2010 Virginia Cavaliers Football: Virginia vs Miami (FL)

The Miami Hurricanes should frankly destroy the Virginia Cavaliers this weekend when the two ACC Coastal Division foes lock horns at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia. Then again, Miami football has shown in the Randy Shannon era that few things are sure things. The proud football school known as “The U” will have to keep the nose to the grindstone this weekend in the shadows of Monticello.

Why must Miami be vigilant as it prepares to take on a woeful Virginia club that hasn’t yet won an ACC game this year, and has registered only one win against an FBS program (the two other wins coming against FCS schools)? The Hurricanes simply need to look back on their Oct. 16 contest at Duke, a team that – along with Virginia and Boston College – is stinking up the ACC this year.

Duke is 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the ACC. Two weeks ago, the Blue Devils coughed up seven turnovers, in the form of two fumbles and five interceptions. If Miami was truly “Miami” – in other words, an elite team in the college football cosmos – the Hurricanes would have buried Duke in an avalanche of touchdowns. A Miami team at the height of its powers would have punished the Dukies for being so careless with the pigskin. Instead, Miami’s offense scored just 21 points, while a pick-six on one of the Canes’ five interceptions provided a fourth touchdown in a 28-13 win that was incredibly lackluster and almost depressingly mediocre.

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Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, who is perpetually inconsistent and perplexing, hit only 17-of-34 passes in that game and failed to deliver daggers against Duke. The Canes’ defense certainly played its best and showed a wide-awake mindset from start to finish. The UM offense, on the other hand, continued to disappoint in a season that feels worse than it actually is. Miami has lost only two games, but the so-so nature of the team’s weekly performances has left a bad taste in the mouths of many Hurricane fans. Miami diehards who have followed this team all year are expecting a victory over Virginia, but they sure aren’t treating this game as money in the bank… and with good reason. One week after a winless Western Kentucky team won a game by 33 points, who knows if Virginia will bust out all over and spring a special surprise?

This is a time for Miami to be vigilant, and since the Canes haven’t always displayed supreme self-awareness in the past, they need to be perky and prepared when this noon kickoff arrives.

Virginia Cavaliers vs Miami Hurricanes Football Preview