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Miami-Virginia Preview

Oct 26, 2010 - 8:49 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

No. 22 Miami (FL) (5-2) at Virginia (3-4), 12:00 p.m. EDT

Following an embarrassing home loss to an in-state rival earlier this month, Miami coach Randy Shannon promised that his team would bounce back. The rebound has been swift and impressive.

The 22nd-ranked Hurricanes look to continue their push toward a first-ever ACC title Saturday in Charlottesville, where they'll face a Virginia team trying to avoid its 10th straight conference loss.

Coming off back-to-back road wins and ranked 13th, Miami was routed 45-17 by visiting Florida State on Oct. 9, dropping Shannon's team out of the Top 25.

"We don't have a great football team," Shannon said after the defeat. "We have a good football team. And if we want to take that next step, myself and the coaching staff and these players have to all be on the same page ... and we'll do that."

The Hurricanes (5-2, 3-1) appear to have responded, winning their last two with a balanced offensive attack and plenty of defensive pressure.

Following a 28-13 win at Duke on Oct. 16 when it rolled up a season-high 448 yards and intercepted five passes, Miami scored the final 30 points and recorded five sacks in last Saturday's 33-10 victory over North Carolina.

The Hurricanes remain one game behind Virginia Tech in the ACC's Coastal Division, with a home matchup with the Hokies looming Nov. 20.

"We control our own destiny," said junior cornerback Brandon Harris. "We know that."

For now, the Hurricanes remain focused on winning their third straight against Virginia (3-4, 0-3).

The Cavaliers, who lost 52-17 in Miami on Nov. 7, are trying to win consecutive games for the first time this season after snapping a three-game skid last Saturday with a 48-21 victory over Eastern Michigan.

"It feels good to win a game and be able to celebrate with the players on what this team can do and can accomplish," said first-year coach Mike London, whose team has been outscored 111-45 in ACC play. "... We haven't won around here in a while and when you get the chance to experience a win regardless of the opponent, when you have a chance to compete you always want to win."

The Cavaliers did not allow a sack for the first time in three seasons, but protecting senior quarterback Marc Verica could be a challenge against a Hurricanes defense ranked second in the FBS in tackles for loss (9.3 per game) and sacks (3.6).

"Defensively, when you lead the country in tackles for losses, that means you have guys up front penetrating, coming off the edge, doing some things to create second-and-longs, third-and-longs," London said. "They have guys that can rush, 300-plus pounders, and they push the pocket pretty well."

Virginia's offensive line, which has allowed 17 sacks this season, could have its hands full with Miami defensive linemen Olivier Vernon, Micanor Regis and Andrew Smith, who've combined for 10 sacks. Senior Allen Bailey has also emerged with 4 1/2 sacks in the last two games.

"I've been relaxing and having fun, and it just came," said Bailey, the ACC defensive lineman of the week after recording 3 1/2 sacks and six tackles against North Carolina. "The whole team's having fun. ... It's all the work paying off."

The Hurricanes' offense has also been clicking, recording nearly identical passing and rushing totals in the last two games. With Miami's line allowing 1.3 sacks per game this season - half as many as in 2009 - junior quarterback Jacory Harris has had plenty of time to find Leonard Hankerson, Travis Benjamin and the rest of the Hurricanes' receiving corps.

Harris, who had three passing TDs last week to move into second place on Miami's career list with 50, threw for 232 yards and two scores in last season's victory over Virginia.

Senior running back Damien Berry, who carried 12 times for 53 yards and two TDs in that win, will try to reach 100 yards for the fifth straight game.

Virginia's run defense is 114th in the FBS, allowing 211.4 yards per game.

The Cavaliers, who have dropped six straight to ranked opponents, have lost nine in a row in ACC play by an average of 20.3 points since their last conference win - 20-9 at Maryland on Oct. 17, 2009.

Miami has won five of seven all-time against Virginia, posting a 24-17 overtime victory in its last visit to Scott Stadium on Nov. 1, 2008.