OPINION: After getting overlooked in preseason as a top ACC team, it’s time to ask “Why not Miami?”
Flash back to early last month, and the ACC’s 176 media voters put in their preseason votes for the conference’s top teams. Miami found itself fifth on that list, behind No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Florida State, No. 3 North Carolina and No. 4 NC State. The Canes were a spot ahead of Duke and Pittsburgh (which were tied for sixth).
Maybe a re-vote is in order?
Because if one happened today, you very well might find Miami much nearer to the top of the list.
The Canes are currently the fourth-best ACC team in the AP poll, behind No. 4 FSU, No. 17 North Carolina and No. 18 Duke. Miami is right behind those two at No. 20 … and do you really think the Blue Devils are for real at No. 18? The USA Today/Coaches poll has FSU No. 3, UNC 17th, Duke 18th and Miami 21st.
It seems clear that from a national perspective on the outside looking in that Miami is essentially right there as the No. 2 team in the conference after FSU, with only 3-4 overall national poll spots (depending on AP or USA Today) separating Miami from the No. 2 team in the conference.
And the Canes will be able to make their spot in the conference clear when UM faces North Carolina on the road Oct. 14 in what is shaping up to be a massive game … and likely between a pair of undefeated teams.
The games prior to that one: Miami will be favored to beat upcoming opponents Temple (Miami already a huge favorite) and Georgia Tech at home, while UNC will be favored to win at Pittsburgh (almost a TD favorite right now) and home vs. Syracuse Oct. 7.
Both teams are currently 3-0.
It’s quite the turnaround in perspective for the Canes off that 5-7 disaster of 2022.
So go ahead and say it: Why not Miami?
Why not Miami in that ACC title game?
The Canes don’t have the same talent as FSU, it’s hard to argue that case right now. And Miami on paper may not stack up talent-wise with Clemson in terms of pure personnel. But that Tigers team is still reeling off that 28-7 loss to Duke (Clemson has played overmatched Charleston Southern and FAU since) and Miami has them in a home game Oct. 21.
So why not Miami winning at UNC Oct. 14?
Why not Miami winning vs. Clemson the next weekend?
Why not? Why not? Why not?
Hasn’t this program been through enough already with one 10-win season in 19 years?
It’s starting to finally look like it should on both sides of the ball with an attacking Lance Guidry defense and a Shannon Dawson offense that’s putting up points in bunches using the run and pass equally well. Tyler Van Dyke is No. 7 in the nation in passing efficiency. Miami is No. 15 in the nation in total offense, No. 11 in scoring offense, No. 18 in total defense (No. 7 in rush defense) and tied for 24th in scoring defense.
That’s called solid play on both sides of the ball.
Last year, by comparison, Miami was 85th in total offense, 96th in scoring offense, 64th in total defense and 66th in scoring defense. Is it early? Sure. But that’s a heck of a start to the season compared to where this team was at the end of last year.
The perfect storm just may be brewing in Coral Gables based on Miami’s play in conjunction with other ACC teams perhaps not being quite so good. North Carolina barely withstood App State, winning in overtime. The team’s other wins were against South Carolina (1-2 with other loss to Georgia) and Minnesota (which barely beat Nebraska and also won against Eastern Michigan so far this year).
We’ll learn more about Duke Sept. 30 in the team’s game at home vs. Notre Dame, and then even more Oct. 21 when the Blue Devils travel to FSU. Duke also has to play at North Carolina.
FSU? Sure, they look every bit the top team in the ACC. But two teams make the conference title game, and then anything can happen.
So while it’s hard to look too far ahead at this early point of the season, Miami has looked great so far, including the win against ranked Texas A&M.
So again, we ask.
Why not Miami?
The post OPINION: After getting overlooked in preseason as a top ACC team, it’s time to ask “Why not Miami?” appeared first on On3.
