2017 Miami Florida Hurricanes Football Predictions & Projected Finish

It was a big year for the Miami Hurricanes last year as they welcomed back legacy Mark Richt as the new head coach. Richt quarterbacked Miami (1878-1982) in its heyday when he backed up Jim Kelly and played along side of Vinny Testaverde and Bernie Kosar. Richt won nine games and ‘The U” finished in the Top 25 for the first time since 2009. It actually could have been much better.

The Canes opened with four straight wins including tough roadies at Appalachian State and Georgia Tech. A heartbreaking 21-20 home loss to Florida State set in motion a string of four straight losses including another crushing loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Miami broke out of its funk be rolling Pitt and won out the rest of the way culminating in a dominating win over West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Richt is loaded in his second year with 16 returning starters including 4/4 on the offensive and defensive lines. The schedule is tough but this just might be the year that Miami, Florida returns to national prominence.

Miami Football Last Season: Betting State & Final Standings

ACC (Coastal) Record ATS Record Over/Under Points For Points Against T-2nd 9-4 8-4 5-7 34.8 18.5

2017 Hurricanes Schedule: Opponents and Estimated Point Spreads

Date Opponent Spread (Est.) Win Chance 9/2 Bethune Cookman 9/9 @ Arkansas State 9/16 @ Florida St 9/23 Toledo 9/29 @ Duke (Fri) 10/12 G Tech (Thurs) 10/21 Syracuse 10/28 @ North Carolina 11/4 Virginia Tech (HC) 11/11 Notre Dame 11/18 Virginia 11/24 @Pittsburgh (Fri) Estimated Wins: TBD

Miami opens with Bethune-Cookman which is a formality. The Canes second game is at Arkansas State and the Red Wolves are no lay down having won the Sunbelt the past several seasons. This is the perfect tune up for the game that will decide Miami’s season, Week III at Florida State. This is not only a rivalry game and Florida triangle game, it’s a revenge game for Miami and possibly a preview of the ACC Championship game.

If there was an upset alert on the Cane schedule, it could be their September 23rd home game versus the high-flying Toledo Rockets. It would come after the Florida State which will not be an easy spot win or lose. Toledo is considered a heavy favorite to win the MAC and has the kind of offense that can drop 50 points on anybody.

The Canes have a rough spot when they play three straight revenge games in a row, at North Carolina, Virginia Tech for homecoming, and Notre Dame. The Tar Heels and Irish are considered down but the Hokies are always dangerous and figured to be much better in their second year under Justin Fuentes.

Miami Football Depth Chart, Recruiting & Roster Breakdown

Junior Malik Rosier takes over at quarterback from Brad Kaaya. Rosier started one game as a freshman (20-29, 291, 2-1) and beat Duke in one of the most controversial games in college football history. Rosier threw just four passes last year but has been around so the transition should be seamless. The Canes return their leading rusher Mark Walton (1173, 5.3, 12 TDs) and receiver Ahmon Richards (49, 934, 3 TDs) so the offense is in good shape.

The defense figures to be a monster in that it returns eight starters from a stop unit that cut its points allowed an almost full 10 points-per-game. The top three tacklers are gone but the plug ins are reportedly just as good so it will be tough to score points on the Canes. Miami has an elite front seven that features DE Joe Jackson who kicked in 8.5 sacks last year as true freshman.

2017 Hurricanes Futures Odds to Win the College Football Playoffs

Regular Season Win Total ACC Championship Odds National Championship Odds 9 +500 +5000 Odds Courtesty of 5Dimes

2017 College Football: Miami Projected Record

Mark Richt was not only brought in because he was a legacy, he was brought in to lead Miami to the ACC title and into the FBS playoffs. Richt was 90-43 in 14 years at the Georgia Bulldog headcoach where he won 9.63 games per season. He was brought in to take the Canes to the next level and in 2017 he just might.

It won’t be easy but Miami has the all the tools to run the table and bust its way into the FBS playoffs. Three things need to happen. Malik Rosier has to step in at quarterback and not turn the ball over while providing similar production to the departed Brad Kaaya. The Canes have to stay healthy and they have to beat Florida State in their showdown at Tallahassee on September 16th.

If Miami gets by the Seminoles, it pretty much has clear sailing. The Canes will only have three remaining road games and all three are very winnable … at Duke, at North Carolina, and at Pittsburgh in their season finale. One possible hurdle could come at the end of October when Miami plays three straight revenge games. We like this team a lot and project at least 10 wins.

ACC (Coastal) ACC Record Overall Record Win Total Prediction 1st 7-1 10-2 OVER 9

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