UM vs. Virginia: Matchups to Watch
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Saturday is for the seniors.
The No. 3 Miami Hurricanes (9-0, 6-0 ACC) will play their final home game of the 2017 season at Hard Rock Stadium at noon Saturday against Virginia (6-4, 3-3 ACC). The ACC Coastal champion Hurricanes will honor 14 seniors prior to Saturday’s noon matchup against the Cavaliers.
The Canes, who are ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Poll and the Amway Coaches Poll, have won three of their previous four meetings against Virginia including a 34-14 win on the road in 2016. Miami is on a 14-game winning streak that is the longest active streak in FBS and also the program’s longest streak since the 2002 season. The Hurricanes are one of only four remaining unbeaten teams at the FBS level and are the only unbeaten team in the ACC
Virginia is bowl eligible for the first time since 2011. The Cavaliers have improved dramatically in their second year under the direction of head coach Bronco Mendenhall. A year ago, Virginia finished 2-10 and won just one ACC game. The Cavaliers have tripled their overall and conference win totals from a year ago and already have their most total wins since winning eight games in 2011.
Here are three matchups to watch in Saturday’s game.
Miami running back Travis Homer vs. Virginia linebacker Micah Kiser
Travis Homer has emerged as a true feature back since taking over as Miami’s top option at running back following an injury to All-ACC back Mark Walton. The sophomore has amassed 753 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns while adding 217 receiving yards and a score through the air. In his five games as Miami’s top running back, Homer has four performances of 95+ rushing yards, including a career-high 170-yard game against Georgia Tech, and has four total touchdowns. Homer leads the ACC with 6.66 yards per carry and is fifth among running backs in the ACC in rushing yards and ranks eighth in the ACC in all-purpose yards per game (107.78).
Micah Kiser is one of the premier linebackers in the country and the top player at his position in the ACC. The senior leads the conference with 106 total tackles (10.6 per game). Kiser’s 106 tackles rank fourth nationally, while his 357 tackles since the start of the 2015 season are the most in the nation. A year ago Kiser was all over the field against the Hurricanes, tallying 12 tackles and recording an interception. He will look to limit Homer’s effectiveness out of the backfield on Saturday.
Miami’s secondary vs. Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert
The Hurricanes have one of the best pass defenses in the country, ranking second in FBS in passing efficiency defense (97.22) and sixth in passing yards allowed (192.6). Miami’s secondary has accounted for 13 of the Hurricanes’ 16 interceptions on the year, while defensive backs Michael Jackson (4), Jaquan Johnson (3), Malek Young (2) and Sheldrick Redwine (2) all have multiple picks this season.
Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert is one of the top passers in the ACC. The senior is fourth in the ACC with 2,492 passing yards and is tied for the ACC lead with 21 passing touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions. Benkert will look to challenge Miami’s secondary on Saturday and he has a bevy of weapons at his disposal. Olamide Zaccheaus ranks third in the ACC with 70 catches and has tallied 727 receiving yards and four touchdowns, while Doni Dowling has 39 catches for 544 yards and five touchdowns. Andre Levrone leads the Cavaliers with six touchdowns and has caught 27 balls for 566 yards.
Miami offensive tackle Kc McDermott vs. Virginia defensive end Andrew Brown
The Hurricanes’ offensive line has done a great job of paving the way for Miami’s running attack, as well as protecting quarterback Malik Rosier. Left tackle Kc McDermott has been a leader on the offensive line and is set to make his team-best 31st consecutive start on Saturday. McDermott is one of four Hurricanes on the offensive line to have started every game this season and they have helped Miami’s offense rank fourth in the ACC in total offense (451.3 yards per game).
But McDermott will likely face off against a disruptive force in Virginia lineman Andrew Brown. The senior defensive end leads all UVA linemen with 8.5 tackles for loss, which rank second overall on the team. Brown has tallied 2.5 sacks this season and 34 total tackles to go with a trio of quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Kickoff against the Cavaliers is set for noon from Hard Rock Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
