1. RUSH TO JUDGMENT: Tailback Leon Washington is coming off consecutive games of at least 150 yards (153 vs. North Carolina and 164 vs. Syracuse), just the sixth Seminole to accomplishthat. Lorenzo Booker, rotating with Washington, also has been running well as the Seminoles average 200.2 yards rushing.
2. SEXTON MUST PASS TEST: Third-year sophomore quarterback Wyatt Sexton had an uneven performance last weekend, throwing one interception and nearly another. This figures to be the toughest defense he has faced. (The Cavaliers are sixth nationally.) And the NFL-like two-deep zone demands patience and accuracy.
3. CONTAIN MARQUES HAGANS: Virginia's junior quarterback leads the ACC in passing efficiency and is a dangerous runner. FSU's defensive ends can't afford to let him get outside or buy too much time for his receivers. If they stymie him, they might be able to stack the box against the run.
4. COVER THE DAGGUM TIGHT END: Coach Bobby Bowden puts Virginia junior tight end Heath Miller right up there with Kellen Winslow Jr. and Ben Troupe (former Miami and Florida stars, respectively). He even said Miller might be "smoother." He has a team-high 14 catches for 208 yards and four touchdowns. 5. MAKE A STATEMENT: Since reaching the Bowl Championship Series finale against Oklahoma at the end of the 2000 season, the Seminoles have played nine games against Top 10 opponents. They've lost eight (five to Miami). The lone win came against No. 10 Maryland in October 2001. Not the mark of a national title contender.
FIVE KEYS TO VICTORY FOR VIRGINIA
1. RUSH TO JUDGMENT: The Cavaliers, like the Seminoles, run the ball well with junior Wali Lundy and senior Alvin Pearman. They've scored 15 touchdowns between them. Sophomore speedster Michael Johnson also gets in there, and quarterback Marques Hagans has 6.9 yards a carry and three scores. Little wonder the Cavs are fifth nationally in rushing (275).
2. STAY ON TARGET: Hagans is merely completing 70.1 percent of his passes and has five touchdowns against just one interception. The Seminoles have the nation's third-stingiest run defense, but they have been susceptible to the pass (196.2 yards) and are injury-riddled at safety. Hagans is surely looking for a bit of redemption. He made his first start two years ago in Tallahassee and played poorly.
3. CONTAIN L&L EXPRESS: Virginia has been strong against the run (85.4, 11th nationally) but hasn't faced a tandem anywhere near as talented as Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker. If it can slow them, the pressure will be on the inexperienced Wyatt Sexton. The Cavs also remember FSU relied on its backs to control the ball for 11:41 of the fourth quarter to escape from Charlottesville with a 19-14 win last year.
4. REMEMBER '95: The Cavs have won only 1 of 12 in the series, that coming in 1995 at home 33-28. Warrick Dunn's last-second run fell inches short of the end zone. The loss was FSU's first in the ACC, ending its 29-game conference winning streak.
5. MAKE A STATEMENT: Virginia hasn't been ranked this high since it reached No. 1 after a 7-0 start in 1990, when it finished 8-4 with three straight losses. This year folks are talking about a possible ACC title and maybe a shot at the national title. But the Cavs are 0-22 on the road against Top 10 teams, not the mark of a champion.
