By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

Miami doesn't make its official bowl appearance until Dec. 18 in the GMAC Bowl, but this week's trip to Orlando to play Central Florida in the regular-season finale for both teams has many of the earmarks of a postseason trip.

The RedHawks left earlier than normal and spent several days at the site. Some of their family members made the trip. They had time to visit Disney World on Wednesday, and they will play the Golden Knights this afternoon at the Florida Citrus Bowl, the site of three of Miami's previous seven bowl game appearances.

This is like a mini-bowl week, Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said.

The only thing missing is an opponent with a winning record or even .500. Central Florida, which beat Miami at Yager Stadium and finished a game behind Marshall in the Mid-American Conference East Division last year, has fallen into disarray this year and is limping to the wire with records of 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

"When you looked at this game at the beginning of the season, it looked like it might be for the East Division championship," Hoeppner said.

The 10-1 and 7-0 RedHawks have already taken care of that, clinching the division championship with a win over Marshall two games ago. They are getting ready to play at either Bowling Green or Toledo for the MAC Championship Thursday.

The Golden Knights are dealing with the fallout from having their coach, Mike Kruczek, fired and replaced by assistant Alan Gooch, and seeing six players including four starters suspended for the season. Among them was senior QB Ryan Schneider, who threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns in UCF's 48-31 win at Miami last season.

Schneider was replaced by Steve Moffett, whose start against Marshall on Nov. 19 was the first by a true freshman at home for Central Florida since Daunte Culpepper in 1995. Moffett scored UCF's only touchdown on a 55-yard run in a 21-7 loss to the Thundering Herd.

"Their most significant loss is their quarterback," Hoeppner said. "You combine that with all of the issues they've had, and it could gave the effect of unifying and refocusing the football team. It makes them a dangerous opponent. They have a lot of speed and a lot of talent. That freshman quarterback gave Marshall all he had.

"It will be a challenge, but it will be more about us, as it is every week. Obviously, we're a talented football team, but if we don't prepare, we'll be in trouble."

Miami will take a 10-game winning streak, the second longest in the nation behind 12-0 and top-ranked Oklahoma, into the game. Part of the reason is the remarkable run of good health enjoyed by the RedHawks.

They lost two starters on offense, running back Luke Clemens and wide receiver Korey Kirkpatrick, to season-ending injuries, but other players have filled the holes so well that Hoeppner has been able to rest many of his regulars toward the end of several games. Miami also avoids rugged practices.

"It's called full go up," he said. "If you go at it all the time, you lose some people. When you have three games in 13 days, it's important to play as many people as you can to keep them as fresh as possible."

No. 15 Miami at Central Florida

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Florida Citrus Bowl (70,188), Orlando, Fla.

Records: Miami (10-1, 7-0 MAC), Central Florida (3-8, 2-5 MAC).

TV: None.

Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WMOH-AM (1450).

Series: Central Florida leads, 1-0.

Line: Miami by 24 1/2.

What to watch: The special teams. Central Florida sophomore punter Matt Prater leads the nation with a 47.8-yard average. He is on pace to set the MAC single-season record. The Golden Knights have set a single-season school record with seven blocked kicks or punts. Miami counters with freshman Ryne Robinson, who has set the MAC single-season record with 615 yards on punt returns.

Miami	Team stats	UCF
480.5	Offense avg.	314.5
161.8	Avg. by rush	104.8
318.7	Avg. by pass	209.7
318.6	Defense avg.	388.7
105.6	Avg. by rush	199.3
213.0	Avg. by pass	189.5
40.7	Avg. points for	18.5
17.8	Avg. pts. against	28.8