No. 14 Miami (3-0, 0-0 ACC) at Georgia Tech (3-1, 1-1), Noon (ESPN2)
Line: Miami by 5½.
Series record: Georgia Tech leads 11-10.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Georgia Tech had its unbeaten record smashed and confidence shaken by last week’s 26-7 loss to No. 5 Clemson, prompting daunting comparisons to similar showings in the Yellow Jackets’ 3-9 finish last season. Georgia Tech needs to restart its offense against Miami, which is looking to show its perfect record reflects more than just a soft easy schedule.
KEY MATCHUP
Miami run defense vs. Georgia Tech RB Dedrick Mills. The Hurricanes rank second in the ACC in allowing only 65 yards rushing per game. Mills, a freshman, leads the Yellow Jackets with 201 yards rushing and five touchdowns despite being held out of one game. Georgia Tech was held to 125 total yards, including only 95 yards rushing - 75 from Mills - in last week’s 26-7 home loss to No. 5 Clemson.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Miami: RB Gus Edwards has rushed for 120 yards in three games after missing 2015 season with a foot injury. Edwards (6-1, 230) gives the Hurricanes a powerful complement to running backs Mark Walton and Joe Yearby, who have combined to run for 657 yards.
Georgia Tech: QB Justin Thomas needs 45 yards to reach 2,000 yards rushing for career. He would become only third quarterback in school history to reach the milestone. He is eighth on the school’s career leaders with 3,559 yards passing.
FACTS & FIGURES
Miami has outrushed its opponents 816-195. … Miami’s Mark Richt, returning to the state of Georgia, will be coaching his 200th game. He was Georgia’s coach for 15 years before returning to his alma mater. … Miami leads nation in scoring defense (7.7) and sacks (4.40 per game). … Georgia Tech is 7-3 at home against ranked opponents under Paul Johnson. … The Yellow Jackets’ 124 total yards against Clemson set a low in Johnson’s nine years.
___
AP college football website: https://collegefootball.ap.org
Please read our comment policy before commenting.