I don’t remember the injury bug ever hitting a unit as badly as it has this season for the University of Miami’s defensive line. No, really. That was the talk before Tuesday’s press conference and continues to be the case with several key starters and “backups” out.

Before I get to the depressing news, below are some “interesting facts going into Saturday night’s game against unranked Central Florida (3-2) at Bright House Networks Stadium.

• This is only the second meeting between the teams. Last year the Hurricanes (4-1) held on for a 20-14 win at home when linebacker Darryl Sharpton deflected a pass on fourth down. On a side note, I went to high school with Sharpton and saw him get his hair cut by the now infamous team barber Steven Rivera. Puzzled? Go here.
• Sophomore cornerback Brandon Harris leads the ACC with 10 pass breakups. After last Saturday’s game when a reporter jokingly asked him if he just wanted that category he said he’d rather have the two other interceptions he dropped.
• I’m just putting it out there that ever since I filed a missing player’s report for sophomore linebacker Sean Spence, he’s come back strong. He’s averaging over seven tackles over the last three games, which includes No. 4 Virginia Tech and No. 20 Oklahoma.
• All three of senior tight end Jimmy Graham’s catches have been for touchdowns. I haven’t taken math since freshman year of college, but I’m pretty sure that’s a pretty high percentage…
• With a depleted defensive line, it should be interesting to see how sophomore running back Brynn Harvey does. He is 16th nationally with 107.2 yards a game.
• Last year’s matchup featured just 78 total yards of offense for the Knights. Yes, you read that correctly.
• Miami will once again face a top punt returner - Ricky Ross is 16th nationally in punt return average (13.9) and Quincy McDuffie has a 95-yard kick return for a touchdown.
• I’m really paranoid about every game from now on, especially because people keep saying that they’re all winnable (which they are). The problem is if we win out, we’d finish the season 11-1. Who would have thought that before the season? More importantly, we’re not even halfway through the schedule yet.
• The first BCS poll comes out on Sunday. Here’s to some very aggravated fans and teams with one loss.

GAME OF THE WEEK

As a Hurricane, I’ll have the TV dialed to ESPN 2 as No. 4 Virginia Tech travels to No. 19 Georgia Tech in a BIG Coastal Division matchup. Not sure on tiebreakers, but if the Yellow Jackets’ spread option is able to somehow manage a miracle over the Hokies, does that mean we’d leapfrog Va. Tech if we run the table?

There’s a shameless plug that I will be discussing. Over the past few weeks I have been polling the players (and Rivera) about who has the best hairdo on the team, and the winner just so happens to be sophomore receiver Travis Benjamin. So congrats to him, his long dreads and the orange ACE band he wears to tie them up. For more on the topic and to cast your vote, go here.

Injury Report

Out for season - senior tight end Richard Gordon, sophomore defensive lineman Marcus Forston and sophomore defensive lineman Adewale Ojomo

Out for Saturday - senior fullback Patrick Hill (lower extremity), junior defensive tackle Josh Holmes (lower extremity), sophomore receiver Aldarius Johnson (shoulder), redshirt senior defensive end Eric Moncur (groin), junior safety Jojo Nicolas (shoulder) and redshirt senior safety Randy Phillips (forearm)

Doubtful - junior right guard Joel Figueroa (lower extremity injury)

Probable - junior running back Graig Cooper (hip) and sophomore running back Lee Chambers (ankle)