Miami (5-2) vs. Virginia (2-5), Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Latest line: Miami is favored by 19 points
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist: Miami 27, Virginia 24
Miami and Virginia are both coming off big wins and still trying to define who they are. The Cavaliers, who are 19-point underdogs, will be hard-pressed to pull off another huge upset. Hurricanes starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is expected to return from injury after missing last week’s double-overtime win against Clemson. UM has developing talent across the roster and the idea is they’ll ride last week’s finish to another win heading into the much-needed bye week.
Adam Lichtenstein, Hurricanes Writer: Miami 35, Virginia 13
I expect some more offensive action this week than in last year’s mind-numbing, quadruple-overtime, 14-12 UM win in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers had been bad for most of the season, picking up only one win against FCS William and Mary. Then they went to Chapel Hill and stunned the Tar Heels a week after UNC beat Miami. But the transitive property doesn’t always apply, and college football just has some crazy results sometimes. I don’t expect the upsets to continue, and the Hurricanes, who picked up a needed win over Clemson, should handle business on Saturday afternoon, even if freshman Emory Williams makes his second career start.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor: Miami 34, Virginia 23
While Virginia is coming off a shocking win at then-No. 10 North Carolina, it would take another miraculous performance to win at Miami. The Hurricanes, who lost to the Tar Heels two weeks ago, were 0-5 in home ACC games under Mario Cristobal before beating Clemson in double overtime last week. Virginia has won two straight games after an 0-5 start. Mike Hollins ran for three touchdowns to help the Cavaliers, who ran for a season-high 228 yards, to their stunning victory at UNC last week — Virginia’s first-ever road win against a top-10 opponent.
