Last year, the Miami Hurricanes won 10 games for the first time since joining the ACC. It was also the first time that the Hurricanes won their division since joining the conference back in 2014.
That brought the swagger back to The U. Miami introduced the world to the Turnover Chain and rode an aggressive defense to a 10-0 record and a Top 5 ranking before ending the season with a thud. Mark Richt will look to keep that momentum going and bring the Hurricanes back to the ACC Championship Game.
Miami 2018 regular season win total
Over 9.5 (-105)
Under 9.5 (-125)
Odds courtesy of BetDSI Sportsbook
What Happened Last Year
About those turnovers. Miami’s defense turned teams over at a prodigious rate for much of 2017. The Hurricanes had 16 interceptions through their first nine games, and that helped them win 10 straight games to start the season. Those turnovers were key in getting them through a tough stretch in October, where four straight wins were decided by one possession.
Even though 2017 was an unqualified success, the Hurricanes had to be disappointed with how it all ended. Miami lost their last three games to close out the year, failing to come within single digits of Pittsburgh, Clemson, or Wisconsin. The loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game was especially crushing. That game showed just how much further Miami had to come to win the conference and grab a spot in the College Football Playoff.
What Will Change This Year
The Hurricanes are hoping that not much changes after their first real success in quite some time last year. Malik Rosier is back for his senior campaign, but that doesn’t mean the starting job is necessarily his. He completed under 50 percent of his passes in five games last year, including each of the last three. Richt has hinted that he would not be afraid to pull Rosier in favor of N’Kosi Perry or another option if he continues to be inaccurate.
Miami loses its top two receiving options from last year, but the Hurricanes do return the explosive Ahmmon Richards. Richards was limited for much of the 2017 campaign due to injury, only appearing in seven games. He averaged 19 YPC during his first two seasons though and should be the Hurricanes’ main deep threat.
The Hurricanes’ back seven should be one of the best in the ACC. Shaq Quarterman is one of the top linebackers in the conference and the secondary is loaded with talent. However, three of four starters from last year’s defensive line are no longer on the team. The Hurricanes are hoping that Gerald Willis can be the difference maker up front. Willis sat out last season as he dealt with off-the-field issues, but he has been a wrecking ball in spring practice.
Outlook & Prediction
Miami is favored to repeat as ACC Coastal Champions. The Hurricanes have less questions than any other team on that side of the conference, and they have a defense that could be even better than last year’s edition.
However, getting to 10 wins is going to be tough. Miami must face LSU in its season opener and plays Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech on the road in back-to-back weeks. The team was a little fortunate when it came to turnovers in 2017, and some regression is likely to occur.
