Hurricanes -4 1/2 vs. Hokies

A rivalry is certainly something when it travels to different conferences. When Virginia Tech travels to Dolphins Stadium to take on the Miami Hurricanes Thursday night, the great rivalry will be renewed. This game was the yearly event in the Big East, that conference's version of Michigan-Ohio State. But when the teams jumped ship to the ACC in 2004, the Big East lost their big rivalry and some say Virginia Tech and Miami's rivalry has dissipated a bit now that is just another game in the ACC, where there are plenty of marquee matchups throughout the season and the fact that both programs have fallen on the national stage a bit.

Nonetheless the game is still huge for each school. Both teams are unranked and have identical 6-3 overall records and 3-2 conference record. Miami has really turned its season around with its four straight victories. Before their bye week last week, the Hurricanes topped Virginia 24-14 in a hard fought road contest. Miami will be hoping the bye week will not kill their momentum as they take on a Virginia Tech team who snapped a two game losing streak with a decisive 23-13 victory over Maryland.

Defenses will take center stage on Thursday as both offenses have sputtered. Miami ranks 96th in the nation in total offense, while Virginia Tech is 111th. For the Hokies, the 37th ranked rushing offense has been their saving grace because of their revolving door of quarterbacks due to injuries and poor play. Freshman Darren Evans has really come alive lately for Virginia Tech. Last week he rushed for 253 yards on 32 carries and scored a touchdown. Graig Cooper leads Miami's rushers with 634 yards and four touchdowns, including a 131-yard performance against Virginia.

The Virginia Tech Hokies have won the last two in the series since Miami beat Virginia Tech in Blackburg in 2005. The last time the Hurricanes won in Miami in the series was in 2002 at the Orange Bowl.

InSpin.com