Virginia at Miami (FL)

Time: 7 PM CST (FRI) on ESPN

Spread: MIA -1

Odds c/o 5dimes

The Miami Hurricanes ended its two-game win streak by falling 35-42 to Virginia Tech last week. It remains at home again this week as it hosts No. 20 ranked Virginia. The Hurricanes are slight 1-point favorites in opening betting odds at bookmaker 5dimes, and the game will air at 7 PM CST Friday night on ESPN.

MIA

Miami trailed 28-7 at the half against Virginia Tech and came all the way back before falling late on a 3-yard rush by Deshawn McClease. Miami surrendered 153 rushing yards in the game and it allowed Hokies QB Hendon Hooker to throw three TD passes despite completing just 50 percent of his 20 looks and managing 184 yards only. The Hurricanes got a monster game from its quarterback N’Kosi Perry, though, and probably his best as a Hurricane. He threw 28 of 47 for 422 yards and four TDs, though he did throw one interception. His nine rushes resulted in 16 lost yards, but Miami was solid overall on the ground averaging 4.1 yards-per-attempt.

Star running back DeeJay Dallas picked up 11 yards per attempt on his six tries and scored the lone Hurricane rushing touchdown. Brevin Jordan and Jeff Thomas combined for 260 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and Miami had three more receiving options with 40 yards or more in the game. Mark Pope had just two catches but he picked up 45 yards and the other receiving touchdown. Miami really needs this win as it is 0-2 in ACC play. Dallas has averaged 7.2 yards-per-rush and has 57 attempts for 409 yards. Between him and the improvements at QB (Jarren Williams is out), the Hurricanes are either on the verge of turning the corner in 2019 or simply gazing at a whiteboard with glaring issues the team cannot address properly. Time will tell.

UVA

Virginia is 4-1 on the season and it suffered its first loss last week to Independent FBS opponent Notre Dame, falling 20-35. It had knocked off Pittsburgh, William and Mary, FSU, and Old Dominion in its first four games.

The Cavaliers are riding Bryce Perkins. The quarterback has thrown for 1,117 yards and eight touchdowns, but he already has six interceptions and has been sacked 3.0 times per game for a season loss of 101 yards. Perkins ranks No. 2 in rushing yardage but he also leads the team in attempts (67) and accounts for just 2.4 yards-per-rush. Lead running back Wayne Taulapapa has not been tremendous either, averaging just 3.7 yards-per-rush, though he does have five touchdowns already while the Cavs have nine as a team.

Virginia’s top-two receivers are both eating, though. Hasise Dubois and Joe Reed have 334 and 322 yards on the season, respectively, and have combined for six of the team’s eight passing touchdowns. Tight end Tanner Cowley has 10 catches for 110 yards, but he has not managed a TD yet. Ideally, he could be a valuable third or fourth target in such situations, but the team has chosen to go more to Taulapapa for short rushing gains when it gets close. Varying it up with a few looks to Cowley may make Taulapapa more dangerous still.

ATS TRENDS (C/o Covers):