The Miami Hurricanes will try to break an unexpected four-game losing streak when they travel to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Saturday’s game between the Miami Hurricanes and Virginia Tech features two traditional powers having down seasons. Miami takes a four-game losing streak to Blacksburg to face a Hokies team that has their own three-game losing streak.
At this point, Virginia Tech is the team that’s likely in worse shape than the Miami Hurricanes. Virginia Tech has lost their last three games by an average of 20.3 points per game. Miami has lost by an average of 7.5 PPG during their four-game losing streak.
Virginia Tech’s defense has been abysmal this season. The Hokies defense is giving 517 yards per game in their losses. They have recently been shredded by Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh. The losses to the Yellow Jackets and Panthers bookended the Hokies three-game losing streak and combined to rush for 957 yards.
If Miami is going to win they have to be able to take advantage of the porous Virginia Tech run defense. Miami’s rushing offense has put up good numbers during the losing streak. The Hurricanes have run for 784 yards over the last four games, but 300 of those came against Duke.
"Saturday, November 17, 20183:30 p.m. ET | ESPNBlacksburg, Va.Lane Stadium (65,632)MIAMI HURRICANES (5-5, 2-4 ACC) vs VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (4-5, 3-3 ACC)Information Courtesy of HurricaneSports.Com"
Virginia Tech is Miami fourth biggest rival in the number of games played. Miami holds a 21-14 all-time lead in the series. The Hurricanes and Hokies have met every year since 1992. Virginia Tech holds a 14-12 lead in the series in that span.
"Miami (FL) leads series, 21-14-0Record when both teams are ranked: Tied, 6-6-0Record when both teams are in the top 10: Tied, 2-2-0Record when only Miami (FL) is ranked: Miami (FL) leads, 8-2-0Record when only Virginia Tech is ranked: Virginia Tech leads, 4-0-0Longest winning streak by Miami (FL): 12 gamesLongest winning streak by Virginia Tech: 5 gamesMost points scored by Miami (FL): 56 (2002-12-07)Most points scored by Virginia Tech: 45 (2002-12-07)Largest margin of victory by Miami (FL): +26 (1953-11-13)Largest margin of victory by Virginia Tech: +33 (1999-11-13)Information Courtesy of Sports-Reference.Com"
The home team has won seven of the last eight games between Miami and Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes victory in 2014 was the lone exception in that time. This year’s game will break a two-year streak that saw the winner of the game emerge as the ACC Coastal Division Champion.
The will be Mark Richt’s fourth game against Virginia Tech. Richt’s Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Hokies 31-24 in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in 2006. The teams have exchanged victories in Justin Fuente and Richt’s first two seasons at the helms of their respective teams.
"MIAMI HURRICANES (5-5, 2-4 ACC)HEAD COACH: Mark Richt (Miami, 1982) | CAREER: 169-63 (18th season) | AT MIAMI: 24-12 (third)VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (4-5, 3-3 ACC)HEAD COACH: Justin Fuente (Murray State, 1999) | CAREER: 49-35 (seventh season) | AT VT: 23-13 (third)"
Saturday’s game is the Miami Hurricanes fifth straight on ESPN or ESPN2 and the ninth straight on ESPN’s family of networks when you include ABC.
"Television (ESPN)• Mark Jones (play by play)• Dusty Dvoracek (analyst)• Molly McGrath (field analyst)Flagship Radio (560 WQAM)• Joe Zagacki (play-by-play)• Don Bailey, Jr. (color)• Josh Darrow (sidelines)Spanish Radio (990 ESPN Deportes)• “Chamby” Campos (play-by-play)• Jose Martinez (color)WATCH College Football ON ESPN+: Get your free 7-day trial of ESPN+"
Miami will close the season next week on ESPN or ESPN2 at the same kickoff time of 3:30 PM ET at Hard Rock Stadium against Pittsburgh. The game has a strong likelihood of taking on an eerily similar tone to last year’s game against the Panthers with reversed roles.
Miami entered Heinz Field last season with a record of 10-0 and hoping to complete an undefeated regular season. Pitt isn’t that good with an overall record of just 6-4. A win this weekend at Wake Forest clinches Pittsburgh’s first Coastal Division title and ACC Championship game appearance.