Miami @ Appalachian State preview

After two one-sided victories, No. 25 Miami faces its first true test Saturday against a dangerous Appalachian State team in what is sure to be a hostile environment. The Hurricanes put up 108 points while allowing a mere 13 in home wins against over-matched Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic, but as the first Power-5 conference team to ever visit Boone, N.C., will be facing the fired-up Mountaineers in front of a rabid crowd.

"For them to be home and us go there, and the excitement I know that's drawing from what I understand, it has got to be a huge day for their program," Miami coach Mark Richt said during a news conference this week. "I can't imagine them not being super hyped, ready to go." The Hurricanes have shown signs of being ready for such a test, having dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. After depending on junior Brad Kaaya's arm to carry the offense for two seasons, the Hurricanes are averaging 326 yards a game rushing while the defense has allowed only 34.5 yards on the ground to rank first in the nation despite starting a front seven dominated by freshmen and sophomores. Those young guys will face a big test against the Mountaineers, who are run-first team and feature one the nation's best running backs in senior Marcus Cox, who entered the season with 4,088 yards rushing and has added 248 yards already this season.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN. Line: Miami -3.5

ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE (1-1): With 17 returning starters from a team that finished 11-2 in its first season as an FBS member, the Mountaineers were expected to be good and proved that in taking then-No. 10 Tennessee to overtime before losing 20-13 in the opener on a fumble recovery in the end zone by the Vols. The defense, led by linemen Antonious Sims (seven solo tackles, three sacks) and Caleb Fuller (two sacks) along with linebackers Eric Boggs (nine tackles) and Kennan Gilchrist (eight), held Tennessee to 3 yards per carry and only 319 total yards but did allow a disappointing 5.1 yards per carry against FCS foe Old Dominion in last week's 31-7 win. Cox is the offensive focal point but the Mountaineers also have a veteran quarterback in junior Taylor Lamb who has started 25 games and thrown 49 TD passes.

ABOUT MIAMI (2-0): Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz promised Miami would play an attacking style, and that has been the case with the Hurricanes leading the nation with 28 tackles for loss and tied for second in sacks with 10 with freshmen linebackers Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pinckney, who had nine tackles against Florida Atlantic, and sophomore defensive linemen R.J. McIntosh and Demetrius Jackson leading the way. Miami ranks No. 2 nationally at 8.69 yards per carry with sophomore tailback Mark Walton (271 yards, five TDs, 8.5 yards per carry) and junior Joe Yearby (224 yards, three TDs, 8.4) off to blazing starts. Kaaya is coming off one of his poorest games -- two interceptions and no scoring passes -- but his history and a talented receiving corps suggests he'll rebound from a slow start.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Miami's starting offensive line (312-pound average) could wear down a talented but undersized Appalachian State defensive front seven (235-pound average).

2. The Kidd Brewer Stadium attendance of record of 31,523 is expected to be broken for Miami's much-anticipated visit to Boone.

3. Richt has vowed to cut down on Miami's nation-high penalty rate of last season but with nine last week, the Hurricanes currently rank 86th with 15 in two games.

PREDICTION: Miami 28, Appalachian State 20