Virginia goes into Miami as the lone ACC Coastal Division unbeaten (2-0). Before the season, these teams along with Virginia Tech (now 1-2 in the ACC) were favorites in the division.
Miami is 0-2 in the ACC after a 42-35 loss last weekend to Virginia Tech as two-touchdown home favorites. While the Hurricanes outgained the Hokies, 563-337, they turned the ball over five times on their first six drives and found themselves in a 28-0 hole before tying the game with 3:16 remaining. QB Jarren Williams, who hadn’t thrown an interception in the first four games, threw one on each of his first three drives before being replaced by last year’s part-time starter, N’Kosi Perry. Perry threw for a career-high 422 yards and tossed for four touchdowns in relief.
Williams suffered an apparent shoulder injury last Saturday and Perry has started six games, so there’s not really a drop-off and in fact might be an improvement.
The Hurricanes quarterbacks were sacked seven times, and no team has allowed more sacks (25 total in five games) in all of FBS. Miami’s struggling offensive line will have another tough assignment as Virginia ranks second nationally averaging 4.8 sacks per game.
Virginia has its own challenges, as it comes in off a bye after losing for the first time two weeks ago at Notre Dame. The Cavaliers led at halftime in South Bend and outgained Notre Dame overall, but were done in by five turnovers allowed the Irish to garner eight sacks.
Miami has urgency as it tries to avoid an 0-3 ACC start. This could be a redemption story for Perry, as he was the quarterback pulled last year at Virginia when he threw two early interceptions and was replaced by then-coach Mark Richt in favor of Malik Rosier.
The home team has won six of the last seven in this series. The majority of recreational bettors seem to like the Virginia side but this looks like a good opportunity to buy low off a weak Hurricanes performance last week.
The play: Miami, -2¹/₂.



