This hasn't been the season Virginia Tech was expecting.

That's obvious because Saturday's game against top-ranked Miami (10-0, 6-0 Big East) means nothing to the Hokies (8-2, 4-2).

Win or lose, Virginia Tech will finish third in the Big East. Win or lose, the Hokies are headed to the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 to play Florida State.

Saturday's game was expected to decide the conference championship prior to the season, but Virginia Tech made it a moot point when it lost back-to-back league games to Syracuse and Pittsburgh.

	Frank Beamer and Va. Tech have won 5 of the last 6 against Miami, including the last three in Blacksburg.

Miami has everything to play for. A win Saturday caps a perfect regular season and puts the Hurricanes in the Rose Bowl -- site of the Jan. 3 national championship game.

Stll, Virginia Tech players insist they have plenty riding on the game.

"Our postseason is set in stone, but beating the No. 1 team in the country is reason enough for motivation," said Hokies quarterback Grant Noel. "It's a chance to redeem ourselves."

It won't be easy.

The Miami team that storms into Lane Stadium is coming off impressive victories over No. 14 Syracuse and No. 12 Washington, in which the Hurricanes outscored their opponents by a combined 124-7.

Miami is beating teams by an average of 37 points and is on the verge of setting school single-season records for most points scored and fewest points allowed.

"There's no question in my mind that this is the best team we've ever played," said Beamer, in his 15th season as the head Hokie. "They've just destroyed teams. The last time I saw a college team play like they have the past couple of weeks was a long time ago."

If the Hokies have one thing going for them, it's the home-field advantage. Miami hasn't won in Blacksburg since 1992, suffering three straight defeats, including a Michael Vick-led 43-10 blowout in 1999 that cost the Hurricanes the Big East title.

Miami coach Larry Coker made sure this week to remind his players of their lack of success in Lane Stadium. After spotting some players holding roses during the Hurricanes' 65-7 victory against Washington on Saturday, Coker asked them the next day how many had ever beaten Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Not one raised his hand.

"Enough said," Coker responded.

Virginia Tech had won a record 16 straight games at Lane Stadium before losing to Syracuse on Oct. 27.

"The fans, they love us, especially our defense," said junior safety Willie Pile. "Playing at home is a huge advantage for us."

But the Hokies will need more than a home-field edge against the Hurricanes, especially if the extended weather forecast of mild temperatures on Saturday holds up.

Virginia Tech's defense must come up with a big game. The Hokies have registered four shutouts this season and rank first nationally in total defense (223.3 yards per game). They're also No. 2 in rushing defense (63.9 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (83.59) and are allowing only 12.1 points per game, third lowest in Division I-A.

That defense will face a Miami attack that has been held below 38 points only twice this year and is averaging 44.7 points per game. If the Hurricanes score 21 points on Saturday, they will break the single-season school record for points scored (469) set last season.

"We've been good on defense, but our defense hasn't faced an offense like this one," Beamer said.

Offensively, Virginia Tech will likely rely on the running of true freshman Kevin Jones, the nation's most-highly recruited tailback last winter who rushed for a school freshman record 181 yards two weeks ago against Virginia.

Jones has started just two games, but leads the team in rushing with 797 yards.

"Kevin is a very talented guy, but he's still learning," Beamer said. "He's going to have his hands full this week."

When the Hokies can't run the ball, they lose. Syracuse held them to 90 yards rushing on 34 carries. In the Pittsburgh defeat, the Hokies ran for 15 yards, their lowest one-game total since 1994.

If Virginia Tech tries to throw, it will do so into the teeth of a UM secondary that's scored as many touchdowns (5) as its given up through the air.

"We don't want to feel intimidated," said Noel, a junior. "We know we're capable of playing with these guys. This game will let us see how good we really are."

Jorge Milian covers the Big East for the Palm Beach Post.