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2009 Miami Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

miami 72109 The Hurricanes bolted out to a strong 7-3 start and could have easily been 9-1, but they dropped their final two regular season games by double digits and then lost to Cal in the Emerald Bowl to finish with their heads barely above water at 7-6. Find out if this is the year Miami finally gets back in the BCS picture in this 2009 college football betting preview. Miami is listed at +7500 to win the 2009 BCS championship.

Offense – Miami averaged a respectable 27.1 points per game last season (50th nationally), and we could see an even more potent offensive unit in 2009 if the players are able to mesh with new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. Jacory Harris will be the full-time starting quarterback for the Canes now that Robert Marve has departed. Harris threw for 1,195 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2008 in his freshman season and also proved to be a strong leader. He usually makes the right decision with the football. 1,000-yard rushers in Miami used to be the norm, but the Canes have now gone six seasons without one. In fact, Willis McGahee, who rushed for 1,686 yards in 2002, is the last Hurricane to break the 1,000-yard barrier. Junior Craig Cooper will set out to end that streak this season. The shifty runner gained 841 yards last season. The wide receiver unit is young, but talented, with all six of the top receivers coming back. Aldarius Johnson is the team’s top returning wideout, hauling in 31 passes for 332 yards and three scores. The offensive line looks solid with three starters coming back, but these guys must stay healthy as there isn’t much experience behind them.

Defense - The Canes enter the 2009 season with yet another defensive coordinator as John Lovett becomes the fourth in as many seasons. He will face the task of getting results out of a young and talented unit. The defensive line must improve to cut down on the 152 yards per game teams were able to gain on the ground against them last season. While the talent up front is unquestioned, no one is yet to emerge as a star. Perhaps, tackle Marcus Forston will have a breakout year. I also like Allen Bailey, who led the team with five sacks in 2008. He has moved from end down inside to help stop the run. The linebacker corps looks like a weakness heading into the season. Depth is an issue and it isn’t known if Colin McCarthy will be back healthy. There is some hype surrounding Sean Spence, who took home ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2008 with a 65-tackle season. And the secondary has its holes as well. This unit was only able to come up with two interceptions last season. Both DeMarcus Van Dyke and Brandon Harris have struggled at the cornerback spots and I’m not seeing any special players like we’ve seen in the past at Miami at the safety position.

Prediction: 4th ACC Coastal – On paper, Miami still has as much talent as any other team in the ACC, but I think the Canes are still a year away from challenging for a conference title. With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, it is going to take time for things to mesh, and that’s time the Canes don’t have with a tough early season slate that includes FSU, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma. Miami is listed at +400 to win the ACC Coastal.

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