Miami (FL) @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2010 ) Miami 31, Pittsburgh 3

Miami (Fla.) needs a lot of happen this weekend to secure its first ever berth in the Atlantic Coast conference Championship game, and first and foremost is a victory Friday at Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes also need losses by both Duke and Virginia Tech in order to secure a rematch with Florida State, winner of the ACC's Atlantic Division. "I've said all along - we are not to our destination yet, but we know where we're going and we're going to keep moving forward," Miami head coach Al Golden said. "I'm really grateful for the opportunity to take this team past this week, really dig in with them and go to a bowl game, and experience all those things."

The Panthers rallied to beat Syracuse last week to become bowl eligible and now have a chance to go into a bowl game with a winning record for the first time since 2010. Isaac Bennett's 5-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter put Pittsburgh ahead to stay, and a blocked extra point by Aaron Donald provided the winning margin. "Obviously it was really good to go up to Syracuse and get that win," Pittsburgh head coach Paul Chryst said. "I think the kids are looking forward to turning it around and playing this Friday against a very good and talented Miami team."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Miami -2.5

ABOUT MIAMI (FLA) (8-3, 4-3 ACC): Stephen Morris became the sixth Miami quarterback with eight 300-yard passing games in his career when he threw for 379 yards in a loss to Duke. Only Bernie Kosar (nine) and Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta (10) are ahead of Morris, who needs 250 yards to move past Torretta into third place in career passing yards. Morris should be throwing in the direction of Allen Hurns, who needs 35 yards to post the fourth 1,000-yard season in school history.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (6-5, 3-4): In addition to the blocked extra point, Donald had nine tackles, including 3.5 for loss against Syracuse and was recognized as the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week. The senior will enter his final home game as the FBS active career leader with 27 sacks, including 10 this season. "He's doing it on the field," Chryst said. "I think he's playing at as high a level as anyone I have ever been around and I've been fortunate to be around some really good ones."

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Hurricanes lead the series 22-9-1, including wins in the last seven meetings.

2. The Panthers' last win over the Hurricanes came in their national championship season of 1976.

3. Miami is 103-1 all-time when scoring at least 45 points, with the only loss coming to Boston College in the "Hail Flutie" game of 1984.

PREDICTION: Miami 31, Pittsburgh 21