Star Miami DB expected to play vs Pitt after major injury scare against Virginia Tech

At 9-2 (5-2), the Miami Hurricanes are leaving no stone unturned. With only a nine-percent chance of winning the ACC, Miami not only needs to beat the tar out of Pittsburgh on Saturday, but may need to do so with style points. One of the best ways they can do that is with their smothering defense, one that appears to be a little banged up coming in. Fortunately, it looks like Jakobe Thomas is playing!

Thomas had to exit last week's dominating victory over rival Virginia Tech with a forearm injury. Shortly after the game, Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal gave a positive update on the health of Thomas. With bigger fish to fry, Cristobal was thrilled that Thomas did not suffer a forearm fracture after taking a helmet to it. The X-rays were negative, with it leaning toward Thomas likely suiting up.

Adam Licthenstein relayed Cristobal's message over social media that Thomas is going to play now.

With Thomas back in the fold ahead of Miami's next huge game, let's discuss what is at stake here.

Jakobe Thomas expects to play ahead of Miami's regular-season finale

For Miami to get to Charlotte, so much would need to go the Hurricanes' way. It all starts by beating Pittsburgh. There are no scenarios in which Miami can play for an ACC Championship with a 9-3 (5-3) record following a loss to Pitt. It then comes down to some combination of Duke, SMU and Virginia losing to Cal, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech at the end of the season. This is way too complicated...

Brian Barth's graphic from Power Sports does a great job of visualizing how Miami gets to Charlotte.

As you can see, there are at least 10 different ways Miami gets to Charlotte with a win over Pittsburgh.

What is equally important to realize is there is not a single permeation where Miami can play for a league championship with a loss to Pittsburgh. If that were to happen, only Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, SMU and Virginia could face each other in a plethora of combinations in Charlotte. Miami could conceivably play Duke, Georgia Tech, SMU or Virginia in the ACC Championship if they defeated Pitt.

To tie a bow on this, it is incredibly important for Miami to get the win over Pittsburgh this weekend to improve to 10-2 on the year and 6-2 in ACC play. If you take care of business vs. Pitt, then Miami has effective a 33-percent chance to make it to Charlotte. 10 of the 28 known scenarios with a Pitt when have them in (31.25). There are four other ones where it will be broken down by SportSource Rating...

Ultimately, having Thomas back helps make Miami an even more menacing road favorite over Pittsburgh. FanDuel Sportsbook has Miami laying 6.5 points on the road at Pitt. ESPN's matchup predictor has Miami expected to win this game 70 percent of the time. Although the odds are not in Miami's favor to get to Charlotte and win the ACC, they will have their best shot with Thomas in there.

For now, Miami can only control what it does vs. Pitt, hoping it is enough to entice the committee.