WASHINGTON — Halloween wraps up Moving Month with the area schools not necessarily in motion. Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech all went 1-2 last month, and while that doesn’t mean the end of the world in College Park, Charlottesville and Blacksburg, a less than awesome October doesn’t give these schools a ton of optimism for postseason planning. Even Navy’s 2-1 October includes a loss to Air Force — which means the Mids are in danger of not keeping the Commander in Chief Trophy (the 5-2 Falcons face 2-5 Army tomorrow).
Halloween also means masquerading as something you’re not in order to score candy. Will the area schools get king size Snickers bars or a rock in their bag this year? Maryland’s costume is Glen Frey of the Eagles singing “New Kid in Town,” as the Terps are enjoying their first fall in a new league and everybody loves them…so far. Virginia’s dressing up as the two-headed monster with its quarterback carousel still never out of the question. Virginia Tech? Bill Murray from Groundhog Day — every week, the team’s lack of ground game comes back to haunt the Hokies. Navy’s getup this fall is as Maverick from Top Gun — Keenan Reynolds filling the Midshipmens’ “need for speed” while trying not to crash and kill Goose. Honestly though, regardless of what Navy was doing on the field, they’d go as Maverick from Top Gun. Because they can.
Maryland at Penn State
1-35-1. That’s the record the Terps have a gainst the Nittany Lions all-time. This once nearly annual matchup (31 meetings in 34 years from 1960 to 1993) saw plenty of heartbreak for the Terps in the 80s: from 1982-88 Maryland came up short in games decided by 8, 1, 2, 2, 5 and 7 points before tying the Nittany Lions in 1989. Those Penn State teams won two national titles and played for a third, but the 2014 edition is trying to snap a three game losing streak. For whatever reason, this year’s team cannot run the ball (2.5 yards a carry? What in the name of Blair Thomas, Curt Warner, Lydell Mitchell and John Cappelletti is going on here?) while Christian Hackenberg has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns this year. But the Nittany Lions’ defense is stout as always and will pose plenty of problems for a Maryland offense that couldn’t get out of its own way against Wisconsin.
Terps tumble, 19-10.
Virginia at Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets like to run, averaging 326 yards per game (fourth-best in Division I). UVa has actually played the run rather well this fall, holding half of their eight opponents to under 100 yards while ranking third in the ACC. Quarterback Carousel Update: after eight games, Greyson Lambert is 83- for-137 while Matt Johns is 82-for-147…I guess coach London’s Magic Eight Ball system is working fine. Unfortunately, leading receiver Miles Gooch is out with a lower leg injury. That’s bad news for whoever plays quarterback but good news for Arnold Drummond.
Cavaliers come up short, 23-17.
Virginia Tech vs Boston College
Can the Hokies come out of their October slide? They managed just 22 combined points in Thursday night losses against Pitt and Miami. They continue the former Big East portion of their ACC slate by facing an Eagle team that upset USC, but also almost lost to Wake Forest last weekend — and Winston-Salem is no Blacksburg. BC is led by dual threat quarterback Tyler Murphy, who averages 124 yards per game passing while running for 111 yards a game. VT can’t afford a slow start like they had against Miami, where they gained just 26 yards in the first half.
Hokies get handed another setback, 24-20.
Navy vs Notre Dame
FedExField gets this intersectional matchup — notably recent for the Fighting Irish’s 40+ year dominance and the Midshipmen staying in a series that’s been basically a guaranteed loss for the better part of five decades. This year the game’s being played in Landover and fans are being asked to leave for the 8 p.m. game at 8 a.m. due to traffic concerns. Keenan Reynolds ran for 251 yards against San Diego State — how does that translate against a Notre Dame defense that kept reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston off-balance for four quarters?
Midshipmen fall valiantly, 38-21.
Georgetown beats Lehigh, Howard falls to Delaware State, Morgan State beats Hampton, Towson tops Elon, James Madison beats William & Mary, Richmond tops Villanova, Old Dominion falls to Vanderbilt.
Last Week: 5-5. Evidently I’m masquerading as somebody who actually knows college football.
Overall: 60-24
Follow @WTOP and @WTOPSports on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
