DAILY DEBATE: What is the scariest game on Miami's schedule?

[ItsAUThing.com]

Florida as all the air goes out of the balloon if Miami loses in Gainesville as the next real opponent is September 27th when Virginia Tech comes to town—as wins over FAMU, Ball State and South Florida aren't gonna get the bad taste of losing to The Gator out of fans' mouths.

So much off-season hype, great recruiting, Cam Ward and other portal pick ups, addition by subtraction getting rid of wrong-fit guys, year three for Mario, etc.—a win at Florida and life is great; a loss to an arch rival Miami hasn't played in their house since 2008? Brutal.

Once the season gets rolling, the "scariest" game is probably at Louisville as that can be a tough venue when the Cardinals are solid.

 

[Manfred_Cane]

VA Tech.

Yall scared of weak *** Mertz & that weak *** Defense???

They got the Bane version of Marcus Vick at QB. **** em

 

[E1k]

Its hard to predict, i just hope we have the mental capacity as a team to show up ready every week…

If i had to choose id say @ Cal and @ Louisville after our bye week .I expect us to be undefeated and ranked for those so the buzz will be high and thats usually where we come out lackadaisical and the let down comes

 

[Memnon]

They got the Bane version of Marcus Vick at QB. **** em

Styles make fights.

In terms of match ups they're the team on our schedule who could give us the most problems, due to their play style.

 

[Brains]

VT returns 22 starters.

 

[Manfred_Cane]

Styles make fights.

In terms of match ups they're the team on our schedule who could give us the most problems, due to their play style.

I think you rated Dorian Strong. Gonna be fun to see him vs our WRs.

I think we can move the ball on them. Stopping their rushing attack and making Drones beat us with his passing is probably the move. Guidry will have to confuse him. They bring back their top WRs if I'm not mistaken.

Happy this game is at home at night.

Also want to see VaTech be good so this rivalry can get back to where it used to be.

 

[Shooter McGavin]

Florida. I said this last week. Season opener, on the road, against a rival, national game. Recent history isn’t on Miami’s side.

 

[Derrick Griffin]

Cal, based on the travel.

 

[Gocanes1990]

VA Tech.

Yall scared of weak *** Mertz & that weak *** Defense???

Completely agree. If we were in Blacksburg it would be tech-2. Friday night in Miami (assuming undefeated) probably Miami -3.5.

 

[JHallCanes]

 

[miamiphd]

.

Based on the team's ability to lose when facing lesser opponents, I'd say all the games are scary.

 

[WeBallinBoyz]

VA Tech.

Yall scared of weak *** Mertz & that weak *** Defense???

There’s a reason we’re only a TD fave against them.

Even accounting for a way below average home field advantage, math says Miami is only 5 points better on a neutral field.

They’re going to have a very good athlete at QB that will test our discipline and can burn our secondary deep, a top 4 WR unit in the conference, and very good DL with solid pass rushers.

 

[canecrazy23]

6. GT -- High-powered offense, and it's on the road in November, where it could be chilly in Atlanta.

.

I'm confused by your comment here.

Did they load up in the Portal or something because that offense was exactly opposite of High-powered let year.

Against us last year:

QB 12/25 151 yards 1TD and 2 int's.

RB 7/33 1 TD

WR 1/44 1 TD.

 

[HurricanePhilly]

Just adding this for the sake of the thread.

 

[Novacane32000]

I wish "most nervous about" was used instead of "scariest," because I am certainly not scared...but it has to be the gates W1.

Sure there is recency bias yada yada yada, but when you factor in everything (realignment, year 3 Mario, recruiting, donations/money, arguably most hated rival when they are relatively down, etc), argument can be made its one of the biggest games for program since the natty was stolen in 03. Maybe that is an overreaction especially in the 12 team playoff era because the team could still certainly win out after taking an L. It is just there for the taking and I have seen the team spiral too many times after a crushing L. Hopefully the players will not have the butterflies my soft self will have when the ball kicks...

The thought that this game is considered by some, the biggest since 03 goes to show how irrelevant we have been for so long ! Hopefully that ends soon.

 

[TheNation305]

VT returns 22 starters.

Exactly, and It's a Friday night game.. Short week (never seem ready for those), As menmon said they match up well with there style of play, Dynamic QB, first conference game (Mario is 0-2 in conference openers); Old Rivalry game and I hope we dont wear the black out uniforms this game lol but I could see it. Also, they are flying under the radar a bit, this is a sneaky game that I'm most nervous about. Drones is also close with Ward, So I'm sure he will be extremely motivated for this game..

 

[Brains]

Exactly, and It's a Friday night game.. Short week (never seem ready for those), As menmon said they match up well with there style of play, Dynamic QB, first conference game (Mario is 0-2 in conference openers); Old Rivalry game and I hope we dont wear the black out uniforms this game lol but I could see it. Also, they are flying under the radar a bit, this is a sneaky game that I'm most nervous about. Drones is also close with Ward, So I'm sure he will be extremely motivated for this game..

It's going to be an incredibly difficult game.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

I'm confused by your comment here.

Did they load up in the Portal or something because that offense was exactly opposite of High-powered let year.

Against us last year:

QB 12/25 151 yards 1TD and 2 int's.

RB 7/33 1 TD

WR 1/44 1 TD.

That was one game. They were pretty much top 40 in every metric and return their coordinator plus 8 starters, including Haynes King, their leading rusher and 2 receivers.

They’re projected to have one of the better offenses in the ACC this year.

Even more frustrating about the game last year because you’re right; we completely dominated their offense. I think they had 180 total yards before that last drive. So if we just take a knee, it’s likely one of the best defensive performances we’ve ever had in the ACC. And we lost.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

It's going to be an incredibly difficult game.

I actually like that it’s on Friday.

The home team record in mid-week games is very inflated. Being home makes me feel better about it.

 

[Fightinibis]

Taking emotion out of it, OOC game 1 rivalry game in a hostile environment (against a roster that is top 25ish per Phil Steele) and with a lot of new starters is not really a good season forecast game, the same way 2000 Miami @ Washington was not a season forecast game.

It is a game fans would be very annoyed to lose though. From what I have read Mertz didn't have a lot of completions deeper than 20 yards and the Gators OL was pretty good at run-blocking, so combine that with all of Miami's talent at Edge and the Gators may opt to try a smashmouth plodding game.

I am concerned Miami will match them with their own plodding and then maybe it turns into a game where maybe a fumble can lose it @skyman .

I doubt there will be wind shear off Lake Washington in Gainesville…not to mention it was literally Dorsey’s first college start with a weaker arm than Ward.

I refuse to provide any excuses for the game. Sure, very tough place to play…and they will be a good team…we SHOULD be better.