Not too sure how to feel about last nights game. A fan gets injured and they don't call the game until after the fact. Anyways, on to the labor day game.
The ACC is my bread and butter. Currently 5-0 on my ACC plays. This may be a square play, but from every angel I have looked at, Maryland has the edge. From personel all the way down to special teams. Maryland should win, but as we know in college football that is not always the case.
I like Maryland’s personel and I believe Edsall will make a statement in his opening game as Maryland HC. The trenches are where games are won and lost and thanks to that slimeball Nevin Shipro the Canes DL will be without Vernon, Ojomo, and Fortson who combined for 14 sacks last year and two reserves. Their strength and depth on the DL has been depleted and it will be hard not to see a dropoff in talent and production. The Canes are also going breaking in two new linebackers - with a combined 17 tackles - and two new cornerbacks - with a combined one career start, but*they do have some experience in Telemaque, Nicolas, Buchanon. The loss of Spence and Armstrong are going to hurt as they are the Miami playmakers that make things happen.
Danny O’Brien is a smart, accurate, precision passer and if the Canes can’t generate a pass rush they are toast. You can’t give a QB like O’Brien all day in the pocket or he will pick you apart. Maryland is expected to spread their offense play at a high tempo. This is going to create a world of problems, because Miami doesn't have the athletes on the DL to get a pass rush. Over the course of the game they are going to be worn out due to lack of depth. I expect to see Maryland throw the ball a lot to take advantage of the weak pass rush. With Miami breaking in 8 new players on defense and with little prep time, I don't see how they are going to stop O'Brien from moving the chains. If Maryland can get out to an early lead and force Miami to abandon their run game, Maryland should win.
Miami's problems on offense are not nearly as big as the ones they have on defense. It appears the NCAA did the Hurricanes a favor by suspending the interception prone Jacory Harris. QB Stephen Morris will get the start. Harris will be without TE Tyron Dye and WR Travis Benjamin. The loss of Benjamin won't hurt so much at the WR position, but more so on special teams where he was electric. If you remember last year, Benjamin was Morris' favorite receiver as he accounted for nearly half his receptions. Miami torched the Terapin defense last year for 218 yards on the ground. Expect to see Miami utilize the ground game to slow down the game and keep the Terapin offense off the field. One key loss will be LT Seantreal Henderson. His replacement will be Bunche who is an unknown or Figueroa who was a complete disaster in a short stint at right tackle last year. Maryland will have their work cut out for them, but I believe they can pressure Morris due to the patchwork OL. Their DL is good, their LBs are experienced, and their S are big and like to play close to the line of scrimmage. Stopping the run will be their #1 priority. I expect Maryland to win by than 10-14 points. The wheels on the Miami bus are about off soon to be sitting on blocks. Thank you Nevin Shaprio, you dirty rat.
3U Maryland -4
