Miami Hurricanes Season Preview & College Football Expert Picks
Posted by Eric Williams on Friday,July 8, 2016 7:20, EDT in
Are you ready for some college football expert picks and you want to know how the Miami Hurricanes are going to make out in their first season under new head coach Mark Richt? The sit up right and hold on tight, because the college football betting preview you’re about to get on the Hurricanes will reveal just what lies in store for the Canes in 2016.
Miami Hurricanes Season Preview & College Football Expert Picks
Offense
Miami (8-5 SU, 7-6 ATS) was solid, but certainly not overwhelming on offense a year ago as they finished the 2015 campaign ranked 67th overall (397.0 ypg) and 72nd in scoring (28.1 ppg).
The Miami Hurricanes lost both starting wide receivers from last year’s quad, but all other nine starters are back for Richt, including starting quarterback Brad Kaaya.
As a sophomore a year ago, Kaaya finished in the top three in the ACC in yards per game, fewest interceptions, yards per attempt and passer rating.
The Canes also have an impressive stable of running backs, starting with 1,000-yard rusher Joe Yearby who will be pushed to keep his starting job by sophomore Mark Walton and ‘big’ back Gus Edwards.
Richt’s biggest concern will be improving an offensive line that underachieved in a big way in 2015. The Hurricanes finished a dismal 112th in yards per carry last season and could struggle again if recent reports on their spring scrimmages is correct.
Defense
The Hurricanes were a bit above average at best defensively in 2015 as they ranked 69th in total defense (404.8 ypg) and 77th in points allowed (28.1 ppg). Miami has six returning starters on defense but lost four players from their secondary from last season’s squad.
To address their defensive woes, Richt hired former Mississippi State Bulldogs and Texas coordinator Manny Diaz. Now, Miami will switch from the 3-4 defensive alignment to a more aggressive 4-3 defense.
Miami has a pair of elite defensive ends in juniors Chad Thomas and Al-Quadin Muhammad and a trio of space-eating tackles in Gerald Willis, Courtel Jenkins and Kendrick Norton. Unfortunately, Miami has concerns at linebacker and in the secondary as previously mentioned.
Senior linebacker Jermaine Grace led Miami in tackles (79, six for a loss) in 2015, but the Canes lost two starters and need a handful of players to grow up quickly in sophomore Darrion Owens and freshmen Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud.
The secondary does have experience in the form of senior safeties Jamal Carter, Rayshawn Jenkins and sophomore Jaquan Johnson, but the cornerback position will be inexperienced in a big way.
By The Numbers
Miami is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Miami is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The Hurricanes are 2-3 ATS in their last five games
The Hurricanes are 5-5 ATS over their last 10 games
2016 Prediction
There’s a reason the Hurricanes are offering a huge, +10000 return should they manage to win the 2017 national championship and that’s because…it’s not happening people!
First and foremost, I’m not real fond of new head coach Mark Richt after seeing the way he perennially underachieved at Georgia for the last 15 years. Miami has too many questions to answer and not enough time to address all of their issues. The Hurricanes could very well become legitimate championship contenders again at some point in the future, but it won’t be in 2016!
