Miami looking to end 16-game Virginia Tech win streak
Oct. 31, 2005
(#5 Coaches/#5 Harris/#5 AP) MIAMI HURRICANES (6-1, 3-1 ACC) at (#3 Coaches, #3 Harris, #3 AP) VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (8-0, 5-0 ACC)
When: 7:45 p.m. ET Saturday, November 5, 2005
Where: Lane Stadium (natural grass; 65,115) in Blacksburg, Va.
Television: The game will be televised nationally on ESPN with Ron Franklin (play by play), Bob Davie (analysis) and Holly Rowe (field reporter). It will also be the first broadcast ever using only the Skycam, on ESPNU.
Local Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM 560 AM) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki (play by play), Don Bailey Jr. (analysis) and Brian London (sideline reporter).
National Radio: The game will be broadcast live on Westwood One with John Castleberry (play by play) and Fran Curci (analyst). It will also be carried live on XM Satellite Radio on Ch. 192. Radio En Espanol: The game will broadcast in Spanish on WWFE 670 AM with Roly Martin (play by play) and Joe Martinez (analysis).
Tape Delay Telecast: On CSS at 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9.
Websites: Miami (
www.hurricanesports.com) and Virginia Tech (
www.hokiesports.com)
THIS WEEK'S GAME:
The two best defenses in the country will be on display Saturday when the Miami Hurricanes and the Virginia Tech Hokies face off in the biggest game of the year in Blacksburg, Va. Kickoff is at 7:45 p.m. ET at Lane Stadium on the Virginia Tech campus, and the winner of the game will be in the driver's seat to represent the Coastal Division in the first-ever ACC Championship game on December 3 in Jacksonville.
The Hurricanes are ranked first in the country in total defense, allowing only 221.6 yards per game, while the Hokies rank second at 231.3 yards. Virginia Tech is first in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 9.13 points per game, with Miami ranked third, allowing just 10.86 points per game. Miami is the nation's leader in pass defense (121.3 yards per game), with Virginia Tech at No. 2 (139.0). Both teams' run defenses are ranked in the top 10.
The 6-1 Hurricanes now have their highest rankings of the season -- fifth in the USA Today coaches poll, fifth in the Harris poll, fifth in the AP poll and sixth in the BCS standings. UM is the highest-ranked team with a loss in any of the three polls. The Hokies are ranked third in all of the polls and are 8-0 this season. They have won eight consecutive games (their last loss was in the Sugar Bowl to Auburn) and have won 16 consecutive regular season games (their last loss on Sept. 25, 2004 to North Carolina State).
Miami has won six straight games for the fifth consecutive season. The Hurricanes are 3-1 in the ACC and in second place in the Coastal Division, one-and-a-half games behind Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes are coming off a 34-16 victory over North Carolina in the Orange Bowl. Trailing 16-7 at halftime, the Hurricanes dominated the second half, holding the Tar Heels to 18 yards on offense and scoring four touchdowns. Tyrone Moss rushed for a career-high 195 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Miami defense caught fire in the second half. North Carolina ran only 33 plays for their 18 yards in the second half, and the Tar Heels were sacked five times. The Tar Heels also had a punt blocked for a touchdown. The 16 points scored by North Carolina were the second most allowed by Miami all season (Clemson had 30 points in a three overtime game in Week Two). In the previous four games, the UM defense had allowed only one score in each game. In the last five games, Miami has outscored its opponents 170-36.
This will be the 23rd meeting ever between Miami and Virginia Tech, with Miami holding a 15-7 lead in the series. However, the Hokies have won seven of the last 10 games and four of the last five in Blacksburg. Under Larry Coker, the Hurricanes are 1-1 in Blacksburg. Last year, Virginia Tech defeated Miami 16-10 at the Orange Bowl on December 4 to prevent the Hurricanes from going to a BCS bowl game for the fifth consecutive season. Miami will attempt to extract revenge this time on the road. This season, the UM offense ranks 62nd overall, 59th in passing, 53rd rushing and 38th in scoring. However, the offense has turned into a quick-scoring unit. In the last four games, UM has scored 15 offensive touchdowns, with 10 of those drives taking less than 1:33 and none of them more than four minutes.
"We have to play (a full) game -- offense, defense and special teams -- to win the football game. That's a given," said Coker. "We've played in a lot of games like this. This is what college football is all about."
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