maryland vs. Virginia

The latest odds as of Thursday morning via BetMGM:

· Moneyline: Maryland -145, Virginia +120
· Spread: Maryland -2.5
· Over/Under: 57.5 points

*odds courtesy of BetMGM

The market is fluctuating between -2.5 and -3.0 so keep an eye on how the line is trending heading into gametime. The game total has spiked from 54.5 to 57.5 as well, indicating the market is pricing in a potentially explosive affair.

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NBC Sports Bet Best Bets

Eric Froton (@CFFroton) likes the home underdog in this one.

Maryland is rebuilding both their offensive and defensive lines and struggled to run the ball effectively with all-purpose RB Roman Hemby unable to create inside. The run lanes were sparse to say the least against Michigan State. I think UVA is a more seasoned team that has come up together under HC Elliott and now has a taste of success coming off the big win at Wake Forest last week. I picked Maryland to go Under their 7.5 Win total this season because this feels like they’re in the midst of a quasi-reset this year. I’m taking the +3 points while I can still get it, with Virginia primed for the upset at home.”

College Football talk is taking over Bet the Edge every Thursday throughout the season. Bet the BET THE EDGE is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Vaughn Dalzell, Eric Froton, and Brad
Thomas’ insights Thursdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

From the Trading Desk at BetMGM courtesy of John Ewing: National Championship

Line movement (Last Week to Now)
· Georgia +280 to +275
· Texas +850 to +550
· Tennessee +3500 to +2200

Highest Ticket%
· Ohio State 17.0%
· Georgia 12.1%
· Texas 9.1%

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Highest Handle%
· Ohio State 19.3%
· Georgia 17.2%
· Miami 11.5%

Quarterback matchup for Maryland at Virginia

o Cavaliers: Sophomore QB Anthony Colandrea beat out senior Tony Muskett for the starting job and hasn’t looked back. He lit up FCS Richmond for 297 yards and two touchdowns before carrying UVA on his back to victory with a dramatic 4th quarter comeback at Wake Forest last week. Colandrea completed 33-of-43 passes for a sparkling 77% completion rate for 357 passing yards and a 3-to-2 ratio versus Wake. His elevated 25% pressure-to-sack rate is an unfortunate byproduct of Colandreas gunslinging nature, but his ability to create outside of structure is undeniable.

o Terrapins: One of the pleasant surprises of the early 2024 college football season has been the play of Terps QB Billy Edwards, who beat out NC State transfer M.J. Morris in a spirited competition. He did everything possible to keep Maryland in the game, completing 77% of his passes (24-for-36) for 253 yards and a 2-to-1 ratio while also cashing in a rushing touchdown. With Edwards earning PFF passing grades of 87% or higher in each game this season to go with a sterling 7% pressure-to-sack rate, the Maryland passing attack is in good hands as they move on from their all-time team leading passer, Taulia Tagovailoa.

Want to check out the other games on the College Football schedule this week? We’ve got you covered right here on NBC Sports with all the matchup, venue, game-time and TV/streaming info so you won’t miss any of the action!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of the Terrapins vs. Cavaliers

  • WR Tai Felton was singled-out to me by former Maryland WR Rakim Jarrett at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine as being a young wideout who has NFL potential. After Felton exploded for 18 receptions, 352 total yards and three touchdowns in his first two games of the season, i’m starting to become a believer.
  • Maryland loses third-round draft choice LT Delmar Glaze as well as five other linemen who started at least six games last season. They return a meager 21 career line starts on a very inexperienced unit.
  • Virginia was rebuilding their line in a similar fashion last year, returning just 17 line starts and taking it on the chin by allowing 42 sacks and an 11% sack rate. With five starters and 81 career starts returning on the line this year, Colandrea has been sacked just three times in 71 dropbacks and is on pace for 18 over a 12 game regular season.
  • While WR1 Malachi Fields has continued to be a force on the outside securing 16-of-19 passes for 248 yards and 15.5 YPC, WR Trell Harris has emerged as the preferred secondary option having caught 7-of-11 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown last week against Wake.

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

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– Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
– Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
– Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
– Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
– Eric Froton (@CFFroton)





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