Miami Hurricanes Betting - 2011 Miami Hurricanes College Football Preview
Making a sports bet on Miami Hurricane football has been a risky venture on a game-by-game basis over the past several years. In a larger context, though, it’s been easy pickings to bet against Miami’s success as a team. The Hurricanes have underachieved after moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference from the Big East Conference. They’ve never appeared in the ACC Championship Game (let alone won it). Miami’s quarterbacks have been erratic, volatile and eternally perplexing. The Canes have never been consistent except in their inconsistency. MLB baseball betting students could probably strike it big by betting on some college football teams every Saturday, but not Miami.
The Miami offense returns seven starters, with talent at each position. The biggest question for Golden and the coaching staff is at quarterback. No one denies Jacory Harris’ talent. Harris is mobile, tall, and can make all of the throws. The challenge for Harris, now in his senior season, is in the mental aspect of competition. Harris still struggles in his battle with temptation; he often forces deep balls into double coverage because he wants to hit the big play all the time.
If Harris struggles again, new head coach Al Golden won’t hesitate to turn to Stephen Morris, who played in relief of Harris for portions of the 2010 regular season. The two men emerged from spring practice in contention for the starting job, but it seems likely that Golden is trying to push Harris rather than giving a serious look at starting Morris. This battle will bear watching as August camp opens. If the quarterback position is even competent in 2011, the pieces are in place for the Hurricanes to have a very good offense.
A topic of sports betting conversations that doesn’t emerge very much is the Miami defense. Why? It’s usually pretty sound. As one might expect, the Hurricanes still boast a talented and fast defense. In fact, it is the defense that kept the ‘Canes somewhat competitive in the ACC despite the ongoing struggles at quarterback. The coaching staff should feel good about the seven starters that return. Defensive tackle Marcus Forston and end Oliver Vernon anchor another solid defensive line that is very deep. The Canes could play as many as nine defensive linemen in a game without a significant loss of quality. The linebacking corps loses its leading tackler in Colin McCarthy, but outside linebackers Sean Spence and Ramon Buchanan return to bring ballast to that portion of UM’s defense.
The schedule is tough for a team in its first year under a new head coach. The Canes open on the road against Maryland on a Monday night. They then have a week off to prepare for an Ohio State team that is a mystery at this point. It doesn’t get easier after that. The Canes face North Carolina, Miami, Florida and South Florida all on the road. It could be a bumpy first season for Golden in Miami. All in all, don’t expect much of anything to change in South Florida… not this season, anyway. The Hurricanes won’t win their first ACC division title.
