The eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes are guaranteed to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference title game if they win their final two regular-season games.They start the challenge Saturday afternoon when Miami (9-1, 5-1) hosts Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4) in an ACC matchup.Miami is powered by senior quarterback Cam Ward, who leads the nation in passing yards (3,494) and passing touchdowns (32).The Hurricanes are coming off a 28-23 loss at Georgia Tech on Nov. 9, and then a bye week.Miami is 5-0 at home this season, but Wake Forest, despite its overall struggles, is 3-1 on the road.The Hurricanes, who lead the nation in scoring with an average of 45 points per game, haven’t been as good on defense (57th at 23.1 ppg), and Miami coach Mario Cristobal said this week that he knows the problem.”When you say tackling and getting off blocks, it’s about alignment,” he said. “If you are not in the correct position, you eat it as a team.”Miami could get some help on Saturday from a pair of starter-level defensive players who appear likely to return from injury: cornerback Damari Brown and defensive lineman Elijah Alston.Brown, at 6-foot-2, is a shutdown-type corner but hasn’t played since Miami’s opener on Aug. 31. Alston, a fifth-year senior, has 12 career sacks.Both players have been medically cleared and are practicing. Cristobal said he expects them to play this week or next.Wake Forest, meanwhile, has allowed 30 or more points seven times this season and is 1-6 in those games.The Deacons also are 3-3 in games decided by one score.
