Where: At Miami.
When: 6:30 p.m., today.
TV: KDVR-31.
Series record: Tied, 4-4.
Last meeting: Sept. 23, 2006, Virginia Tech won 29-13.
What’s at stake: Virginia Tech is aiming to join USC and Texas as the only schools to win 10 games in each of the last five seasons, plus snap a two-game bowl losing streak and eight-game slide for Atlantic Coast Conference teams in Bowl Championship Series games. … Cincinnati could finish the year in the Top 10 with a win.
Key matchup: Special teams vs. special teams. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer is a whiz at making things happen on special teams, making “Beamerball” synonymous with blocking kicks. But Cincinnati has one of the nation’s best punters in Kevin Huber.
Players to watch: Cincinnati — QB Tony Pike is playing with screws and a plate holding his left (non-throwing) arm together, KR/WR Mardy Gilyard is always a threat and DE Connor Barwin emerged as a defensive standout in the Big East, with 11 sacks.
Virginia Tech — CB Victor “Macho” Harris said one of the reasons why he turned down a chance at the NFL draft last year was because he didn’t want to end his college career with a bowl loss. QB Tyrod Taylor, when on his game, befuddles defenses with his ability to run the ball and make something out of nothing.
Facts and figures: Since losing at Virginia Tech 2 1/2 years ago, Cincinnati has won 28 of its last 35 games. … Virginia Tech is only 7-14 in bowl games, with just one postseason win in the last six years. … FedEx is the Orange Bowl sponsor, and a Cincinnati student helped design the logo that the shipping company uses today.
The Associated Press
