Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.  We're being brought to you today by Schlitz.

I freely admit this game is not remotely on the level of the Backyard Brawl or even the Battle for the Black Diamond Trophy, but it is a border war.  A little border war is good for the football soul, at least once a year.  Everybody is talking about the two-headed turtle QB situation, including us.  But, Maryland's defense has improved (over previous editions, if nothing else).  I'm honestly leery of this game.  Maybe I shouldn't be, but I am.  The OL still scares me.  If you have any tips, suggestions or requests, you can send them to me by email or Twitter.  Don't forget to come back for the Sunday Hangover.  Have a great weekend and enjoy the game.  The Jumpty dance is your chance...do the jump...

Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Report for Friday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Fast facts, prediction, players to watch, and injury watch - WVillustrated.com

West Virginia Blog Q and A - Turtledroppings.com
Our own Country Roads answers a few

Colin Dunlap's WVU chat transcript: 9.16.10 - 'Eers to the Ground

Busick, Lazear and Urban out for WVU - Charleston Daily Mail

College Football BlogPoll Top 25 - SBNation.com
#25

Men's Soccer: WVU Hosts Partner Weekend - MSNsportsNET.Com

Women’s Soccer: Pitt Match Postponed - MSNsportsNET.Com
West Virginia’s women’s soccer match with Pitt Thursday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, played for 47 minutes, has been postponed due to heavy lightning.

BIG EAST and ESPN Announce Big Monday Schedule - WVillustrated.com
WVU gets 2 Big Monday dates: Feb 7 vs. Pitt and Feb 14 @ Syracuse

WVU Women [BB, ed.] Ranked No. 9 - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Joan Renee Kirby: A fan to the end, and beyond - 'Eers to the Ground
You gotta read this to believe it

Schmitt likely to start vs. Lions - Reading Eagle

News of Note:

Thursday Notes - MSNsportsNET.Com

Maryland Game Bigger Because of Marshall Performance - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Little things on the line - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza

Game Preview: Maryland Renews Matchup With WVU - WVillustrated.com

WVU-Terps Set For Border Clash - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Maryland-West Virginia matchups - Charleston Daily Mail

Video: Maryland-West Virginia breakdown - ESPN

West Virginia facing dual quarterback threat with Maryland - PPG

Maryland brings improved defense to West Virginia - Martinsburg Journal

No. 21 West Virginia welcomes Maryland to Morgantown - Sports Network

WVU welcomes Terps - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

WVU plays host to Maryland - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

5 things to pay attention to during WVU-Maryland - 'Eers to the Ground

At WVU, It's all about pace - Charleston Gazette

Fast tempo working for WVU offense - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Opening WVU's pass attack, Gardner and Sam-I-Am - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's Notebook

What to watch in the Big East: Week 3 - ESPN

WVU offensive line starting to come together - Charleston Daily Mail
OK Mike, convince me

Friedgen Discusses his Upcoming Game against WVU - WVillustrated.com
Audio Teleconference

Friedgen: If WVU gets the ball in space, 'there will be some issues' - Terrapins Insider/Washington Post

Maryland's football players expect a rude welcome Saturday at West Virginia - Washington Post

I'm All 'Eers - WVU Report Card - WVillustrated.com

West Virginia's Geno Smith coming of age - ESPN

WVU's Geno Smith was brilliant against Marshall - Charleston Daily Mail

This Is Just The Start For WVU QB - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Week 2 Poll - Stiff Arm Trophy

Austin another one that got away from Friedgen, Maryland - Charleston Gazette
Hickman's Notebook

Austin to face home-state team in Morgantown - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

With hype building, Irvin says sacks will come - Charleston Daily Mail

Bitancurt has become thorn in side of WVU rivals - Charleston Daily Mail

Bowser plays key role in win over Herd - Times West Virginian

Leonard has learned life, love - Register-Herald

Family divided as brothers square off in tilt - Inter-Mountain

T-1000 - Mountaineer TV

Don Barclay/Mountaineer 360 - You Tube

Najee Goode Shines for WVU Defense - WVillustrated.com

Linebacker Najee Goode - Mountaineer TV

The Drives - Mountaineer TV
The only minute-thirty worth watching from last week

Around the League (and Beyond):

Big East Football Preview - BGN

Bearcats still not right - Cincinnati Enquirer
Wolfpack romp past UC 30-19

Syracuse's Aaron Weaver Done For Year With Torn ACL - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Lutrus Watch, Day 12: Stung by the injury DDT - The UConn Blog

Holtz may hit road, but not to Texas - Bulls Report/Tampa Tribune

Catching up with Louisville QB Adam Froman - ESPN
Does anyone know if he's related to Abe?

Former Card Covington shot and killed - Card Chronicle
Truly sad news

For Rutgers' special teamers, coach Robb Smith is a special mentor - Star Ledger

Pitt: Romeus' back injury opens door for Lindsey - PPG

What's On Tap:

All times given are Eastern Daylight Time.

Maryland Terrapins vs. (21) West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
Noon Saturday from Morgantown on ESPNU.  Mountaineers are giving 10.

Connecticut Huskies vs. Temple Owls - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Linc in Philly on ESPN3, MASN and SNY.  Huskies are giving 6.5.

Louisville Cardinals vs. (25) Oregon State Beavers -ESPN
5:30 pm from Corvallis, OR, on nothing.  Beavers are giving 20.

Maine Black Bears vs. Syracuse Orange - ESPN
7:15 pm from the Dome on ESPN3.  Orange are giving 22.

College Football TV Schedule: Week 3 - NCAAFB FanHouse

Videos of Interest:

Tailgate Recipe of the Week:

As I said yesterday, we will have one of these at our tailgate tomorrow.  I can hear 5YS's arteries clogging from here already.

Bacon Explosion

Image and recipe via www.bbqaddicts.com

Time: About 3 hours

2 pounds thick-cut sliced bacon
1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage, casings removed
3 tablespoons barbecue rub
3/4 cup barbecue sauce.

1. Using 10 slices of bacon, weave a square lattice like that on top of a pie: first, place 5 bacon slices side by side on a large sheet of aluminum foil, parallel to one another, sides touching. Place another strip of bacon on one end, perpendicular to the other strips. Fold first, third and fifth bacon strips back over this new strip, then place another strip next to it, parallel to it. Unfold first, third and fifth strips; fold back second and fourth strips. Repeat with remaining bacon until all 10 strips are tightly woven.

2. Preheat oven to 225 degrees or light a fire in an outdoor smoker. Place remaining bacon in a frying pan and cook until crisp. As it cooks, sprinkle bacon weave with 1 tablespoon barbecue rub. Evenly spread sausage on top of bacon lattice, pressing to outer edges.

3. Crumble fried bacon into bite-size pieces. Sprinkle on top of sausage. Drizzle with 1/2 cup barbecue sauce and sprinkle with another tablespoon barbecue rub.

4. Very carefully separate front edge of sausage layer from bacon weave and begin rolling sausage away from you. Bacon weave should stay where it was, flat. Press sausage roll to remove any air pockets and pinch together seams and ends.

5. Roll sausage toward you, this time with bacon weave, until it is completely wrapped. Turn it so seam faces down. Roll should be about 2 to 3 inches thick. Sprinkle with remaining barbecue rub.

6. Place roll on a baking sheet in oven or in smoker. Cook until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees on a meat thermometer, about 1 hour for each inch of thickness. When done, glaze roll with more sauce. To serve, slice into 1/4 to 1/2-inch rounds.

Yield: 10 or more servings.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Is this Kenny Powers or Randy Moss?  Close your eyes and listen (Charley gets credit for that comparison).

College Girls in Vegas Gallery of the Week:

I realize it's a picture of Holly Madison here, but, really, that's splitting hairs at this point.  That's who they used as their banner.

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a previous honoree in this place.  She's a Russian supermodel who's done work for Armani Exchange, LaPerla, Lacoste, and Guess, to name a few.  But, she's most well known for her work in SI's Swimsuit Edition.  Here's Irina Shayk.

Schlitz image via www.totalpackers.com