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2012 Miami Hurricanes College Gambling Odds | Predictions

2012-13 Football Previews (ACC) – Miami (Fl) Hurricanes

Miami was once long a power on the college football scene, but its last national championship occurred in 2001. The program has been in a really trying time of late; coaching changes have gone hand-in-hand with scandal (I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of hearing that word as it pertains to NCAA football) and Miami fans, frankly, aren’t used to seeing a .500 ballclub.

It doesn’t look like it’s going to be a simple overnight fix in Coral Gables. The Hurricanes will always recruit talent, being in southern Florida and having the edgy image like it does. However, you can’t just gather a bunch of speedy athletes together and – presto! – have a winning football team straight away. Head coach Al Golden has a strong reputation after turning around a beleaguered Temple program recently. Golden will have to harness those good vibes with a dose of luck and some players performing beyond expectations and/or timelines, in order for Miami to surprise in the ACC in 2012.

ACC 2012-13 Football Previews: Miami Hurricanes
Coach: Al Golden
2011 Record: 6-6
Miami Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: 150-1
ACC Odds: 9-1

This offseason, “The U” was decimated with early defections to the NFL Draft. Miami lost six players to an early exit, which was three more than any other school in the FBS. Running back Lamar Miller, OL Brandon Washington and WR Tommy Streeter were especially painful departures. But, as has been stated, Miami recruits lots of talent, so the ‘Canes must reload and soldier on.

Junior QB Stephen Morris will command the offense this season. He has been Jacory Harris’s understudy, and Morris hasn’t really be thrown in the fire yet. We’ll see how he withstands pressure in 2012 – literally and figuratively. The absence of Washington likely means that opponents will bring the heat on Morris in the pocket. Clearly, Miami losing all its starting skill players from 2011 will be a challenge. Regardless, look for sophomore Clive Walford to emerge at TE (a decorated position for this program, with alums like Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow), as well as freshman WR Angelo Jean-Louis and prodigiously talented RT Seantrel Henderson – all 6”8, 350-lbs of him. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

On the other side of the ball, sophomore LB Denzel Perryman will get a chance to be one of the leaders on defense. He had 69 tackles a year ago and, much like several players on the Hurricanes “D”, possesses sideline-to-sideline range. Defensive end Anthony Chickillo had five sacks as a frosh in 2011, he’ll need to match or improve upon that number in order to be an anchor for the D-line. The secondary has speedsters like CB Brandon McGee, but recent news tells us that senior safety Ray-Ray Armstrong has been dismissed from the team, for malfeasance. Ugh, Miami.

The special teams will be handled with aplomb, courtesy of veterans like K Jake Wieclaw and P Dalton Botts.

2012-13 Miami Football Prediction: 6-6

Thanks to the schedule-makers, this is probably a case where Miami needs to stagnate for a while before it improves. The Hurricanes draw a strong Big East team in USF, as well as a ranked Kansas State squad and Florida State and NC State out of the Atlantic division. Oh, I didn’t mention the Hurricanes also face Notre Dame in 2012? Yikes.

The ‘Canes definitely have plenty of underclassmen talent on the roster, but these young pups need some experience before opponents start fearing their bark. It might be another instance where Miami fans and boosters need to exhibit some patience (rather than $100 bills, in the boosters’ case).

2012 Miami Schedule

9/1/12 3:30 PM ET @BCOLL
9/8/12 12:00 PM ET @KANST
9/15/12 12:00 PM ET BCOOK
9/22/12 TBD @GATCH
9/29/12 TBD NCST
10/6/12 7:30 PM ET @NOTRE
10/13/12 TBD NCAR
10/20/12 TBD FSU
11/1/12 7:30 PM ET VATCH
11/10/12 TBD @VIRG
11/17/12 TBD SOFLA
11/24/12 TBD @DUKE

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By James Hayes

James has been naming every player on the EA Sports video game rosters for half a decade now, he’s finally putting his knowledge to better use writing for us here at CappersPicks.com. Your comments are welcome below…Give Us Your Take!