Canes Dance With Devils Saturday
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – The Miami Hurricanes' up and down season continues Saturday as the Canes try to even their Atlantic Coast Conference record with an afternoon tilt against the Duke Blue Devils.
Duke is next to last in the ACC in scoring, averaging just 22.9 points per game, according to cfbstats.com.
Plus, the Blue Devils simply can't run the football for anything, averaging just 100 yards per game, which is worst in the ACC.
Without a solid running game, the Blue Devils live and die through the air. The Blue Devils' passing attack averages just fewer than 280 yards per game, which is third best in the ACC.
Overall, Duke is third worst in the conference in yards gained per game, averaging just 379.3 yards per game in total offense.
Luckily for the Blue Devils, the University of Miami offense is not much better. The Canes are averaging just 28 points per game in 2011 and the passing game is ranked just seventh in the conference.
And while that's bad, the Hurricanes are even worse running the football. Miami is ranked eighth in the ACC in rushing, averaging just 145.5 yards per game.
Making matters worse, the Canes can't punch the ball into the end zone either.
The Canes' running game has amassed just 11 rushing touchdowns on the season, which makes them the third worst team in the ACC when it comes to punching the ball into the end zone on the ground, according to cfbstats.com.
Miami's saving grace has been a stout defense that is giving up just 22 points per game on the season. Duke's biggest offensive weakness coincides with the U's biggest defensive weakness, stopping the run.
Duke will have to try and pass the ball on a defense that is allowing just 207 yards per game through the air.
The one positive for Duke is that UM is not taking away the football in the passing game like years past. The Canes have intercepted just four passes this season, while allowing 12 touchdown passes.
Duke's task on defense is simple, stop the second best running back in the ACC, Lamar Miller. The Canes' sophomore is averaging 108 yards per game on the ground and is doing it on less than 20 carries per game.
The UM-Duke game can be seen on Sun Sports starting at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.
