Thursday Night ESPN College Football Virginia @ Miami-Fl Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Week 9 NCAA Football Spreads and Odds

Week 9 Free College Football Picks and Spreads: Virginia Cavailiers @ Miami-Fl Hurricanes 2011 NCAA Football Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on ESPN 10/27/11: The ACC will take center stage Thursday night when the Virginia Cavaliers (4-3) go on the road to face the Miami Hurricanes (4-3). The Coastal Divison rivals are currently sitting in the middle of the road in the conference, but the Hurricanes have a chance to catch Virginia Tech for the top spot. Both teams are fighting for bowl eligibility as well, and the winner of Thursday’s game will be on the doorstep of qualifying. Despite having identical records, the Hurricanes have the more impressive resume thus far. As a result, Miami is a 13 ½-point favorite at home in this matchup.

Miami is coming off a huge victory against Georgia Tech and its triple option attack. The Yellow Jackets boasted the top rushing attack in the country, but the athletic Hurricanes’ defense shut down the ground attack of Georgia Tech in a 24-7 victory. Virginia’s strength has been its ground game as well, and the Cavaliers are averaging more than 180 yards a game. Granted, Virginia uses a more conventional system, but if Miami’s defense can deliver a similar stifling performance, the Hurricanes will the upper hand.

The player to watch for Miami is linebacker Sean Spence. An early season suspension has him flying under the radar, but Spence has been a stud in the middle of the Hurricanes defense. He is an athletic playmaker that personifies Miami’s unit as a whole. The Hurricanes’ defense isn’t the same caliber as the units that were competing for national titles, but this year’s bunch is fast and athletic and giving up just over 21 points per game.  A one-dimensional team like Virginia could be in for a long night.

That being said, the Cavaliers do boast a trio of running backs that could test the Miami defense. Thanks to their depth at the position, the Cavaliers have been able to wear down several opponents on the ground, creating big play opportunities in both the running game and passing game. While efficient at times, the Virginia offense is far from explosive. In fact, the Cavaliers haven’t topped 24 points in their last five games. Virginia is just 2-3 during the stretch, and aside from a 24-21 win against Georgia Tech, the Cavaliers have lost to all the tougher opponents on their schedule.

Miami would definitely qualify in the tough category, and the Hurricanes’ balanced offensive attack could prove too potent for Virginia. Sophomore running back Lamar Miller is quickly emerging as the next great Miami ball carrier. Miller is fast approaching 1,000 yards, and he is averaging nearly six yards per carry. Miller’s strong play has been couple by the maturation of quarterback Jacory Harris, who has 12 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. When Harris is taking care of the ball, Miami’s offense goes to another level.

At the end of the day, Miami should be able to ride its sizeable edge in athleticism and speed to a victory. The Cavaliers don’t do anything out of the ordinary on offense, and they simply don’t have enough playmakers to line up and run at the Hurricanes’ front seven. Harris has made things interesting in the past with his unpredictable play, but he has been reliable this far, and Miller is a star in the making in the running game. The Hurricanes’ defense and ground game should power Miami to a comfortable win.

Prediction: Miami Hurricanes (-13 ½) Cover the Spread

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