Miami has been pink scorching to start out the 2024 school soccer season, streaking to a 4-0 file for the second straight season and trying to enhance to 5-0 for the primary time since 2017 because the Hurricanes purpose to remind everybody they’re gunning for the higher echelon of the game as soon as once more. Standing in the way in which is previous foe Virginia Tech in a Friday night time highlight recreation to kick off ACC play.
The Hurricanes have steadily climbed the rankings via the season’s opening month, beginning the yr at No. 19 within the AP High 25 ballot and rising to No. 7. Oddsmakers have Miami as the brand new favourite to win the convention and a well-liked decide to advance to the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Now it is as much as Mario Cristobal’s group to capitalize on the chance for a breakthrough season, which might be much-needed for the top coach who carried a 12-13 file heading into Yr 3 at his alma mater.
For Virginia Tech, the chance to play spoiler can be an opportunity to create a spark in a season that has not began because the Hokies had deliberate. Pegged by many as a darkish horse within the ACC given their returning expertise and a powerful end to 2023. They’ve already come up brief in one-score losses to Vanderbilt and Rutgers within the group’s 2-2 begin. For no matter disappointment would possibly lingerm there’s a clear slate in convention play. And a win in opposition to Miami might restart the optimism for a breakthrough yr for Brent Pry in Blacksburg.
Tips on how to watch Miami vs. Virginia Tech dwell
Date: Friday, Sept. 27 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Arduous Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Fla.
TV: ESPN | Reside stream: fubo (Attempt without spending a dime)
Miami vs. Virginia Tech: Have to know
Cam Ward is without doubt one of the stars of 2024: The ACC Preseason Participant of the Yr has completely lived as much as expectations via 4 video games. Ward at the moment leads the nation with 14 passing touchdowns guiding an offense that ranks No. 2 within the FBS (605 yards per recreation). He’s the primary quarterback in Miami historical past to throw for 300 yards and three three or extra touchdowns in his first 4 begins of the yr.
Hokies discover their power within the floor recreation: Virginia Tech operating again Bhayshul Tuten racked up 122 yards and three touchdowns on simply 15 carries in final week’s loss in opposition to Rutgers, boosting his season common to 97.8 yards per recreation (third within the ACC). Tuten has now eclipsed 100 yards dashing in 5 of his final six video games going again to final season. He is a serious vivid spot for a Hokies group struggling via some sluggish begins in opposition to energy convention opponents.
A contemporary East Coast school soccer rivalry: The collection formally dates again to 1953 and features a assortment of basic video games all through the Sixties and Eighties, however the Miami-Virginia Tech rivalry as we all know it now was born within the Massive East. The 2023 season — the ACC’s first with out divisions — marked the primary time since 1992 that Miami and Virginia Tech didn’t play one another within the common season. General, Miami leads the collection 25-15 and gained the final three conferences. However since 1992 that rely is 16-15 with three of the final 4 determined by one rating or much less.
Miami vs. Virginia Tech prediction, picks
Miami has fallen brief on preseason expectations previously, however most of these groups didn’t have a dynamic quarterback like Cam Ward. The Hurricanes had been already constructed up on the line of scrimmage and now they’ve a distinction maker below heart. On condition that benefit, I am not anticipating a letdown or a disappointment within the ACC opener. As an alternative, the expectation is an announcement win. Choose: Miami -17.5
Which school soccer picks are you able to make with confidence in Week 5? Go to SportsLine to see which groups will win and canopy the unfold — all from a confirmed laptop mannequin that has returned properly over $2,000 in revenue since its inception — and discover out.
