Miami’s next game may be it’s toughest test. Sort of a make or break game for both teams.
FSU seems like they are for real this year after being awful last season. Miami plays them in Tally.
If Beck doesn’t play better than he did against Florida, it is hard to see the Canes winning that game.
Not ACC, but I have to believe Napier is toast. Hopefully, UF will make another bad hire.
Clemson seems very weak this season. They may go 6-6 or worse. I don’t see them firing Dabo but who knows?
I predicted in the preseason that Bill Belichick may not last more than one season at UNC. I might not be wrong. I still don’t get that hire. He is 73 FFS and had never coached in college.
Seems like Manny may survive at Duke because Duke is happy with being mediocre.
FSU
then Ville…At SMU won’t be easy either, but they are looking weaker by the game. Still they are a top 40-45 team and that will be their Super Bowl (especially with former canes on that roster, and the two teams not meeting last year with what could have been ALOT on the line). I was honestly really worried about the UF game, less so as the injury bug took out a few of their guys, but even then. And also it’s obvious Lagway isn’t healthy at the moment either….But just remember it’s CMC (Awful big favorite coach) and the Miami Hurricans (over the span of like the last 3-4 head coaches, no team has lost more games as a favorite in CFB, and also we have one of the worst home double digit favorite records going so there will be a game or two we seriously play down.
As of the moment if the games were played on neutral field (which they aren’t)
I have UM…
-6 vs. FSU (very tough to team to p.r. at the moment, and they play this week so this number can be. volatile)
-6 vs. Lville
-25 vs. Stanford
-12 vs. SMU
-15 vs. Cuse (but their number has to be adjusted downward, as QB was hurt vs. Clemson)
-13 vs. NC St
-20.5 vs. VT (may have quit by then, so their number may be falling)
-14 vs. Pitt
Remember this is if played on neutral…Home field varies from team to team and also the situation. And just as an fyi at the moment, I have UM -7.5 vs. Clemson and -8.5 vs GT on neutral. The top team is currently OSU and at the moment I have UM +7 vs. OSU on neutral.
We get past FSU, it’s tough to see a real loss. Louisville and Syracuse should not be taken lightly though. Amazing what having a real defense and a solid run game can do for a schedule.
If I had to award most valuable awards for our victory over Florida, I’d give them to two coaches: Alex Mirabal for the team’s exemplary smash mouth drive in the fourth quarter which should be considered a legendary example of football physicality. Secondly, I’d give an award to Coach Hetherman whose defense throttled Florida to an extent only exceeded historically by a crushing at the hands of a Saban-led Alabama team. No other team has held Florida’s offense to such paltry numbers.
We should be worried about FSU which, with Malzahn directing the offense of a team strengthened through NIL that is also exemplified by exceptional coaching. FSU’s defeat of Alabama was no accident. FSU is a national leader in rushing offense, and Malzahn is a master of deception that leads to a lot of chunk plays rushing the football.
Castellanos is more dangerous than Byrum Brown, and we’d be neligent not running a spotter against him. Stopping Castellanos is the key to a victory, the same task we successfully orchestrated against USF. Malzahn is a great tactician, but to date, Hetherman has been up to the task preparing our defense for a physical slugfest.
Particularly, I worry about Beck whose confidence waned during the Florida game. After that heroic drive in fourth quarter, I think Miami should start out conservatively with the running game and short passing routes. Beck was very consistent passing during the heroic drive. Completing passes early in the game, I think, Beck settles into a successful rhythm allowing us to stretch the field. IMO, Moore is the best WR target downfield from a match up standpoint. Sending Moore and Malachi deep is a lethal combination. We need to see more of Lofton in our controlled offense. Lofton is another mismatch pitted against LBs, curtailing their instinct to blitz. Do you suppose we’ll see any sign of JoJo Trader?
I hope the hell Malzahn does not fool us, but I think Miami is the better team due to its superiority in the trenches, which is Mario’s special affinity as a head coach. I predict Miami wins in a close game by dint of physicality.
As good a place any any to raise the topic of the ACC finally moving to nine conference games. Assume it helps and hurts UM. Depending on what the other schools do to get their sheet together.
At least Virginia Tech sees the seriousness of things.