New-look Gators look to end skid, salvage season at Mizzou
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens TV: ABC Weather: 77 degrees, 15 percent rain chance Online: SunSentinel.com/um; @ChristyChirinos Twitter.
Quick slant: A Hurricanes win over Virginia Tech, combined with a Georgia Tech victory over Virginia earlier in the day, will give the UM its first Coastal Division title and put Miami in the ACC Championship Game. Virginia Tech has won three in a row since its 31-17 loss to defending national champion Clemson and is looking to repeat as Coastal champion.
About Miami (7-0, 5-0): The Hurricanes are coming off a 24-19 win over North Carolina that was Miami’s fourth consecutive victory decided by eight points or less. QB Malik Rosier enters the game having thrown for 2,071 yards and 17 TDs with just four interceptions. He’s also Miami’s third-leading rusher.
About Virginia Tech (7-1, 3-1): Quarterback Josh Jackson’s 2,032 passing yards and 17 TDs are the most ever by a Hokies freshman. Meanwhile, their defense leads the ACC against the run and has held opponents to an average of 11.5 points. What to watch: 1. Rosier’s health. Last week, Rosier left the North Carolina game briefly with a shoulder injury. He has practiced this week, but his effectiveness will be key.
2. Run game. Last week against North Carolina, Miami had a season-low 59 rushing yards. Now the Hurricanes will face a tough Virginia Tech defense. Can Miami’s offensive line give ball carriers space to work?
3. Big plays. Miami’s defense continues forcing turnovers. The Hurricanes will need to capitalize on any Hokie miscues.
Christy Cabrera Chirinos Where: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas TV: ESPN2 Weather: 70 degrees, no rain chance Online: orlandosentinel.com/knights; Twitter
Quick slant: No. 18 UCF is looking to extend its win streak to eight games and spoil SMU’s homecoming night in Dallas. SMU is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2012 and needs a win to help give itself a chance to claim the AAC West division title.
About UCF (7-0, 4-0): The Knights set a scoring record during their 73-33 win over Austin Peay last Saturday. Despite the victory, coaches said there was still room for improvement on defense after allowing the Governors to exploit some poor first-half tackling. Mike Hughes continued to impress with a 91-yard kickoff return touchdown.
About SMU (6-2, 3-1 AAC): The Mustangs defeated Tulsa 38-34 last week to become 6-2 for the first time since 1984. Coach Chad Morris boasts the second-most productive offense in the conference behind UCF, averaging at least 507 yards per game. SMU also boasts strong receiving in Trey Quinn and Courtland Sutton. Three things to watch: 1. How will UCF handle the environment? It’s going to be hostile tonight in Dallas and the Knights have to stay cool under pressure.
2. How will the secondary perform? SMU has long-range weapons that could cause headaches for UCF’s young defensive backs.
3. Can UCF keep up? With two high-scoring offenses, the Knights’ offense needs to stay hot.
Shannon Green @osknights on
GAINESVILLE — Brandon Powell does not want his UF career to end like this — amid distraction, disappointment and defeat.
With just a four games left in the regular season, the frustrated senior receiver and Gators seek a fresh start.
“It’s my senior year … I got to go out with some wins,” Powell said. “I’m gonna do everything I can to motivate this team to finish out the season strong.”
Some key faces have changed and so have the goals. But Powell, interim coach Randy Shannon, new starting quarterback Malik Zaire and the Gators still have plenty at stake on Saturday at Missouri.
Losers of three consecutive games and less than a week since Jim McElwain’s sudden ouster, the Gators no longer can defend their SEC East title.
Yet another loss also would place the chances for a bowl bid in serious jeopardy. Due to its high Academic Progress Rate, UF (3-4, 3-3 SEC) may need just two wins during its final four games to reach the postseason.
But other than a Nov. 18 visit from UAB, the Gators might not be favored in November. In addition to the Missouri game, UF visits surging South Carolina next week and hosts rival Florida State on Thanksgiving weekend.
Winless in league play, Mizzou (3-5, 0-4) is a threepoint favorite and a bad matchup for UF. The Tigers’ high-scoring attack averages 35.5 points and could force the Gators into a track meet after the offense totaled just 42 points during the past three games.
Looking to reboot things offensively, Shannon replaced struggling redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks with Zaire, who will make his first start for the Gators.
If Zaire can spark a team with a scoring average of 21.3 points, ranking 110th of 129 teams nationally, it would raise questions about McElwain’s seeming resistance to play the Notre Dame graduate transfer.
A strong close to a disappointing season also might lead Zaire, 22, to apply for a sixth season because he missed most of the 2015 with a broken ankle.
“This is not a time for him to feel comfortable and feel like he’s made it,” Shannon said. “We want him to keep grinding and understand that competition is very good.”
Shannon returns to a head coaching role for the first time since Miami fired him after the 2010 season. His South Florida recruiting ties and defensive acumen are sure to garner interest at season’s end — maybe from UF’s next head coach. Yet the 51-year-old said the next four weeks are not an “audition” for him.
Of more immediate concern for Zaire and Shannon is Missouri.
The Tigers’ passing game and pass rush are among the SEC’s best.
Junior quarterback Drew Lock leads the league with 28 touchdown passes and looks to avenge his worst day at Missouri. During last season’s 40-14 loss at UF, he finished 4-of-18 passing for 39 yards, threw two picksixes and posted a rating of 18.2.
This time, though, Lock and receiver J’Mon Moore and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam — who have seven touchdowns catches apiece — will face a lessexperienced secondary and a run defense that was gashed for 292 yards last Saturday by Georgia and 216 yards Oct. 7 by LSU.
“They’ve got veterans,” Shannon said of Missouri’s passing game. “We’ve got one senior in our secondary, which is Duke Dawson. It’s going to be a big challenge for us.”
The Gators also must replace explosive freshman tailback Malik Davis, who sustained a season-ending knee injury against Georgia. Sophomore Lamical Perine and senior Mark Thompson are quality backups, but Davis’ runs of 72, 42 and 39 yards are the three longest this season by a Gators’ running back.
The list of challenges continues to grow UF.
In the the wake of McElwain’s departure, a quarterback change, Davis’ injury and the end of their slim SEC East title hopes, the Gators now travel 1,000 miles to play an 11 a.m. game.
But soon after he took the reins and began trying to salvage the season, Shannon sensed hope.
“They’ve been upbeat, very positive, a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. “We’re going up to Missouri to ... have a great day.”