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Miami visits Virginia Tech in ACC matchup

 
Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Phillip Dorsett scores on a reception in the third quarter against Cincinnati this month at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. [Miami Herald/MCT]
Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Phillip Dorsett scores on a reception in the third quarter against Cincinnati this month at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. [Miami Herald/MCT]
Published Oct. 23, 2014

Virginia Tech and Miami are accustomed to meeting late in the season with championships on the line.

That won't be the case tonight in Blacksburg, Va., where two conference losses each find the longtime rivals playing for relevancy even before November arrives.

The Hokies (4-3, 1-2 ACC) took a step back in the Coastal Division with a loss at Pittsburgh last Thursday night, while the Hurricanes (4-3, 1-2) are coming off a bye.

Both have a history of success in Thursday night games.

Virginia Tech leads ACC schools with 20 victories in Thursday night games and is making its 29th appearance. The Hurricanes have the league's best winning percentage (.850), having won 17 of 20.

Hokies quarterback Michael Brewer, who transferred from Texas Tech, said the prospect of playing on the national stage of a Thursday night game was a selling point when he picked Virginia Tech.

"I've heard a lot about Thursday nights here, even from when I was being recruited," Brewer said. "I've heard that it's pretty awesome, that one of the best atmospheres in college football is a Thursday night football game here in Lane Stadium, so I'm really looking forward to that. It's going to be fun for our fans to get to see us play a team of Miami's caliber, and it's going to be really fun for us, too."

The Hurricanes got their offense cranked up in a 55-34 victory against Cincinnati in their last game, compiling 621 yards of offense, including 335 yards on the ground, but they will be facing a better defense.

"They're very aggressive. They have outstanding coverage guys on the perimeter. They make it tough for you to win one-on-one out there and beat them for explosive plays," Miami coach Al Golden said. "If you do catch it, they do a good job tackling. We have to be creative and find ways to run the ball.

"When we do hit plays, we have to make them pay."

In many seasons, this would have been a compelling matchup, but even with not as much at stake, Hokies coach Frank Beamer expects a long history in the series to help his team be ready for a difficult test.

"I think we have a great respect for Miami and the type of program it is and the types of athletes they have on the team and how good they've been over the years," Beamer said. "I think out of respect that probably helps us play well against them, so I think that's kind of the situation there."

Virginia Tech was without an every-down-type running back in its loss to Pittsburgh and its offense struggled as a result. Marshawn Williams' return from a sprained right ankle should give the Hokies that workhorse option again, providing the line can creates holes.

Miami ranks only 66th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 162 yards, but tailback Duke Johnson has been on a roll, topping 100 yards in his past three games. He also has breakaway speed and needs only to get loose once or twice to have a huge impact.