Today's game

No. 18 Maryland (9-2, 5-1 ACC) at Virginia (7-4, 5-2)

Site: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Va.

Time: 5:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: ESPN2/WBAL (1090 AM)

Series: Maryland leads 38-26-2

Last year: Maryland won, 41-21, in College Park.

Last week: Maryland defeated Clemson, 30-12; Virginia defeated North Carolina State, 14-9.

Maryland offense vs. Virginia defense: Chris Downs needs 5 yards to become Maryland's sixth 1,000-yard rusher. The pass gives the Terps some diversity, but the team's identity is on the ground, with 200 or more yards rushing in seven of the past eight games. That's bad news for Virginia, which has only kept two foes under 400 total yards this season, allowing 206.4 rushing yards a game. The Cavaliers do have one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's top pass rushers, freshman Darryl Blackstock, with nine sacks this season.

Maryland defense vs. Virginia offense: Without much of a run game, Virginia will lean on the arm of Matt Schaub, who is ranked eighth nationally in passing efficiency. Schaub's favorite target is Billy McMullen, who caught 11 passes for 175 yards against the Terps last year. After allowing three touchdowns against N.C. State on Nov. 9, Maryland kept Clemson out of the end zone, despite four Tigers trips inside its 20.

Special teams: Place-kicker Nick Novak's streak of 73 extra points ended, but he still gives the Terps an edge over Virginia's Kurt Smith (58.3 percent this year). Brooks Barnard is averaging 42.8 yards a punt for Maryland; Virginia's average, 35.7, is tied for last with Clemson in the ACC.