Louisiana Tech (2-0) at No. 5 Miami Fla (1-0)
Updated: Saturday, September 18, 2004  9:08 AM EDT

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MIAMI (Ticker) -- Louisiana Tech begin a brutal four-game stretch when it visits No. 5 Miami on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (2-0) are starting a run in which they face four straight teams currently ranked in the top 25 - at Miami, at Tennessee, vs. Frenso State and at Auburn.

"There is no question in my mind we have the talent to compete with them and beat them if we can get a few breaks," Bulldogs coach Jack Bicknell said. "If you look at all four of the games together, that is too daunting. So we just have to look at it a week at a time. We are trying to focus one week at a time and then go on to the next one and add the wins together at the end and see where we are."

Louisiana Tech edged Louisiana-Lafayette at home last Saturday, 24-20, to improve to 2-0.

The Bulldogs, who blew a chance to put away the game in the first half, did not win until linebacker Barry Robertson tackled Ragin' Cajuns wide receiver Dwight Linden on the Louisiana Tech 7 with no time remaining.

Ryan Moats ran for 257 yards and a touchdown, setting a school record with his fourth 200-yard rushing effort. He has rushed for 257 yards in each of their first two games this year.

The Hurricanes (1-0) beat Florida State last Friday, 16-10 in overtime, in their first game as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Miami trailed, 10-0, in the fourth quarter before tying the game on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Brock Berlin to Sinorice Moss with 30 seconds left. Frank Gore scored the winning points on an 18-yard run in overtime.

The Hurricanes are 3-0 against the Bulldogs, including a 48-9 road triumph last year.