BLACKSBURG, Va. -- OK, Virginia Tech, show what you've got.

The No. 2 Hokies finally face a proven opponent Saturday night in No. 19 Miami. But unlike Virginia and Syracuse, both dispatched with such ease by the Hokies that they were knocked from the rankings, the Hurricanes have solid credentials.

Miami (5-3, 3-0 Big East) has won three straight and played No. 1 Florida State and No. 6 Penn State close. They also want to avenge four straight losses to the Hokies and reclaim the conference title they once almost owned outright.

"We've lost a lot of tough and close games," tight end Bubba Franks said. "I think it's our time to shine, so that's the kind of attitude we're going to take. We want to spoil their party and help our chances for winning the Big East."

For Virginia Tech (8-0, 4-0), whose ranking still is met with skepticism by those pointing to a less-than-ambitious schedule and narrow victories against also-rans like Pittsburgh and West Virginia, this might as well be a bowl game.

This week, the Hokies were passed by Tennessee in the Bowl Championship Series standings, even though the Vols have a loss, and they finish with Temple and Boston College, another borderline Top 25 team.

"It's going to be a 60-minute war," said Hokies defensive back Ike Charlton, a junior who has never lost to the Hurricanes. "Those guys are not going to come in here and lay down. They don't want to lose like Syracuse lost."

The Orangemen had risen to No. 16 when they got to Blacksburg in mid-October. The Hokies romped 62-0, the biggest shutout of a ranked team in the history of The Associated Press poll.

Two weeks earlier, Virginia was No. 24 when the Hokies came calling, raced to a 28-7 halftime lead and winning 31-7.

Recent weeks have been less impressive. Pitt threw for 427 yards in a 30-17 loss to the Hokies on Oct. 30. The Mountaineers went ahead 20-19 last week before Michael Vick and kicker Shayne Graham saved the game in a last-play victory.

The struggles have raised questions about Virginia Tech's defense, second nationally in scoring defense (10.6 points) and third in total defense (233.5 yards), but Charlton said the unit's confidence has not been shaken.

"As a defense, we know we're still the best in the country," he said. "That's the way we feel and that's the way we're going to play Saturday."

It may take nothing less to beat Miami. The Hurricanes have outscored their last three opponents 82-14 in the second half behind quarterback Kenny Kelly, three top receivers and a running attack that averages 170 yards.

And, as Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer points out, "their defense is getting real close to the way the old Miami defenses used to play."

Kelly impressed the Hokies by making big plays in Miami's 31-21 loss to Florida State and 27-23 setback against Penn State.

"When he gets a couple of throws, he gets confidence," free safety Nick Sorensen said. "He starts running better. He starts making better throws."

The Hurricanes were picked to win the Big East in the preseason. But they said they had circled this game on their schedule as a chance to reclaim their title.

Beamer hopes the sellout crowd of 52,000 will help, but Sorensen figures it will take more than that for the Hokies to prevail.

"Being ranked so high, we're going to get those guys' best shots," he said. "Pittsburgh showed us that. ... We're preparing to see Miami's best."