Let's take a look at Miami football.
Best / Worse Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Duke | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Pittsburgh | Florida State | Virginia Tech | NC State | Clemson | Syracuse | North Carolina | Wake Forest
Miami
There have been times the last few years where the Canes have flirted with their past glory. The 2017 Miami Hurricanes got ranked as high number 2, before a stunning upset to Pittsburgh. Last season Miami got into the top 10 in December, then got plastered by North Carolina. Both times Miami couldn’t sustain their lofty rankings. Manny Diaz has been OK overall, but not great in his first 2 years at Miami. It helps he’s 2-0 against Florida State, but strong season would really help his cause.
Will Go 10-2 (7-1) if:
QB D’Eriq King is healthy. King is an absolute difference with his athletic skills, but also his leadership ability. If he can return to his pre-injury form, then he’s the best player on the field at the most important position in every game the Canes play save maybe UNC. The offense oozes explosive potential with King, RB Cam’Ron Harris, WR Mike Harley, and Oklahoma transfer WR Charleston Rambo. The defense was the epitome of average last year, but if it can a step forward the Canes can win a lot of games. Alabama is a certain loss. UNC is the next toughest game, but not unbeatable. A 10 win season is not out of the question.
Will Go 7-5 (4-4) if:
QB D’Eriq King isn’t 100% Healthy. Word out of Miami is King is doing well, but if he’s compromised that’s a huge hit for the Canes. Opening the season with Alabama could be a disaster. The Tide have been known to blow out teams early in the season, and basically sending highly ranked teams to forgettable years. Appalachian State is a dangerous second team. The three game stretch of at UNC, NC State, and at Pitt could be problematic, and a game at FSU is still tough. The Canes could drop several of these games, and another a long the way. That’s five losses pretty fast. The defense is a big question mark, with several coaching and player changes. If the transition is not good, it could be a disappointing season.
