VIRGINIA TECH AT UM
FAST FACTS, ODDS, KEYS, PREDICITIONS
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Hard Rock Stadium Latest line: Miami’s favored by 8 points
TV: ACC Network
Radio: 560-AM, 990-AM (Spanish) Weather: 76 degrees, 40 percent chance of precipitation
Online: sun-sentinel.com/um; @ khobi_price on Twitter
Stadium safety protocols:
Hard Rock Stadium will operate at full capacity. All attendees are encouraged to wear masks in indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status, and to maintain at least six feet of physical distance from those outside of their own party.
Quick slant: The Hurricanes are coming off a heartbreaking 31-28 loss to in-state rival Florida State, which ended UM’s three-game winning streak. Miami has a 23-15 advantage in the all-time series against Virginia Tech. Both teams need one win to become bowleligible.
About Miami (5-5, 3-3 ACC):
The Hurricanes’ week has been so noteworthy that it overshadowed the fact they lost to the Seminoles for the first time since 2016 last weekend. Blake James and Miami parted ways less than 48 hours after UM’s loss to FSU, which has ramped up the already-present rumors about coach Manny Diaz’s job security. Saturday will be Senior Night for the Hurricanes.
About Virginia Tech (5-5,
3-3 ACC): The Hokies have had an eventful week of their own. Virginia Tech parted ways with coach Justin Fuente just four days before the matchup with UM. The Hokies have dropped five of their last seven games to FBS opponents, including losses to Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Syracuse earlier this season. They’re coming off a dominant 48-17 win over Duke, which is 1-15 in ACC play over the last two seasons.
3 things to watch
1. How will the Hurricanes respond to the turbulence the past week has brought them? The Diaz-led team has shown multiple times this year it’ll stick together for an entire game, but significant losses — like the one to FSU — have had a negative avalanche effect on the team in previous seasons.
2. Will Charleston Rambo break the receptions record? The Oklahoma transfer’s 64 catches are No. 3 on Miami’s all-time single-season receptions list, behind Willie Smith (66 catches in 12 games in 1984) and Leonard Hankerson (72 catches in 13 games in 2010). His 955 yards are No. 5 on UM’s all-time single-season receiving yards list, with Allen Hurns (1,162 yards in 2013) at No. 1.
3. Amaré Barno (5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks) is Virginia Tech’s best pass rusher. If the Hurricanes contain him, UM quarterback Tyler Van Dyke should have plenty of time in the pocket.
Dave Hyde, sports columnist: Miami 34, Virginia Tech 24
Virginia Tech fired coach Justin Fuente this week. Miami fired athletic director Blake James as rumors swirl about the future of coach Manny Diaz. Neither season has gone as hoped, but Miami enters this game as the less fragile of two vulnerable programs. Fuente replaced Frank Beamer in 2016, but couldn’t match the success of the College Football Hall of Famer.
Khobi Price, Hurricanes writer: Miami 31, Virginia Tech 27
With both teams dealing with turmoil within their football programs, it would be easy to forget they are actually playing each other in a key matchup. On one side, you have a Virginia Tech team that parted ways with coach Justin Fuente just days before facing UM. On the other side, a Miami team that fired athletic director Blake James, with speculation that coach Manny Diaz could be on his way out too after another disappointing season. But when faced with adversity throughout the season, the Hurricanes have shown they’ll stick together and play hard for an entire game. Expect that to be the case against the Hokies. The winner will become bowleligible, while the loser will get one last shot at eligibility in next week’s regularseason finale.
Keven Lerner, assistant sports editor: Miami 27, Virginia Tech 23
The Hurricanes (5-5, 3-3 ACC) look to keep their postseason hopes alive. They need to win one of their final two games — vs. Virginia Tech (5-5, 3-3 ACC) and at Duke (3-7, 0-6) — to reach six wins and become bowl-eligible. But UM’s inconsistent play continued in last week’s loss at Florida State. Miami has surrendered at least 30 points in its last six games, going 3-3 in that span. The Hokies, who have held their last three opponents to 17 points, were ranked No. 15 earlier this season before losing four of their next five games. Virginia Tech also needs one win to become bowl-eligible.