#14 – Miami (Florida) Hurricanes 9-3 SU;
4-8 ATS
Fargo’s Take
- Eight losses over the last three seasons
has Miami reeling. For any other program, that
would be considered successful but not here. Following
the 40-3 blowout loss against LSU in the Peach
Bowl, changes were made as six assistant coaches
were shown the door. The offense had its worse
output in a decade last season but with only four
starters returning and a new quarterback, that
should have been expected. But apparently it was
not a good enough excuse as three new offensive
assistants, including offensive coordinator Rich
Olsen, were hired to right the ship. Kyle Wright
is only a junior and he should only get better
with his first full year under his belt. The defense
was as good as ever but that loss to the Tigers
to close out the year certainly turned some heads.
The goal in 2006 is simple. Get to the ACC Championship,
something it did not accomplish last season as
well as contend for the National Championship.
Returning Starters
on Offense – 5 Miami averaged 27.1
ppg on year, something many other programs would
take in a heartbeat but it put the Hurricanes
55th in the country in scoring offense, down from
21st in 2004. Changes have been made to the offense,
namely the staff, hoping to bring back some of
that moxie. There are playmakers all over the
field but many of them underachieved last season
most notably the receivers. Ryan Moore, Lance
Leggett and Darnell Jenkins are capable of being
the best bunch around but all three need to step
it up. Wright led the ACC in touchdowns but he
also threw 10 interceptions while completing just
58.6 percent of his passes. Tailback Tyrone Moss
rushed for 701 yards but was injured eight games
into the season. The offensive line allowed 36
sacks and only one member of that line is returning.
All of those factors led to an average season
but all are relatively easy fixes with the thinking
that Miami is going to breakout this season.
Returning Starters
on Defense – 6 The defense finished
4th in both scoring and overall last season and
up until that game against LSU, the unit had allowed
more than 17 points only once and that was an
overtime game against Clemson. The defense is
once again ranked as the best in the ACC thanks
to the best group of linemen, linebackers and
secondary. The defensive line brings back two
starters with Baraka Atkins and Bryan Pata, two
of the best ends in the conference while tackle
Kareem Brown will be playing on Sundays next year.
Jon Beason is the only returning starter at linebacker
but three key players are coming back from injuries
making the unit extremely solid. The secondary
which led the nation in passing defense last season
will be tough again led by safeties Brandon Meriweather
and Kenny Phillips. The corners are the concern
but Glenn Sharpe should be back 100 percent healthy.
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Schedule
- The schedule sets up either really good or really
bad depending upon how the Hurricanes start out
the season. Miami hosts Florida St. in its opener
and then travels to Louisville two weeks later.
A loss in either of those two games doesn’t
hurt as bad as a late season loss but it will
be an uphill battle. If the Hurricanes win both,
they can cruise the rest of the way all the way
to the Fiesta Bowl. Florida A&M, Houston and
Florida International, all home games, round out
the non-conference schedule. The rest of the ACC
slate is pretty tame with the toughest game being
a home contest against Virginia Tech. The road
games consist of Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland
and Virginia. Two of the first three games will
dictate the rest of the season.
You can bet on…
Miami had won five straight against Florida St.
before last season’s three-point loss. The
Hurricanes get to host this year’s edition
but they will be shorthanded. Moss and Moore have
been suspended for this one and that will certainly
affect the ‘under the microscope’
offense. Pulling this one out just became more
difficult. The Hurricanes aren’t road underdogs
very often but when they are, they are solid.
Miami is 6-1 ATS as a road dog since 1999 and
it could very well be in that spot at Louisville
on September 16th. In contrast, the Hurricanes
are just 7-17 over the last four years as a home
favorite and they will test that out against the
Seminoles in the opener as a 3-point chalk.
August 31st
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