North Carolina @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2009 ) Miami 24, North Carolina 33

Miami and North Carolina have had to overcome different obstacles this season, but both still harbor hopes of a berth in the ACC Championship Game. Chances of that happening will greatly diminish for one of them after they meet Saturday night in South Florida.

The Hurricanes and Tar Heels enter this key ACC clash with identical 2-1 conference marks and are one game back of Coastal Division leader Virginia Tech.

Miami (4-2, 2-1 ACC) rebounded from a 45-17 loss to rival Florida State with a 28-13 road win at Duke last week that returned the ‘Canes to the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 25.

Miami will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak to UNC. The Tar Heels are on a four-game winning streak, despite off-the-field distractions involving an ongoing NCAA investigation into the school’s football program.

The Tar Heels (4-2, 2-1 ACC) learned this week that cornerback Charles Brown, a returning starter who played in every game last season, will sit out the entire season. Also, cornerback Kendric Burney will miss Saturday’s game for an unspecified reason, despite having recently completed a six-game suspension issued by the NCAA. That news followed the loss of tight end Zack Pianalto, the Tar Heels’ leading receiver (30 catches, 311 yards) who sustained a broken leg against Virginia last week.

Miami had a balanced offensive attack in its win against Duke, rushing for a season-best 224 yards. Quarterback Jacory Harris matched that stat in passing yardage and did not throw an interception, only the junior’s second game this season without a pick.

North Carolina quarterback T. J. Yates is the ACC’s No. 3-ranked passer (1,495 yards) and threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-10 thumping of Virginia last week. The Heels’ offense had a season-high 479 yards total offense.

However, it could be a challenge for either team to muster much offense on Saturday. Miami has the ACC’s top-rated defense (305.0 ypg) and the ‘Canes average 9.5 tackles for loss, which is No. 1 in the nation. The Heels are No. 2 in the ACC in scoring defense (19.3 ppg) and second only to Miami in pass defense, so something has to give Saturday night.