The Miami Hurricanes (6-0) are coming off a thrilling comeback win, having rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter at North Carolina last Thursday night. The Tar Heels brought a spirited effort, with a packed house, black uniforms and a “Zero Dark Thursday” theme, but the Canes found the light with two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 27-23 victory.
Miami lost Duke Johnson in the first quarter after the running back took a knee to the helmet and saw Phillip Dorsett suffer a partial MCL tear, sidelining him for what should be the rest of the regular season.
Safety Kacy Rodgers II also was dinged up, but like Johnson, he is expected back this week. The Hurricanes will also return wide receiver Rashawn Scott back from a shoulder injury that knocked him out in the season opener.
The upside for Miami is that the Hurricanes found a budding star in second-string running back Dallas Crawford who carried 33 times for 137 yards and two scores—including the game-winner with 16 seconds remaining.
The downside came in a four-interception performance from quarterback Stephen Morris, who needs to get his turnover issues corrected as the second half of the season gets underway. Morris had two interceptions the first four games of the season but has thrown six over the past eight quarters.
Wake Forest (4-3) heads to Sun Life Stadium riding a two-game winning streak and are taking on Miami for the first time since the 2009 season, where the Hurricanes rallied for a 28-27 comeback victory in Winston-Salem. The squads last met in South Florida in 2008, where Miami pulled out the 16-10 win.
Miami, ranked No. 7 in the AP/BCS looks to stay undefeated, avoiding a late October trap game with Florida State on the horizon. The Hurricanes head to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles on November 2.
Time: Noon ET
Place: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
TV: ESPN U/WatchESPN
Radio: WQAM 560 (Miami) – WBRF 98.1 (Wake Forest)
Spread: DSOpen has Miami a 23-point favorite.
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