Virginia Tech vs. Miami Preview
MIAMI, FL – Eight straight wins may not yet have earned Virginia Tech the respect it lost after losing its first two games. The 14th-ranked Hokies know they need to keep their streak going for that to change.
They’ll try to clinch the ACC’s Coastal Division title Saturday when they visit No. 24 Miami, which expects to again be without starting quarterback Jacory Harris.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made Virginia Tech –2.5 point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against Miami. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 73% of more than 1,992 bets for this game have been placed on Virginia Tech –2.5.
Virginia Tech (8-2, 6-0) was ranked 10th in the preseason before a loss to then-No. 3 Boise State and a more surprising defeat in its second game to in-state FCS foe James Madison dropped the Hokies out of the AP Top 25.
They have slowly worked their way back into the rankings and close to the Top 10 by establishing themselves as the top team in the ACC, with every league rival having at least two conference losses. A victory over Miami (7-3, 5-2) will put the Hokies into the ACC title game for the third time in four seasons.
“I think we’re playing at a high level right now, and as long as we continue to play it, I think people will eventually respect us,” quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. “Some people don’t and some people won’t, but all we’ve got to do is go out there and win games every week.”
Taylor, whose 18 touchdown passes rank second in the ACC, threw for 249 yards and two scores in last Saturday’s 26-10 win at North Carolina. The Hokies outscored the Tar Heels 17-0 in the second half.
Taylor has clearly evolved as a passer compared to last season. As a junior in 2009, he completed 4 of 9 passes for 98 yards and a TD in a 31-7 victory over Miami. The Hokies relied more on a rushing attack that was ranked second in the conference.
“Tyrod gives you a lot of confidence that he’s going to do the right thing with the ball,” coach Frank Beamer said. “It makes play-calling a lot easier when you’ve got a quarterback like that, that trust factor, who has the ability to do things with the ball. He’s the guy that makes us and beyond that, we’ve got a football team that just battles, we’ve got some good players that just battle like heck.”
Harris endured a miserable game in 2009 against the Hokies, completing 9 of 25 passes for 150 yards with one interception while getting sacked three times.
“It’s a statement game,” Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy said. “Last year we went up there and got embarrassed, you can say. So we’ll be ready to play come Saturday.”
Harris remains out with a concussion suffered in Miami’s last loss, 24-19 at Virginia on Oct. 30. Coach Randy Shannon has indicated that freshman Stephen Morris will make his third straight start.
“I’m looking at what is best for Jacory,” Shannon said. “It’s not what’s best for Randy Shannon or this football team.”
Morris has guided the Hurricanes to consecutive wins, completing 28 of 48 passes for 516 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He’ll want to avoid Hokies cornerback Jayron Hosley, who had two of his ACC-leading seven interceptions against the Tar Heels.
The Hokies are preparing for both quarterbacks.
“I don’t think their game plan changes a lot with who plays quarterback,” Beamer said. “Harris is a real talent and has been good for them for a long time. And the Morris kid comes in there, very poised for a freshman, has good pocket presence. He’s done a heck of a job for them.”
Morris will likely be targeting Leonard Hankerson, who has tied Michael Irvin’s single-season school record of 11 touchdown receptions. The senior wideout had three catches for 132 yards and one score in last Saturday’s 35-10 win at Georgia Tech.
“We just want to go out, we want to play hard, play physical and get a ‘W,'” Hankerson said. “It doesn’t matter who’s under center.”
The Hokies have unpleasant memories of their last game at Miami, a 16-14 loss Nov. 13, 2008. Taylor ran for two scores and 43 yards but was sacked six times and completed 6 of 12 passes for 75 yards.