FACTS & STATS: Site: Dolphin Stadium (74,916) -- Miami Gardens, Florida. Television:ESPN2. Home Record: UNC 1-1, Miami 1-0. Away Record: UNC 1-0, Miami 1-1. Neutral Record: UNC 0-0, Miami 0-0. Conference Record: UNC 0-1, Miami 0-0. Series Record: North Carolina leads, 6-5.

GAME NOTES: The Miami-Florida Hurricanes kick off a three-game homestand and their ACC slate this weekend, as they host the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dolphin Stadium. The Hurricanes enter the contest on a high note, as they defeated Texas A&M, 41-23, on the road last weekend. It was a quality win for Miami, which opened the season with a home win over Charleston Southern (52-7) before losing to rival Florida (26-3) in Gainesville the following week. The Hurricanes now turn their attention to ACC play, where they went just 2-6 a season ago. As for UNC, it was seeking its first 3-0 start since 1997, but the team was denied that goal in a tough 20-17 setback to Virginia Tech last weekend. It was the ACC opener for the Tar Heels, who began the season with a pair of wins over McNeese State (35-27) and Rutgers (44-12). UNC leads the all-time series with Miami, 6-5, and that takes into account a 33-27 triumph in last season's meeting.

Facing a tough defense in VT, the Tar Heels were limited to just 307 total yards in a 20-17 setback. UNC, which is averaging 356.3 total ypg for the year, also committed four turnovers in last weekend's loss. The miscues were kind of surprising, as UNC had turned the ball over just twice through the first two contests. Greg Little guided the Tar Heels in defeat with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. It was a decent effort for Little, who heads the team with just 179 yards and two scores on the season. Quarterback T.J. Yates completed 11-of-18 pass attempts for 181 yards and a score against VT, but he was hurt while being sacked and ended up leaving the game. Redshirt freshman Mike Paulus stepped in for Yates, but wasn't effective, throwing for just 23 yards and a pair of interceptions. Yates, who has thrown for 623 yards and six scores on the season, has a fractured left ankle and could miss up to six weeks. Whomever is under center this weekend will surely look the way of Brandon Tate and Hakeem Nicks, who have combined for 27 catches, 521 yards and five touchdowns this season. Last weekend, Nicks had four receptions for 51 yards, while Tate logged three catches for 66 yards and a score.

The Tar Heels' defense did their best to give the team a chance to win last weekend, as they held VT to just 268 total yards of offense. The unit also recorded a pair of interceptions, giving it seven for the season. It was an all-around solid effort by UNC, which is yielding 347.3 total ypg on the year, but the defense did allow VT to score 17-second half points and that made the difference. Mark Paschal turned in a noteworthy effort in the loss, as he notched 12 tackles to go with an interception and sack. He currently tops the roster with 28 stops, including 17 solo efforts, for the season.

Graig Cooper ran for a career-best 128 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries, as the Hurricanes routed Texas A&M over the weekend. It was clearly the best effort by any Miami tailback this season and Cooper now has 181 yards and three scores on the ground for the season. Making just the second start of his career, redshirt freshman Robert Marve was effective in completing 16- of-22 tosses for 212 yards and two touchdowns. It was a fine effort from Marve, who threw for just 69 yards in his first start the prior week. The Hurricanes are rather young and inexperienced at the skilled positions, but despite that fact, they are still averaging a solid 32.0 ppg behind 318.0 total ypg for the season.

Considering the game was over by the fourth quarter, Miami's defense did a rather good job in holding Texas A&M to just 362 yards of total offense. The defense gave up just 87 rushing yards and that wasn't a big surprise considering the Hurricanes are limiting opposing clubs to just 75.0 ypg on the ground this season. Miami also forced a pair of turnovers last weekend and that was big news, as it had generated just one miscue in the first two games. Glenn Cook led the way with nine stops and a fumble recovery, while Colin McCarthy had a forced fumble and one of the team's two sacks. On the season, Cook, who scored on his fumble recovery last weekend, leads Miami with 18 tackles.

The Hurricanes are coming off an impressive road win and they now have a chance to build off that with three straight home games. In what figures to be a low scoring affair, go with Miami behind its home crowd support and solid defense.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Miami-Florida 24, North Carolina 21

Saturday, September 27th, 12:00 p.m. (et)