Miami football at Duke in regular season finale: Game info

After what some viewed as the most disappointing loss in the history of the Miami football program to Florida International last week the Hurricanes travel to Durham, North Carolina to play Duke this weekend in the regular-season finale.

The Miami football team heads to Durham, North Carolina attempting to finish the 2019 regular season with wins in four of their last five games. The Hurricanes loss to Florida International last weekend rattled the Miami fanbase and sent many into a veritable panic. Duke enters Saturday’s game with a five-game losing streak.

Prior to losing 20-12 to Duke in a driving rainstorm at Hard Rock Stadium in 2018, the Miami football program owned the Blue Devils. Miami leads the all-time series 13-3 and had won 13 of the previous 14 meetings before last season. After beginning the season 4-2, the Blue Devils have slumped to 4-7.

Duke cannot reach six wins to become automatically bowl eligible. They have an outside shot at earning a bowl bid if not enough FBS teams reach six victories. Duke is third with an APR of 992. Only Air Force and Northwestern have higher APRs than the Blue Devils. Miami will find out their bow destination a week from Sunday night.

The game at Duke is another one that the Miami football team will be a double-digit favorite. Miami became the college football first team in over 40 years to lose three games outright in the same season as at least a 14 point favorite. The Hurricanes have to be focused against Duke to finish 2019 strong.

The losses to Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and FIU will make the 2019 season one of what-ifs for the Miami football program. Manny Diaz is still trying to instill his culture and process as the Hurricanes are on the precipice of the end of his first season as the head coach. The 2020 offseason could determine the future.

"Game Information:Saturday, November 30, 2019, 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2Durham, N.C., Wallace Wade Stadium (40,004)MIAMI HURRICANES (6-5, 4-3 ACC)HEAD COACH: Manny Diaz (Florida State, 1995) | CAREER: 6-5 (first season) | AT MIAMI: 6-5 (first)DUKE BLUE DEVILS (4-7, 2-5 ACC)HEAD COACH: David Cutcliffe (Alabama, 1976) | CAREER: 115-108 (19th season) | AT DUKE: 71-79 (13th)Courtesy HurricaneSports.Com"

Another loss by the Miami football team in a game they will be widely expected to win could be devastating on the 2020 recruiting class. Andrew Ivins reported on the 5 Rings: A Canes Thing podcast that a pair of Hurricanes recruits could de-commit if Duke pulls the upset that could set off a recruiting class chain reaction.

A win against Duke will also alleviate the bad feelings the Miami football team had after the loss to FIU. The defeat to the Panthers will linger infinitely to the fans, but the players will and have to move on. Getting a win against the Blue Devils will building momentum heading into practice for the to be determined bowl game.

"Broadcast Information:Television (ESPN2)• Wes Durham (play-by-play)• Roddy Jones (color)• Eric Wood (sidelines)Flagship Radio (560 WQAM)• Joe Zagacki (play-by-play)• Don Bailey, Jr. (color)• Josh Darrow (sidelines)Spanish Radio (Unanimo Deportes 990)• Alfredo Alvarez (play-by-play)• Jose Martinez (color"

This is a game Miami needs to win to build momentum heading into their bowl game and the offseason. A victory over Duke will not eliminate the loss to FIU but it will return some semblance of confidence for the bowl game and the work the Hurricanes will need to put in during the 2020 offseason.

Getting off to a good start will be essential against a team that has lost five straight games. If Miami can make some big plays or have a long sustained drive it could possibly break Duke’s will and send the Hurricanes on their way to secure a winning season.