Miami @ Duke preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 3, 2018 ) Duke 20, Miami 12

Miami (Fla.) looks to put an embarrassing loss in the rearview mirror and gain some confidence going into a bowl game when it visits struggling Duke for the ACC regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon. The Hurricanes had won three in a row against Pittsburgh, Florida State and Louisville before suffering a 30-24 loss to crosstown-rival Florida International at Marlins Park last week.

First-year coach Manny Diaz took ownership for the loss and called it a very dark night while Miami’s freshman quarterback Jarren Williams told reporters: “This is a tough one to swallow. We’ve just got to keep moving forward and we’re going to stay together as a team and focus on our next opponent.” The Hurricanes, who lost to Duke 20-12 last year after winning four straight in the series, turned the ball over three times and scored just three points in the first three quarters against FIU. The Blue Devils won four of their first six games this season and looked as though they could contend for a spot in the ACC Championship Game before losing the last five contests, capped by a 39-27 setback at Wake Forest last week. “I didn't tell them anything after the game other than that I was proud of them for their fight,” Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe told reporters. “We'll correct them ... and I feel a burden of responsibility for when you don't tackle well and when you don't convert third downs and we have to be better than that. We've got one game to get try and get things right.”

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Miami -9

ABOUT MIAMI (6-5, 4-3 ACC): Williams has put up pretty good numbers in his maiden voyage, throwing for 1,951 yards and completing 64.8 percent of his passes with 18 TDs along with six interceptions. Junior running back DeeJay Dallas, who leads the team with 693 rushing yards and eight TDs on the ground, could miss Saturday’s game with an elbow injury and sophomore Cam’Ron Harris (501, four) should get plenty of work against Duke. The Hurricanes boast four players with at least 31 catches and 379 receiving yards, led by sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan (35, 495, two TDs) and K.J. Osborn (42, 469, five).

ABOUT DUKE (4-7, 2-5): The highlight of last week’s loss was the historic performance of sophomore Damond Philyaw-Johnson, who matched an NCAA record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns to be named ACC Player of the Week. Senior quarterback Quentin Harris has thrown for 1,922 yards with 15 TD passes and 11 interceptions while rushing for another 461 yards - second on the team behind junior Deon Jackson (597) - with six scores. Senior linebacker Koby Quansah has led the Blue Devils with 100 tackles - 12 against Wake Forest - and junior defensive end Victor Dimukeje boasts 8.5 sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Duke junior TE Noah Gray tops the team with 49 catches and 381 receiving yards after going for seven and 76, respectively, last week.

2. Miami freshman DL Gregory Rousseau leads the ACC and is fourth in the nation with 12 sacks, but none in the last two games.

3. The Hurricanes stand second in the ACC in scoring defense (20.4) and the Blue Devils are 10th at 30.3.

PREDICTION: Miami 31, Duke 21