Miami Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Virginia Tech in Week 10

Miami football hosts the Virginia Tech Hokies in a match-up of No. 14 versus No. 15 per the S&P+. Can Mark Richt right the offense in time for the lunch pail Hokies defense to come to town? Here are my bold predictions.

The Miami Hurricanes host the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8: 00 p.m. ET in front of what will likely be a sellout, or near-sellout, crowd in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Hurricanes (7-0) enter the contest ranked 14th in the S&P+ while the Hokies (7-1) are ranked 15th by Bill C.

Miami’s offense has been hot-and-cold, scoring on big plays in big situations but also faltering amongst a string of three-and-outs, a bad third-down percentage and field goals in the red zone.

The Hurricanes’ quarterback is Malik Rosier. He had only started one football game before 2017 — that whacky comeback against the Duke Blue Devils on Halloween in 2015. Rosier has thrown for 2,000-plus yards and 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Rosier, a junior, has added two rushing touchdowns to that as well.

Mark Richt’s offense lost its feature tailback in Mark Walton and while Travis Homer has filled in admirably in previous weeks, he struggled against North Carolina in Week 9, though. Homer averages 6.4 yards per carry and has scored five times this season. Miami has to hope that it can stop Josh Jackson, the Hokies’ quarterback, enough to get Rosier chances with the football.

The Hokies enter the rivalry game on a three-game winning streak. Jackson has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns on only four interceptions. Jackson’s favorite target is Cam Phillips. He’s is a senior wide receiver with almost 700 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2017.

The Hokies rely on their defense, as usual, which is ranked fourth in the S&P+. The most points Virginia Tech has allowed all season was 31 to Clemson when they had a healthy Kelly Bryant at quarterback.

Here are my three bold predictions for the Hokies at Hurricanes.