The More You Know...About Virginia

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Is it just me or do they have a pass rusher that goes absolutely crazy on us every year?
 
Miami (5-4, 4-2 ACC) at Virginia (3-6, 1-4 ACC)

Kickoff: Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ABC)

Spread: Virginia by 1.

Watchability: The Cavaliers had lost six in a row, but they went down to Raleigh after their bye week and dismantled NC State 33-6 last Saturday. Now Virginia returns home to take on a Miami program it has beaten in four of the last six seasons, including a 28-21 win on the road last year. The Hurricanes are in control of the Coastal Division after a 30-12 win over Virginia Tech last Thursday. Miami doesn't have to win Saturday for its first Coastal Division title, but it would make the Hurricanes feel more comfortable about their situation down the stretch.

Shining Stars: Miami -- RB Duke Johnson is third in the ACC, averaging 146.7 all-purpose yards per game. He ran for 100 yards and a touchdown while also setting up another score with an 81-yard kickoff return in the win over Virginia Tech. Virginia -- RB Kevin Parks had a career-high 25 carries last week against NC State, and he took advantage of his added opportunities with 115 yards and a touchdown. Parks leads the Cavaliers with 618 yards and four touchdowns.

Who could steal the show: Miami -- QB Stephen Morris is averaging 264.9 passing yards per game, and he'll be going up against a young Cavaliers secondary that has given up 15 passing touchdowns this season. Virginia -- WR Darius Jennings had 57 receiving yards and a touchdown against NC State while also tying a career-high with six receptions. He caught a 53-yard touchdown pass against Miami last season.

You going? Ranking the road trip: Virginia fans have something to be excited about after last week's performance, but it is a noon kickoff in Charlottesville on Saturday. Attendance has been lacking, and just over 41,000 people showed up for the last home game against Wake Forest.

Magic number for Miami: 218. Miami has allowed each of its last eight opponents to rush for at least 218 yards. The Hurricanes rank No. 119 nationally, giving up 246.2 rushing yards per game.

Magic number for Virginia: 235. The Cavaliers have held their last three opponents to 235 yards or fewer. Virginia is incredibly young on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the secondary, but the defense has continued to make strides throughout the season.

The game comes down to: The turnover battle. Virginia won the turnover battle for the first time this season last week against NC State, and the Cavaliers showed what they can do when they don't beat themselves. Miami forced three turnovers in its win over Virginia Tech last week.

Prediction: Miami 24, Virginia 23

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...virginia-cavaliers-preview-prediction-tv-info
 
Here is another game preview straight from the Kansas City Paper

BY SPORTS NETWORK
The Sports Network
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FACTS & STATS: Site: Scott Stadium (61,500) -- Charlottesville, Virginia. Television: ABC. Home Record: Miami 3-2, UVA 2-3. Away Record: Miami 2-2, UVA 1-3. Neutral Record: Miami 0-0, UVA 0-0. Conference Record: Miami 4-2, UVA 1-4. Series Record: Miami-Florida leads, 5-4.

GAME NOTES: Needing one more victory in their final three games to become bowl eligible, the Miami-Florida Hurricanes will visit Scott Stadium in Charlottesville for an ACC clash with the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday afternoon.

Despite some recent struggles, Miami enters the weekend atop the ACC Coastal Division with a 4-2 league mark. The Hurricanes snapped a three-game slide with a 30-12 triumph over Virginia Tech last Thursday night. It marked the first game all season that Miami did not trail at any point.

Virginia is coming off a much-needed 33-6 win at NC State. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak and preventing the Cavaliers' first seven-game slide since 1981. Following this tilt, they'll stay in Charlottesville to host North Carolina next Thursday before wrapping up the regular season at Virginia Tech the following week.

Miami holds a 5-4 lead in the head-to-head series with UVA, although the Cavs have won the last two meetings.

The Hurricanes offense went largely M.I.A. during their three-game skid. And while they showed some improvement in the win over Virginia Tech, it wasn't exactly an offensive onslaught. Two of their touchdowns were set up by a blocked punt and a long kick return. Miami was out-gained 421-347, and gained a mere three yards in the third quarter. In addition, the offense converted only 1-of-12 third downs. Still, the 'Canes came out with a win and confidence should be high entering this tilt. Expect coach Al Golden to continue riding senior running back Mike James and freshman Duke Johnson, who have combined for 1,032 of the team's 1,171 rushing yards and 15 of Miami's 29 touchdowns this season.

Through nine games, Miami has forced 18 turnovers, which is three more than the team managed in all of the 2011 campaign. Those takeaways have, at times, helped mask what has been a rather porous defense. The 'Canes enter the weekend ranked 119th out of 120 FBS teams in run defense (246.2 ypg) and 110th in sacks (1.11 per game). No team in the ACC has yielded more yards from scrimmage than Miami this season. Last week, Miami notched a fumble recovery and intercepted Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas twice. The defense also buckled down inside the red zone, as Virginia Tech made four trips inside the 20-yard line and came away with only a couple of field goals.

Virginia turned in a complete game on both sides of the ball at NC State. The Cavaliers rolled up 23 first downs and 446 yards of offense, as they won the time-of-possession battle by nearly 14 minutes. Phillip Sims ran for a touchdown and threw for another, completing 8-of-10 passes for 115 yards before giving way to backup Michael Rocco. Kevin Parks ran for 115 yards and a TD on 25 carries, while Perry Jones added 67 yards on 11 carries. Jones is the fourth Cavalier in school history and 12th player in ACC history with both 1,000 career rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. He and Parks have combined to spearhead the ACC's fourth-leading rushing attack this season.

While the UVA offense put forth a solid effort against NC State, most of the credit belongs to the defense. After all, the Cavs forced five turnovers (three INTs, two fumble recoveries) and came away with six sacks. They held the Wolfpack to 19 yards rushing and even notched a safety. It was the best defensive performance in nearly two months for a defense that entered the contest ranked dead-last in the nation in turnover margin. Still, Virginia has made strides of late. The Cavs have given up 122 combined rushing yards over the past three games (Maryland, Wake Forest, NC State), an average of just 40.7 yards per game and 1.3 yards per carry.

It hasn't been a picture-perfect season for the Hurricanes, but a Coastal Division title would certainly help overshadow their shortcomings. Look for Miami to snap its two-game slide in the series and become bowl eligible with a win this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Miami-Florida 31, Virginia 17

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/07/3904932/miami-florida-5-4-at-virginia.html#storylink=cpy
 
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