Suddenly, this one doesn't like quite as easy as it did four week ago. After losing to Clemson 28-24 and West Virginia 31-19 at home, the Terps have bounced back with a nice 10-point win at pesky Wake Forest and a 45-33 shocker of previously unbeaten Virginia at home last Saturday.

In more than doubling its season scoring average, Maryland hung an incredible 570 total yards on the Wahoos. Plus, one must also take into consideration that the Terps have overcome multiple early losses to reach 10 victories twice (2002 and '03) in Ralph Friedgen's five years on the job. And, oh, one other thing. Don't think Big Ralph will get his boys' attention when he rolls the video of last November's 55-6 rout at the hands of good buddy Frank and his team in Lane.

This one is not the lock it looked to be a month ago. Tech will be 8- to 10-point favorite on the road in a place Maryland has perenially played well under the Fridge. This one has upset alert written all over it.

Still, that was over a Tech club that already had cashed in its chips after losing at West Virginia and Pittsburgh and seeing its BCS hopes go south.

If the Eagles take out UVa on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, they should beat Wake at home the following week and will head into the southwest Virginia mountains at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC. O'Brien's bunch is big and strong, but they're not nearly fast enough to keep up Frank's crowd. You saw what Florida State's speed did to the Eagles three weeks ago. The Hokies will be close to a two-TD favorite and they'll win.

Miami, though, doesn't like coming to Blacksburg. Tech whipped UM like a rented mule in Lane two years ago and has taken four of the past games here. Tech has won seven of the past 10 games in the series, including last season's ACC-winner-take-all meeting in the Orange Bowl.

Miami is loaded on defense, but so is Tech. That's a wash. Tech has the edge on offense, especially at quarterback with Marcus Vick. If Tech doesn't turn it over, keeps Devin Hester in check on special teams, it should win this battle again. If the game were played today, my Vegas source assures me that Tech would be a 6- to 7-point chalk. And if it's real cold, which is not exactly a meteorological stretch in Blacksburg in early November, that number won't be enough for 'dog bettors.

One other note here: By playing on Thursday the previous week, the Hokies will have three extra days to prepare and mend any bumps and bruises for the "U."

After last week's fiasco at Maryland, who knows where Al Groh's team will stand by the time this one kicks off. The Cavaliers have to go to Boston College this week, face FSU at home on Oct. 15, go to dangerous North Carolina on Oct. 22, and catch Georgia Tech at home on Nov. 12.

The Cavs could be done by the time this one rolls around. It's hard to see a defense that gives us nearly 600 yards to what appeared to be a pedestrian-like Maryland offense beating Tech.

Of course, there's the flip-side angle, too. Rest assured, Groh and his team would love nothing more than to be the ones who spoil the Hokies' unbeaten season and national-title dreams. Played today, Tech would be a 5- to 7-point fave.

The Seminoles lead BC by a game, and if they can beat UVa in Charlottesville in two Saturdays, they should be home free in the Atlantic Division. Meanwhile, BC needs FSU to lose to UVa and then find out a way to pull a shocker in Blacksburg on Oct. 27. That's a long-shot parlay, at best, to hit.

Of course, the 'Noles have owned the Hokies through the years. The last time the two teams met was the 2002 Gator Bowl, where the Hokies lost 30-17 despite being a 2-point favorite. And who can forget the 1999 Sugar Bowl, when FSU beat an 11-0 Tech club led by a redshirt freshman named Michael Vick, 46-29, in the Sugar Bowl.

This time, though, Tech will be a 3- to 4-point favorite -- it would be more if not for the pro-FSU site of northern Florda -- and will win because it's the better club.

OK, there you have it. That's the look ahead.

There is one disclaimer on all of the above: If Marcus Vick goes down with a season-ending injury, all of the previous words must be deleted.

Sit back and enjoy, Hokies. This has the makings of some ride.