2018 Schedule Preview: BC could be our toughest game.

[UMinati]

It's that time of year when most of us start sizing up the schedule. I put together this little overview to consider. Others will break down each opponent as we closer but this is how I see it shaking out as of now. The predictions are just my opinion, nothing else.
BTW, LY = Last Year, TY = This Year; the rest is self explanatory. GO CANES!

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

Sun 09/02 LSU (9-3LY) Arlington, TX 7:30pm ET
- Previous: Lost 2017 Citrus Bowl to Notre Dame Fighting Irish 21-17
- Offense: Return 5 starters - Lost QB, Top 2 RBs & WRs; New system
- Defense: Return 5 starters - Lost 50% of their tacklers; good DC in Dave Aranda
- Comments: Dallas, more UM fans than expected. LSU is overrated by fans (UM & LSU).
- Prediction: The D, piranhas with blood in the water; too many weapons on O. CANES win.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 37 LSU Tigers 13

Sat 09/08 Savannah State (3-8LY) Miami Gardens, FL 6:00pm ET
- Previous: 9 day prep: Thu Aug 30 @ UAB - 8:00PM
- Offense: Return 9 starters - Lost 2 WRs
- Defense: Return 7 starters - Lost 1 DL, 1 LB and 2 DBs
- Comments: Typical glorified scrimmage; hopefully we get to see a lot of backups.
- Prediction: Cakewalk; Redwine holds up "BALL GAME" poster at half time.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 59 SSU Tigers 10

Sat 09/15 Toledo (11-3LY) Toledo, OH Noon ET
- Previous: 14 day prep: Sat Sept 1 @ VMI
- Offense: Return 6 starters - Lost QB, Top RB & 3 OLS; They have decent WRs.
- Defense: Return 6 starters - Lost 3 DLs and 5 best tacklers overall.
- Comments: LY UM, 21 day break b4 this game. TOL, blown in bowl vs App St 34-0.
- Prediction: Miami BIG: The U lays half-a-hunny, multiple chains, clears bleachers by 4th.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 55 Toledo Rockets 13

Sat 09/22 FIU (8-5LY) Miami Gardens, FL TBD
- Previous: 7 day prep: Sat Sept 15 vs Massachusetts
- Offense: Return 7 starters - Lost QB, Top RB, 2 WRs & TE;
- Defense: Return 4 starters - Lost 2 DEs, 2 LBs & all 4 starting DBs
- Comments: FIU: Best red zone offense in FBS last year. Experienced OL, lotta holes on D.
- Prediction: FIU will score but THE U pulls away in the 2nd half; big day for Canes offense.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 48 FIU Panthers 17

Thu 09/27 North Carolina (3-9LY) Miami Gardens, FL 8:00pm ET
- Previous: 5 day prep: Sat Sept 22 vs PITT
- Offense: Return 5 starters - Lost 3 WRs & their whole starting OL.
- Defense: Return 8 starters - Lost 1 DEs, 2 LBs & all 2 starting DBs.!
- Comments: UNC: Held UM to 59 yds rushing LY + this was 1 of Malik's worst games.
- Prediction: UNC OL has 19 starts = Sacks, TFLs, Chains, D eatin, Hard Rock Rockin!
- Score Miami Hurricanes 41 UNC Tarheels 10

Sat 10/6 Florida State (7-6LY) Miami Gardens, FL TBD
- Previous: 7 day prep: Sat Sept 29 @ LOU
- Offense: Return 8 starters - Lost Top 2 WRs, 2 TEs & 1 OL; New OC/system
- Defense: Return 4 starters - Lost 3 DLs, 3 LBs & 4 DBs; new DC/system
- Comments: Completely different teams from LY. Losing HC Jimbo & staff will be evident.
- Prediction: Energy 'In The Air'. UM announces playoff intentions, Noles get bodied.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 42 FSU Seminoles 16

Sat 10/13 Virginia (6-7LY) Charlottesville, VA TBD
- Previous: 14 day prep: Sat Sept 29 @ NC State
- Offense: Return 5 starters - Lost QB, 1 RB, 2 WRs & 4 OLs; will be more run heavy.
- Defense: Return 8 starters - Lost Top 3; 1 DE, 1 LB & 1 DB. Garbage 3-4 scheme.
- Comments: VA lost their 4 best players & recruiting dropped under Bronco. Trap game.
- Prediction: Canes scored 30 unanswered LY, we continue where we left off.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 38 VA Cavaliers 10

Fri 10/26 Boston College (7-6LY) Chestnut Hill, MA TBD
- Previous: 13 day prep: Sat Oct 13 vs LOU
- Offense: Return 10 starters - Lost a QB, 1 OL & 1 backup WR. Solid OL & RB if healthy.
- Defense: Return 6 starters - Lost 3 DLs, 1 LB & 2 DBs. Aggressive 4-3, there is a talent gap.
- Comments: BC - lot of OFY injuries early, came on strong Late, opened a can on FSU.
- Prediction: Our OL has to dominate. Run the QB and test the DBs. Don't sleep on BC.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 28 BC Eagles 17

Sat 11/03 Duke (7-6LY) Miami Gardens, FL TBD
- Previous: 7 day prep: Sat Oct 27 @ PITT
- Offense: Return 7 starters - Lost Top RB, 1 WR & 3 OLs
- Defense: Return 8 starters - Lost 1 DL, 1 LB & 2 DBs. New DC
- Comments: Duke lost to Army LY, for some reason Cutcliffe thinks he has a good D.
- Prediction: Woodshed game. Multiple no calls, TFLs & chains. Big party in South Beach.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 45 Duke Blue Devils 9

Sat 11/10 Georgia Tech (5-6LY) Atlanta, GA TBD
- Previous: 7 day prep: Sat Nov 3 @ UNC
- Offense: Return 8 starters - Lost Top 1 RB, 1 WR, 2 OL.
- Defense: Return 5 starters - Lost 2 DLs, 2 LBs & 4 DBs. New DC/system 3-4.
- Comments: GT gets weaker late in the season. New 3-4 is shaky & garbage secondary.
- Prediction: Hostile Takeover! UM home game by the 3rd. Swag meter way up.
- Score Miami Hurricanes 41 GT Yellow Jackets 16

Sat 11/17 Virginia Tech (9-4LY) Blacksburg, VA TBD
- Previous: 7 day prep: Sat Nov 10 @ PITT
- Offense: Return 7 starters - Lost 1 RB, 2 WR & 2 OLs
- Defense: Return 5 starters - Lost 1 DL, 3 LBs & 3 DBs. 7 of 8 best players on D are gone.
- Comments: VT looking more like Fuente's Memphis - less like Beamer's ballers.
- Prediction: LY Canes pulled VT's ho card. TY "we snatch the heart out of the progrum."
- Score Miami Hurricanes 37 VT Hokies 17

Sat 11/24 Pittsburgh (5-7LY) Miami Gardens, FL TBD
- Previous: 7 day prep: Sat Nov 17 @ WAKE
- Offense: Return 4 starters - Lost 1 RB, 3 WR, 3 OL from unit that was already weak.
- Defense: Return 9 starters - Lost 2 DL & 2 DBs. New DC, still Narduzzi's system.
- Comments: PITT gains momentum from stopping the run. Their O should not score.
- Prediction: REVENGE! LY O was dumpster juice - 45 rush 187 pass 232 Total. C'mon Man!
- Score Miami Hurricanes 45 PITT Panthers 10

 

[Sigma_Cane_7]

I effs with you OP.

 

[NJshoreCane]

The 40-something ppg sounds good to me.

Games that you hit it on the head:
SS, Toledo, FIU, UNC, Duke and Pitt.
Yeah, we've established a little something at home.

Games that will be interesting for 3 quarters with the Canes winning by 2 scores:
LSU, UVA, and GT

Games that will be much closer than you think:
FSU, BC and VT.

 

[CashMoneyCane]

Schedule sets up nicely. In reality, the LSU game doesn't matter all that much. What I'm really wanting/hoping to see is how many backups will get reps in the second half of games 2-4. I don't mind if scores are closer than they should be if Williams, Lingard, Pope, etc are getting a lot of touches. Really, really need to get QB's other than Rosier reps. Let's all remember Al Golden beat Savannah State 77-7 in a shortened game. We should easily be able to hang a hundred on them and I'd be surprised if they get more than a field goal.

I see FSU being close at the half but Diaz making the necessary adjustments in 2H to pull away for a 10-14 point win. Biggest concerns are AT VT and BC late in the season. That's never really gone well for us.

 

[BiltmoreCANE]

Those scores are consistent with the 2001 team scores. Would love to see them but we're not there yet!

 

[OrdunaDrive]

Those scores are hilarious. No evidence that an offense quarterbacked by Malik Roser is going to average 43 ppg. But hey...

 

[Hegemon]

LSU
Va Tech
FSU
BC

Top 4 hardest games, LSU being first. Away game that is nationally televised. We have not won one of those in awhile.

 

[Hurracanes]

Those scores are hilarious. No evidence that an offense quarterbacked by Malik Roser is going to average 43 ppg. But hey...

This. The actual reality will look nothing like those scores.

 

[PGrady24]

I like that we get Boston College after a bye week, that should help eliminate the trap game feel

FSU will always play us tough

LSU is highly overrated

 

[SinisterCane]

40 PPG with Noiser as our QB??? OP I hope there’s a treatment center that can help you

 

[Tony Perps]

Red bandana game. Guaranteed loss.

 

[SinisterCane]

Until Manny can prove he can stop making the Bobby Booshay’s of the world from looking like Tom Brady every game will
Be tuff

 

[305to404CANE]

The BC game is when having 3 solid LB will play into our Favor, and we're coming off a Bye too (Let's hope we still have a Bye this year, lol). I see McCloud getting 10 tackles that game, easily.

 

[UMinati]

Those scores are hilarious. No evidence that an offense quarterbacked by Malik Roser is going to average 43 ppg. But hey...

I agree with you. Those scores are a little too high... for Malik.
But I think we have the personnel to avg 40ppg (we do have a few games to pad stats).
Plus, I don't think Malik will be the QB for the entire season.

 

[UMinati]

The BC game is when having 3 solid LB will play into our Favor, and we're coming off a Bye too (Let's hope we still have a Bye this year, lol). I see McCloud getting 10 tackles that game, easily.

Very good point, I should have noted the bye week in the schedule.
It comes at a good time too.

 

[cway313]

Only 1 bye week this year that's strange

 

[UMinati]

Red bandana game. Guaranteed loss.

I disagree. They're pimping 9/11 as a momentum boost for games against major opponents.
The game should be scheduled closer to Sept 11th but we all know it's a gimmick at this point.

Red Bandana game history:
2014 BC 37 USC 31
2015 BC 0 FSU 14
2016 BC 10 CLEM 56
2017 BC 35 FSU 3

For those who care to know about red bandanas:
Overend: Crowther's Red Bandana Game Deserves Better Scheduling - The Heights

 

[MainLineCane]

Red bandana game. Guaranteed loss.

Red bandanas simply cannot help BC on the field.

We've played in innumerable games with louder, more boisterous, more overtly antagonistic crowds against far better teams to be intimidated by BC. Sure, they'll be fired up, BUT who isn't when they play Miami

BC simply does not match up well against us in any way. Everything they can do, we can do much better, with better players and with far more frequency.

Unless as a team, the players and coaches, completely fall asleep at the wheel after the bye week while knowing the stakes, this game won't even be close. No Flutie magic to see here. Not this year

So we simply disagree, .....But that's why games are played .......so we'll see

 

[ScubaCane]

No way in **** we're scoring 37 against LSU

 

[paksat]

LOL

OP what you smokin? That 2001 team might not even be able to manage all those scores