Knoxville, TN (My Sportsbook) - The Miami Hurricanes took much longer to dispose of Rutgers last weekend than expected and that cost the team the top spot in the national polls.

Now, the Hurricanes will try to prove that their fall to the number two spot in the country was not justified, as they travel to Knoxville, for an interesting late season tilt with Tennessee.

Miami was the top team in the country for all of this season after winning the national championship in 2001, but the 'Canes trailed Rutgers, 17-14 after three quarters, before erupting for 28 fourth-quarter points in a 42-17 win. The victory was a school-record 30th straight for Miami (the longest current win streak in the country), which will take on the Volunteers for just the second time ever.

Tennessee had high hopes for a national title shot this season, but the team has not lived up to expectations, at just 5-3. The team dropped two straight to Georgia and Alabama in the month of October, but snapped the skid, with an 18-10 win at South Carolina last weekend. The Vols captured the only other meeting with the Hurricanes, beating Miami 35-7 in the 1986 Sugar Bowl.

Despite injuring his non-throwing hand, Heisman hopeful Ken Dorsey completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson early in the fourth quarter, then added a one-yard TD pass to Kellen Winslow to take control of the game against Rutgers. The Hurricanes added two more touchdowns in the final eight minutes to put the game way out of reach. The hard-fought victory cost the team not only the top spot in the national polls, but dropped the 'Canes to third in the BCS ratings, behind Oklahoma and Ohio State. The offense, which struggled in the first half against the Scarlet Knights, is still putting up huge numbers on the season. The team is netting 43.0 points per game, getting it done with tremendous balance. Miami is averaging 194.5 yards per game rushing and 286.4 yards passing for a whopping 480.9 yards of total offense per outing. Dorsey orchestrates the offense and is the school's all-time leader in terms of victories. He has completed 55 percent of his passes in 2002, for 2,020 yards and 20 TDs, with eight interceptions. His TD passes last week gave him 78 TD passes for his career, making Dorsey the all-time leader in Big East history, surpassing Syracuse's Donovan McNabb. Dorsey has a number of talented targets downfield this season, including both Winslow (32 receptions, for 405 yards and five TDs) and Johnson (28 receptions, for 489 yards and six TDs). The passing attack is enhanced by the efforts of tailback Willis McGahee. The talented sophomore could be the team's most valuable player, as he has already rushed for 1,034 yards (the sixth-best total in school history) and 16 TDs. McGahee is averaging 6.5 yards per carry and 129.2 yards per game this year. Against Rutgers, McGahee rushed for a solid 187 yards and two scores to push his season total over the 1,000-yard plateau.

The Hurricanes are only allowing just over 17 points per game, but the defense The Hurricanes are only allowing just over 17 points per game, but the defense has been noticeably vulnerable to the run. Opponents are netting 172.1 yards per game running the ball and that is a weakness that the opposition will try to exploit down the stretch. The pass defense has been much better, and ranks as one of the nation's very best. Foes are averaging just 110.5 yards per game passing, against a unit that has recorded 25 sacks and nine interceptions thus far. Linebackers Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams are tackling machines for the 'Canes. Vilma leads the team with 79 tackles, including four TFLs. Williams ranks second on the team with 64 stops, with seven TFLs and one sack. The defensive line is deep with talent, led by monster tackle Vince Wilfork (38 tackles), who leads the team in TFLs (11) and is tied for the team-lead in sacks (five). Fellow tackles William Joseph (30 tackles, nine TFLs, two sacks) and Matt Walters (30 tackles, four TFLS, two sacks) and ends Cornelius Green (40 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, four sacks), Jerome McDougle (30 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, four sacks) and Jamaal Green (25 tackles, five TFLs, five sacks) provide more than enough big play capability along the line.

The Volunteers will attempt to get up early on Miami and let the raucous Knoxville crowd serve as the 12th man in the game. Tennessee has the kind of offense to do just that, generating almost 400 yards per game with good balance. The team averages 142.8 yards per game rushing and an additional 240.2 yards passing. Quarterback Casey Clausen is the key to the offense. He has missed some time lately due to injury, but is back in the lineup and could prove a difficult target for Miami defenders on Saturday. Clausen has completed almost 67 percent of his passes this season, for 1,697 yards and nine TDs. It hasn't helped that All-American candidate Kelley Washington has missed half the season due to injury. Still, the sophomore playmaker ranks third on the team in receptions (23), and first in receiving yards (443). He is listed as questionable for this contest with a concussion. If Washington can't suit up, both Jason Whitten (29 receptions, for 357 yards and four TDs) and Tony Brown (27 receptions, for 313 yards and one TD) can pick up the slack. The ground game could get a huge boost with the return of Cedric Houston, who has missed time with injury as well. Tailback Jabari Davis is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and leads the team with 452 yards rushing this season. Houston is second at 304 yards and the pair have combined for 10 TDs on the season. Expect coach Fulmer to give Miami a steady diet of Davis and Houston in this one to exploit what looks to be an average run defense.

Defensively, the Volunteers have not lived up to the stingy units of the recent past. Opponents are averaging 19.2 points per game against UT, despite being held under 300 yards of total offense per outing (294.8). With 61 TFLs and 22 sacks, this is a unit that enjoys getting upfield and making plays. The unit is led by the linebacking crew. Eddie Moore and Keyon Whiteside are battling for the top spot in terms of total tackles. Moore currently leads the team (73), adding 5.5 TFLs and two sacks. Whiteside (68 tackles) has made the bigger plays, with 7.5 TFLs, three sacks and two interceptions. Junior free safety Rashad Baker is the player called upon to provide a spark in the secondary. Baker has five of the team's 11 interceptions and is tied for the SEC lead in aerial thefts. A rush defense that allows just 126.8 yards per game must tighten up even more this week, as everything Miami is able to accomplish will be predicated on moving the ball early with McGahee.

Miami played down to the competition in Piscataway last weekend, but finding the proper motivation at Neyland Stadium won't be difficult. If the Hurricanes run the table and finish the year undefeated, the BCS will have a real dilemma, if the defending national champions go undefeated and are unable to defend their crown in the Fiesta Bowl.