1. Miami vice

It’s been a long, difficult season for the RedHawks under first-year coach Michael Haywood, who spent the previous four years as offensive coordinator at Notre Dame. Miami has put the ball on the ground 24 times, losing 14 of those fumbles. Opponents have intercepted 20 passes. Those miscues are the reason Miami heads into its season finale 1-10, a conquest of Toledo the lone victory to its credit. What happens when the RedHawks maintain a handle on the football? They nearly knocked off East Division-leading Temple two weeks ago, losing on a last-second field goal. So while Miami’s propensity to commit turnovers bodes well for UB, the Bulls had best beware. Plus, UB has never won at Miami.

2. By land or air

On Tuesday evening Bulls announced that senior wideout Naaman Roosevelt will sit out tonight’s game due to a knee injury. Sophomore Terrell Jackson will start in his place. Do the Bulls stick with their passing game or do they look to run over a Miami team that’s been outrushed, 2,003-751, on the season? Probably a little bit of both. Bulls receivers have to contend with Anthony Kokal, a sophomore defensive back who is second on the team with 99 tackles, including a team-high 52 solos.

3. Line check

UB senior tackle Andrew West has been suspended for the game by the team and the conference for an unsportsmanlike block thrown in the Ohio game. That’ll force a shift employed already this season, with Jordan Jerrold entering at left tackle and Matt Ostrowski moving to right tackle. More of a concern perhaps is the ankle injury that will sideline running back Ike Nduka tonight. The featured back again becomes freshman Jeffvon Gill, who went off for 172 yards in his first collegiate start two games ago. Senior Mario Henry will also fill in.

4. Common ground

Miami will give UB a different defensive look than in past seasons, but it’s not one with which Bulls coach Turner Gill is unfamiliar. RedHawks defensive coordinator Carl Reese coached at Missouri when Gill was on the staff at Nebraska. Reese likes to blitz, particularly with the linebackers, and LB Jerrell Wedge, a 5-foot-9, 223-pound sophomore, leads the team in tackles with 105.

5. Teeing off

Freshman Zach Dysert took over at QB for Miami early in the season. He’s tall (6-foot-4), solid (215) and susceptible to making mistakes typical of first-year starters. The RedHawks have struggled on the line all season, and this sets up as an opportunity for the Bulls to get consistent and heavy pressure on the passer from freshman end Steven Means (five sacks) and junior LB Justin Winters (3z 1/3 1/2 ck 1/3 ). That should create opportunities for the defensive backs and safeties. Winters missed the Ohio game with a stinger but is expected back in the lineup.

Prediction

The Bulls have lost three straight. Miami has lost two in a row and is 1-10. Something has to give, and it should be a RedHawk defense that’s yielded 368 points. UB finally breaks through at Miami, 21-16.