2014
Miami Hurricanes
Football Betting Preview
Schedule and Odds
Miami is still looking for that season to break the mold and reach double-digit wins for the first time since 2006. The odds of that happening took a hit when quarterback Ryan Williams tore his ACL in the spring. Fortunately for the Hurricanes, instead of relying on a few freshman, former Kansas QB Jake Heaps transferred over.
Miami Florida is listed at odds of 16 to 1 to win the ACC and 80 to 1 to win the National Title. Those odds can be found at 5 dimes sportsbook.
While Heaps isn’t exactly an All-American, he does have three years of experience at this level playing against Big 12 defenses. He finished with ugly stats, 49% completion, 8 TDs and 10 INTs last year, but that was a Jayhawk team lacking talent. Miami is a different story with multiple playmakers on the offensive end. Duke Johnson returns in the backfield after he broke his ankle with five Games remaining last season. Johnson is a stud and averaged 6.3 yards per carry with 920 yards before going down. The offensive line has enough talent returning (three starters) so Johnson should see plenty of holes.
The receiving core looks good as well even with 2013 leader Allen Hurns gone. Stacy Coley is a Game breaker, while TE Clive Walford, Herb Waters and Phillip Dorsett combine to make a solid group. It’s going to depend on if Heaps can get the ball to them. Stephen Morris wasn’t the most accurate QB, but he could still toss it deep.
Miami’s defense fell off a lot last year in the second half and that led to two costly losses against Virginia Tech and Duke. They were on the field a ridiculous 34 minutes per Game last year, which can’t happen again.
Linebacker Denzel Perryman leads the group and is one of the best in the nation, so that should keep them grounded. DE Anthony Chickillo and CB Tracy Howard provide experience at their respective positions, but one area that could prove troublesome is at tackle. Tackle Olsen Pierre is going to prove vital, or offenses will be able to carve right up the middle on this defense again.
It’s going to be important that Miami gets its quarterback and defensive issues figured out in fall practice as they open the season at Louisville. A loss to the Cardinals will not be a good way to start the season and then they also have to travel to Nebraska 20 days later.
The obvious goal for the Hurricanes will be to win the Coastal division. That means they have to beat Virginia Tech on the road this year. It helps that both Duke and Pittsburgh have to travel to Sun Life.
Reaching 10 wins seems like a long shot, especially with those two early road Games. It’s going to fall on Heaps to get this offense moving, otherwise they’ll have to resort to being a power-running team, that also uses any kind of method to get the ball to Coley. The defense can’t slip up in the second half of the season, especially in the three-Game stretch against Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Florida State.
2014 Miami (FL) Football Schedule
Sept. 1 at Louisville
Sept. 6 vs. Florida A&M
Sept. 13 vs. Arkansas State
Sept. 20 at Nebraska
Sept. 27 vs. Duke
Oct. 4 at Georgia Tech
Oct. 11 vs. Cincinnati
Oct. 23 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 1 vs. North Carolina
Nov. 15 vs. Florida State
Nov. 22 at Virginia
Nov. 29 vs. Pittsburgh